Lundquist College Master of Accounting (MAcc) students weren't the only ones to benefit from the program's recent visit to Nyenrode Business University.

Sean Oliver '09, a senior audit associate at Grant Thornton, was one of several young professionals who joined the group for their study tour. (Others accompanying the MAccs were Molly Dean, audit manager at Moss Adams, and Allison Pan, tax associate at Ernst & Young.)

For Oliver, the tour offered an illuminating view of accounting practices outside of the United States and provided insights to share with his colleagues at Grant Thornton.

"Prior to this trip, I hadn't gained much exposure to sustainability reporting as it is not as prominent in the industries I serve in the United States. I was fascinated by the difference in the values placed on reporting by users of financial information," recalled Oliver.

Though Oliver had spent a term studying in the Netherlands as an undergraduate, the MAcc tour provided a level of entrée that was unlike anything he had previously experienced. "I was impressed with the program coordinators" efforts to put together a schedule with such high-profile individuals as well as the generosity of these professionals to spend the time with us," said Oliver.

The advantage our MAcc students gained from their ten days in the Netherlands was self-evident to Oliver. "This experience enabled the students to gain confidence in their ability to succeed in the global business world while increasing their knowledge about the accounting profession," he said.

Read the full interview with Oliver on the UO Business Blog.