International Trips

International Business Study Abroad (MGT 6350) Requirement

As the world was indeed becoming flat, The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business was ahead of its time in 2000 when it began requiring all of its students to take an international study trip at some point during their degree programs. 

UPCOMING:   SOUTH AFRICA | WESTERN EUROPE | ARGENTINA | MUNICH

The Massey School views this practice as a way of expanding students' views of culture and the interdependency that exists between companies and countries around the world.  Only a handful of other graduate business programs hold their graduate business students to a similar requirement.

Malaysia 2012	Chile 2012
Dubai 2012	South Africa 2012

Prague 2012	Poland 2013

 

Upcoming International Trips

Proposed trips are subject to change. Final decisions regarding trips will be determined by individual interest.  Upcoming trips may include:

 

Cape Town, South Africa
Dean Patrick Raines and Professor Stan York
May 4 - 20, 2013

The  Cape Town trip is an extended study-abroad experience designed specifically for Accelerated MBA students and will count for both the MGT 6300 and MGT 6350 course requirements.  Students will be traveling to Cape Town, South Africa and studying at nearby Stellenbosch University, where the focus will be on international business and intercultural dynamics.  Significant portions of this study will take place in a classroom setting with Stellenbosch faculty, with the balance of the experience consisting of a variety of visits to area businesses (e.g., SAB Miller, Naspers, and Transet), as well as a number of cultural activities (e.g., boat trip to Robben Island, trip to Cape Winelands, dinner with local businesspersons, workshops and visits with various  population groups, and a drive along Chapman's Peak).  Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa, with a population estimated at 3.5 million and is the largest South African municipality in terms of land area.  Stellenbosch University is generally recognized as the top business school on the African continent, with its university roots being traced back to 1859.

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KnowEurope - Belgium, Holland, France and Spain
Professor Lee Warren
June - July, 2013

Amsterdam		Barcelona

Brussels	Paris

Sponsored by Groupe ESC Normandie, Normandy Business SchoolVisit Belgium, Holland, France and Spain.  This trip counts for 3 courses (MGT 6300, MGT 6350 and one elective).  Your cost is the cost of tuition for each of these courses and airfare to and from Europe.  Students are responsible for arranging their own flights.   Anyone interested should contact Melissa Mitchell, Student Support Coordinator,  for more details.    Please note, this will prevent you from attending the summer semester, but does earn you credit for 3 courses (6 credits total)

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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Professor Jeff Cornwall
August 10 - 17, 2013

This program will explore the economy, business environment, history and culture of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The itinerary will include company site visits, presentations from government officials responsible for driving innovation and economic growth in the country, and cultural excursions.

Buenos Aires is the capital and most important city in Argentina, as new businesses and creative talent have flourished. It is one of largest cities in the world, comprising over 12 million people in over 47 barrios (neighborhoods). With its wide boulevards, leafy parks, grand buildings and varied culture and nightlife, Buenos Aires is reminiscent of Paris or Barcelona. Tourism is booming, with visitors flocking to the elegant city, swaying to the melancholic sounds of tango, filling the fashionable restaurants and soaking up the local zest for life. The city is the financial and cultural center of the country and a vital port serving a large portion of the continent.

Like Buenos Aires, the country of Argentina is an eclectic mix of European and Latin culture. It is the birthplace of tango as well as home to millions of avid soccer or fútbol fans. Moreover, from an economic perspective, it is once again one of the most promising emerging markets in Latin America. After a decades-long struggle with political and economic forces, Argentina is regaining its former luster and opens the door to not only a rich cultural heritage but abundant natural and human resources. Argentine GDP reached $6,630 per capita in 2007, with investment increasing an estimated 14.4 percent for the year. Argentina continued to perform well in 2008, with full year real GDP growth projected at about 7 percent. The country benefits from rich natural resources, a highly educated population, a globally competitive agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base.

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Munich Germany
Professor Joe Alexander
October 26 - November 2, 2013

 

Munich is the capital and largest city of Germany’s state of Bavaria.  Located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps, it is the third largest city in Germany, trailing Berlin and Hamburg.  A population of %7e`1.5 million live within the city limits, and the city played host to the 1972 Summer Olympics.  They City’s motto is “Munchen mag dich” (translated “Munich likes you”).  Modern Munich is a financial and publishing hub, and a frequently top-ranked destination for migration and expatriate location in livability rankings.  Munich achieved 4th place in frequently quoted Mercer livability rankings in 2011.  For economic and social innovation, the city was ranked 15th globally out of 289 cities (based on 2010 survey), and 5th in Germany by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Index based on analysis of 162 indicators.  In 2010, Monocle ranked Munich as the world’s most livable city.

The city is also Germany's leading high-tech location. Investors choose the Bavarian capital because of its unique mix of industries and broad spectrum of service companies, from the very smallest to the very biggest.  This fruitful blend of industries has led national players and international corporations alike to make Munich their business base.  Sectors such as information and communication technology, automotive engineering, aerospace, the life sciences, finance and the media industry are all firmly established here. Other key lines that boast excellent development prospects include medical engineering, environmental technology, nanotechnology, and measurement and control systems. Leading aspects of the local service industry include commercial law practices, legal and tax advisers, and technical service providers.

 

2014 Destinations

Beijing, China

Dates TBD

The program will make a return trip to Beijing, which has served as a dependable destination in past years. China's capital city since 352 AD, Beijing is at the heart of the nation's transition into a global economic powerhouse. As China's Communist government relaxes economic regulations, Beijing continues to earn the international spotlight, both as an economic juggernaut and a cultural capital.

Almost every multinational corporation has an office here. In recent years, Beijing has grown tremendously in the financial sector. There are over 750 financial firms within the city that have generated close to 14 percent of its $150 billion GDP. Beijing is also rapidly expanding in other business areas, including venture capital, information technology, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dates TBD

Massey will visit two Olympic cities next year. In addition to Beijing, the program will take students to Rio de Janeiro. The 2014 Summer Olympics host is a beautiful, exciting and charming city. But beyond its sheer physical beauty, Rio is a business town. Its 12 million inhabitants make it Brazil's second largest metropolitan area (topped only by eternal rival São Paulo). In addition to tourism, the nation's increasingly powerful energy sector is focused in Rio, which is home to integrated producer Petrobras and dozens of oil service companies.

Milan, Italy

Dates TBD

A new destination will delight students in 2014. Milan, Italy will host Massey students for the first time. Italy's second-largest city, Milan serves as the country's economic capital. The metropolis is home not only to magnificent cathedrals and The Last Supper painting, but also to Italy's stock exchange. A world fashion and design mecca, Milan is also diverse -- more than one-sixth of its population is foreign-born. Students will get a chance to take in Milan's rich culture and delve into its thriving business climate.

Instanbul, Turkey

Dates TBD

And (drum roll please!), following a vote of current students, the fourth destination will be Istanbul, Turkey, which was a narrow winner in popularity over New Delhi, India, which will serve as a back-up location in case any political or logistical problems interfere with the Istanbul plans.  Massey students last visited Turkey in 2010, and it turned out be a very popular destination for study abroad.  Because of its strategic location between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has played a key role in the history of the world since the emperor Constantine made it the capital of the eastern Roman Empire in the year 330 and named it Constantinople.
 
With its network of developed infrastructure and a globally competitive work force, Turkey has become a geo-strategic base for international business.  A rapidly growing emerging market of 72 million people, over half of whom are under the age of 28, makes the country today one of the key trading partners of the United States.  Turkey is the world's 15th largest economy, and it is predicted that Turkey will be one of the world's 10 largest economies by 2050.  Turkey is a large emerging market and, with an average growth rate of 6.7 percent, recorded the some of the highest growth rates in the OECD between 2002-2007.

 

Click here to read about past International Business Study Abroad destinations.