Global Business Experiences (GBEs)

Academic Program

Global Business Experiences are one-week courses that focus on business issues in a variety of countries outside the United States. The courses are offered at midterm break in March. Each section offered under the Global Business Experience heading provides the opportunity for students to visit a different country and experience business practices and cultures other than those of their native countries. Both first-year students and second-year students may participate. They will receive 1.5 credits toward the total elective credits required for graduation.

Based on a unifying theme and a specific geographic location, each course includes structured classes and practitioner presentations as well as visits to companies, governmental agencies, and important cultural sites. Each Global Business Experience course is intended to give students a better perspective on the countries visited and, through comparison, on their country of origin. All GBEs share a common set of academic objectives, to increase students’ awareness and understanding of the differences in cultures and business practices, and to increase students’ familiarity with current economic, political, and cultural issues in countries and regions outside of the United States. Grades for each GBE are based on class participation and a final project.

Academic course objective: increase students’ familiarity with current economic, political, and cultural issues in countries and regions outside of the United States

Elements of the course grade:
Class contribution 50%
Individual paper/project 50%

Some GBE's--those offered in Europe and Latin America--are open to both First Year and Second Year students. Asian-located GBE's and those lasting more than one week are only open to Second Year students. This year's GBE sections will be:

Buenos Aires, Argentina
"Doing Business in Latin America" Argentina
Faculty Leader: Luis Pereiro

Manama, Bahrain
"Blending the Tradition of the Past with the Challenge of the New Economy"
Faculty Leader: Sherwood Frey

Shanghai, China
"Doing Business in China"
Faculty Leaders: Wei Li and Peter Yu

India
"Doing Business in India"
Faculty Leader: Marc Modica

Mexico City, Mexico
"Mexican Competitiveness in a World Class Environment"
Faculty Leader: Peter Rodriguez

Romania
Faculty Leader: Lynn Isabella

Barcelona, Spain
"Strategy as Design"
Faculty Leader: Jeanne Liedtka

South Africa
"Growing Businesses and Demand in the Context of Social Change"
Faculty Leader: Frank Warnock

Stockholm, Sweden
Faculty Leader: Marc Modica

Information on course content, registration and costs for each of this year's GBEs can be found by clicking on the section's web page.