International business course, trip imparts knowledge to last a lifetime

Colosseum in Rome, Italy

 

This spring, 11 Oakland University MBA and three Executive MBA students traveled to Greece, Italy and Switzerland where they visited such organizations as Hewlett Packard Italian, Maserati, Euroclinic SpA, NBC Universal Home Entertainment and Global Networks, Piaggio & CSpA, GM headquarters and UBS Bank and took a VESPA plant tour. In the tradition of the trip, the group also saw local sights.

 

The International Management (MGT 681) class is a seven-week course in which the students begin homework months before the class even begins. Professor Frank Cardimen hosts several meetings to share information with interested students and survey them about their professional interests.

 

With that information, once the students are registered, Cardimen customizes the experience. He calls companies abroad and arranges meetings with high-ranking executives, who explain how they conduct their businesses. He also introduces the graduate students to economists, politicians and U.S. Embassy personnel.

 

Matterhorn, Switzerland

 

For five weeks, the students study the organizations on their itinerary as well as the cultures of those countries. The final two weeks of the course is the travel.

 

Doug McDonald is one of the in the EMBA students who took the course in 2014. He works as an Information Technology Infrastructure Manager at Henry Ford Health System, as well as an entrepreneur.

“There is truly an intangible value which comes from acclimating in a foreign country, interacting with local people, and understanding the way others live and do business,” McDonald says. “Professor Cardimen repeatedly impressed with his international business acumen and ability to engage classmates in thought-provoking discussion. This was a truly rewarding experience and I will take away knowledge and memories that will last a lifetime.”

 

“There is no better way to learn, study, and understand international business than to travel and meet the businesses and learn the culture,” said Amy Butler, Executive Director of OU INC, who recently enrolled in the University’s MBA program. “It is truly one of the unique opportunities that sets Oakland University programs apart from the rest.”

Continental Auto, Faughlia, Italy	Castel Bolognese, Italy	HAMAC Innovations, Athens	Piaggio (VESPA), Pontderra, Italy