Program News
A "Real" Field Trip: Doing Business in Europe
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Click here to view more photographs of the 2005 Maymester Field Trip in Europe |
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“It was not an excursion,” said Kostova. “The students had to be prepared to read a lot
and do a lot of work.”
The course, “International Business 443: Doing Business in Europe,” focuses
on Europe as a context for global business. Module One provided the basic content knowledge
and prepared the students for their trip through readings, group discussions, and writing group
papers on the business environments in France and Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Czech
Republic and Poland, and Russia and the former Republics of Yugoslavia.
Module One was done via the Internet the week before the trip, using, in effect, virtual teams
since the students had gone home to different states and countries at the end of the spring
semester. “They had to deal with different time zones, deadlines, and a demanding task,”
Kostova said, that of writing 15-page group papers. “Learning how to work effectively in
virtual teams is a skill that will be useful in their future professional lives, so this was good
practice for them.”
Module Two, held May 14-24, featured visits to London, Paris, Brussels, and
Prague. The objective? To get first-hand knowledge of the business climate in
Europe and develop an understanding of the cultural and socio-economic diversity within the
region.
In London, the students, who were mainly rising juniors and seniors, presented their group papers at the London Business School. Since London is considered by many to be the financial capital of the world, the focus there was on the global financial industry. The students also had a lecture on the UK and European Union (EU) financial markets and visited the London Stock Exchange and Lloyds of London.
In Paris they learned about the French business culture at ESSEC, one of the leading business schools in France. Their time there also included a side trip to the EU complex in nearby Brussels. In the Czech Republic, the students visited two companies outside of Prague, Bohemian Glassworks and Skoda Auto, and learned about the process of their transitioning to Western-style management.
The academic program in all the cities was further enriched with a variety of cultural experiences, ranging from organized sightseeing tours and visits to historic places to sampling the local cuisine and shopping.
The students took their final exam May 27 – online.
Kostova was enthusiastic about the course. “It went very well,” she said. “It cost us a lot of time and effort compared to regular courses, but it was worth it.” In fact, she says, “If I have the option, I’ll never teach a regional course in the classroom again.”
Kostova was accompanied to Europe by Virginia Peninger of Moore’s International Business Department. They received “strong support,” Kostova said, from Moore School Dean Joel Smith; USC Honors College Dean Peter Sederberg; Dr. Carolyn S. Jones, assistant dean of the undergraduate division at Moore; Dr. Randy Folks, director of the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER); and Dr. Kendall Roth, chairman of the Sonoco International Business department.
The students seemed pleased with their unique Maymester course. “I learned a great deal in such a short period of time,” said Christopher Floyd. “It’s really reinforced my decision to enter into the international business world.” Karl Pagel said that he “really learned a lot, not only about the European culture, but also about the business practices and aspects of it. I would not be as fully rounded in business if it were not for this class.”
Kostova was proud of the students. “They were curious and smart, they worked hard, and they behaved maturely during the trip. We do have some excellent students at USC!”
The students developed close friendships while traveling, said Kostova and Peninger, and all are looking forward to a mini-reunion this fall when they will share photos and stories.
Kostova hopes to offer the course again, perhaps in May 2006 or 2007. The only thing she would do differently? “I’d put in a couple of days for relaxation,” she said. “The course was very intense.”