Short Term Study Abroad for MBAs – New Models

1. Short Term Study Abroad for MBAs – New Models James Hoadley GT CIBER Georgia Institute of Technology Kansas City 2010

2. Why It’s Needed • Lack of International Experience • Few non-International MBAs have extensive experience coming into a program • Tight MBA Student Schedules • Most US MBA programs graduate within 20 months of matriculation • Maximize Value • Get the most out of a limited amount of travel time.

3. Other Models • MIT Sloan – Global Entrepreneurship Lab • Focus on Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries • Increased challenge locating projects • Dartmouth – Tuck Global Consultancy • Self-funded by project fees • Unable to match student demand

4. Other Models Continued • Yale – Global Social Enterprise • Restricted to NGOs • Size restricted • Manchester Business School (UK) – International Business Project • Capstone requirement • Larger logistical demands

5. Other Models Concluded • Nanyang Technological University – • Student research published • Somewhat more academic in nature

6. Georgia Tech Pedagogical Framework • Use “Real World” business projects • Students collaborate with remote partners • Students have flexibility (and responsibility) of setting much of their own schedules for the period of residency • Project sponsor satisfaction is a significant factor in the final grade • Peer evaluation • Faculty member acts as senior project advisor rather than as instructor

7. Sample Timeline • End of Previous Academic Year • Select Destinations • Summer thru December • CIBER and Faculty recruit corporate projects • January thru Spring Break • Students select and begin work on projects • Students intensively trained on target country • Students give pre-departure project status presentation • Spring Break • Travel to target country • Receive country briefings, tour companies, cultural events • Perform mission-critical tasks in country • After Return • Students present final project deliverables to host company • Students make a final presentation to the class

8. Major Obstacles • Projects • Finding • Managing • Student Expectations • Cost • Workload • Logistics • Pre-departure • In-country

9. Questions for Starting • What is the primary need? • e.g. Students need international experience/perspective • What are your restraints? • Time • Funding • Administrative support • Knowledge • What pre-existing resources can you leverage? • Foreign partner schools • Corporate contacts • Overseas campuses • How will we measure the outcome? • What are realistic milestones/timeline?

10. Suggestions • Student expectations • Information session • Student agreement • Selecting students • Logistics • Use local university partners • Keep group sizes small • Assign one leader for entire trip • Deal early with non-US citizens

11. Project Sponsors • Sources: • Companies which recruit at your institution • Alumni connections • Your local US Dept. of Commerce Export Assistance Center • Your state economic development department • Chambers of Commerce • Faculty contacts

12. 2005 Audience with Singaporean President S.R. Nathan Past Groups 2007 Abbott Labs Coronary Stent Plant – Ireland 2009 2010 Moravian Wine Cellar – Czech Republic Panasonic R&D Center – Japan