Short Term Study Abroad for MBAs – New Models

James HoadleyGT CIBER

Georgia Institute of TechnologyKansas City 2010

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.

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

Other Models Continued

• Yale – Global Social Enterprise– Restricted to NGOs– Size restricted

• Manchester Business School (UK) – International Business Project– Capstone requirement– Larger logistical demands

Other Models Concluded

• Nanyang Technological University –– Student research published– Somewhat more academic in nature

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

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

Major Obstacles

• Projects– Finding– Managing

• Student Expectations– Cost– Workload

• Logistics– Pre-departure– In-country

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?

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

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

2005

Audience with Singaporean President S.R. Nathan

Past Groups

Abbott Labs Coronary Stent Plant – Ireland

2007

2009

Moravian Wine Cellar – Czech Republic

2010

Panasonic R&D Center – Japan