In order to understand business today, you need to be familiar with global business. The global market is a reality. Dramatic innovations in communication, information, and transportation technologies have shrunk the globe and have led towards a single market. In every industry, firms that once dominated national markets find themselves players in a larger and more competitive global marketplace. Immerse yourself in these important international issues with Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business and attend one of our international summer programs.
The D’Amore-McKim MBA international summer programs are designed to give you knowledge in and new perspectives regarding international business. They will help you develop critical skills necessary to compete and succeed in the global market. All courses involve a multinational faculty and are taught in English. Each program offers a unique opportunity to explore business outside the traditional classroom boundaries and to provide a unique addition to your resume.
To help you acquire a deeper understanding of the exciting changes taking place across the globe, academic coursework during the Spring 2020 semester will be augmented with a 10 day trip encompassing a variety of activities including talks by guest speakers; meetings with regional officials; a visit to a local university; and visits to local, national and multinational firms.
2020 Destinations
Through visits to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, this IFS will focus on Israel’s high tech and innovative business environment and historical culture. Students will visit with start-up, venture capital and multinational companies and government agencies to gain first-hand knowledge of the Israeli economy and business acumen. We will also explore cultural and historical sites in and around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Israel is recognized as a world leader in high technology and innovation. Israel’s Silicon Wadi, located primarily in Tel Aviv but covering a 125 mile strip from Haifa in the north to the Negev desert in the south, is second only to the United States in the creation of the most number of high tech start-ups (Kandell, 2016). Israel is nicknamed “Start-Up Nation” because of its high concentration of start-ups per capita. For a country the size of New Jersey, there are 79 Israeli companies listed on NASDAQ, and The World Bank rates Israel second in the world for venture capital availability. The Bloomberg Innovation Index for 2019 (BII) ranks Israel as the fifth most innovative nation in the world. The BII notes that Israel leads the world in research and development, is second in the number of researchers per capita, is fourth in patent activity, and is fifth in high-tech density.
Areas of Interest
Tel Aviv, founded in 1909, is the business capital of Israel. In 2018, Compass ranked Tel Aviv fifth in the world for starting a business. Tel Aviv University is renowned for its interdisciplinary research on nanotech, neuroscience, bioinformatics and renewable energies. The cosmopolitan city, located on the Mediterranean Sea, is home to the White City, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site of 1930s Bauhaus/International style buildings. Tel Aviv is a major center of culture and entertainment with many performing arts centers, theaters, lively nightlife and picturesque Mediterranean beaches.
Recognized as an ancient city holy to billions around the world, Jerusalem combines an exceptional combination of history and modernity. The city is a thriving center for biomedical engineering, clean environmental technology, accelerators, and mobile start-ups, leading Entrepreneur magazine to rank Jerusalem as the number one emerging technology hub in the world. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a leading research university, supports medical, cyber security, nanotech and entrepreneurship among other fields of research and development and provides top talent to area businesses. Coexisting with Jerusalem’s vibrant tech environment are its numerous historical sites, including the Old City with its Armenian, Muslim, Christian and Jewish Quarters, Yad Vashem, the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In addition to business visits, we will likely have the opportunity to see these historical sites and visit the Dead Sea, the lowest elevation point on Earth.
Course Description
Students will be exposed to a variety of technologically advanced and innovative businesses along with historical cultural visits in and around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. While in Israel, students will attend lectures by leading business executives and government officials and business visits to start-up, venture capital and multinational firms. The overall objective of the course is to learn about ecosystem factors that enhance or deter Israel’s high tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship culture and to explore its future direction.
Format of Instruction
The class will meet four times before departure. Popular materials and case studies will be read to provide a foundation of the entrepreneurial, economic, political and cultural environments of Israel. Coursework will include participation, two individual case write-ups, and a team presentation and executive summary on a field of innovation in Israel’s innovation ecosystem. The team presentation will be made during the Israel visit. On return, students will prepare a post visit reflection paper.
Instructor
Dr. Felicia Lassk, Associate Professor of Marketing, D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Accommodations, Transportation, and Meals
Participants will be housed in double rooms in high-quality tourist hotels during the program. Accommodations for spouses or friends are not available. Breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners are included. Students are usually responsible for other meals. Students are responsible for securing passports and visa. Inter-country transportation is included.
Israel is recognized as a world leader in high technology and innovation. Israel’s Silicon Wadi, located primarily in Tel Aviv but covering a 125 mile strip from Haifa in the north to the Negev desert in the south, is second only to the United States in the creation of the most number of high tech start-ups (Kandell, 2016). Israel is nicknamed “Start-Up Nation” because of its high concentration of start-ups per capita. For a country the size of New Jersey, there are 79 Israeli companies listed on NASDAQ, and The World Bank rates Israel second in the world for venture capital availability. The Bloomberg Innovation Index for 2019 (BII) ranks Israel as the fifth most innovative nation in the world. The BII notes that Israel leads the world in research and development, is second in the number of researchers per capita, is fourth in patent activity, and is fifth in high-tech density.
Areas of Interest
Tel Aviv, founded in 1909, is the business capital of Israel. In 2018, Compass ranked Tel Aviv fifth in the world for starting a business. Tel Aviv University is renowned for its interdisciplinary research on nanotech, neuroscience, bioinformatics and renewable energies. The cosmopolitan city, located on the Mediterranean Sea, is home to the White City, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site of 1930s Bauhaus/International style buildings. Tel Aviv is a major center of culture and entertainment with many performing arts centers, theaters, lively nightlife and picturesque Mediterranean beaches.
Recognized as an ancient city holy to billions around the world, Jerusalem combines an exceptional combination of history and modernity. The city is a thriving center for biomedical engineering, clean environmental technology, accelerators, and mobile start-ups, leading Entrepreneur magazine to rank Jerusalem as the number one emerging technology hub in the world. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a leading research university, supports medical, cyber security, nanotech and entrepreneurship among other fields of research and development and provides top talent to area businesses. Coexisting with Jerusalem’s vibrant tech environment are its numerous historical sites, including the Old City with its Armenian, Muslim, Christian and Jewish Quarters, Yad Vashem, the Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In addition to business visits, we will likely have the opportunity to see these historical sites and visit the Dead Sea, the lowest elevation point on Earth.
Course Description
Students will be exposed to a variety of technologically advanced and innovative businesses along with historical cultural visits in and around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. While in Israel, students will attend lectures by leading business executives and government officials and business visits to start-up, venture capital and multinational firms. The overall objective of the course is to learn about ecosystem factors that enhance or deter Israel’s high tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship culture and to explore its future direction.
Format of Instruction
The class will meet four times before departure. Popular materials and case studies will be read to provide a foundation of the entrepreneurial, economic, political and cultural environments of Israel. Coursework will include participation, two individual case write-ups, and a team presentation and executive summary on a field of innovation in Israel’s innovation ecosystem. The team presentation will be made during the Israel visit. On return, students will prepare a post visit reflection paper.
Instructor
Dr. Felicia Lassk, Associate Professor of Marketing, D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Accommodations, Transportation, and Meals
Participants will be housed in double rooms in high-quality tourist hotels during the program. Accommodations for spouses or friends are not available. Breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners are included. Students are usually responsible for other meals. Students are responsible for securing passports and visa. Inter-country transportation is included.
This IFS will focus on the growth of the economies of Portugal and Morocco over the past several decades, as well as the challenges that each country faced as they sought to develop their economies. The socio-cultural, economic, historical, and political context of each country will be examined as we survey their growth and improvements in the well-being of their citizens. We will also study how each country is leveraging its country-specific advantages and its membership in regional trade alliances to advance its economy. Students will meet with executives and academics, and we will also explore cultural landmarks in Portugal and Morocco. Led by Ravi Sarathy, Professor, International Business and Strategy.
Portugal and Morocco represent two contrasting economies in the Mediterranean and North African region, with each country at a different stage of economic development. While Morocco is still an emerging market, Portugal is already a developed economy, albeit one of the smaller middle-income countries within the European Union. Portugal has had to overcome decades of inertia under a dictatorship and as a colonial power with colonies that once spanned the globe. Portugal’s entry into the European Union, and the transformation wrought with this opening up of its economy, is an interesting lesson in the benefits and drawbacks of regional integration. In contrast, Morocco has deep Arabic and French colonial influences, is a constitutional monarchy, and has to accommodate Islamist principles in its economic strategies. Both countries are relatively small economies in the global arena, with GDP at less than 1% of World GDP, and hence need to better integrate with the world’s major economies in order to continue to achieve economic growth.
Areas of Interest
Portugal and Morocco border the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, with significant amounts of coastline, and within close transportation distance of the major markets of the European Union. Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, a hilly city on the Tagus River and the Atlantic, and with its population of around half a million, is small by European capital standards, but a city rich in history. Shipping and global navigation, a high-tech industry of the 1500s, was the impetus behind Portugal’s rise as a maritime empire, with Lisbon the port of departure for explorers such as Vasco de Gama and Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan). Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, to its considerable benefit, with its GDP increasing from around $25 billion in the mid-1980s to nearly $220 billion in 2017. Intra-EU trade now accounts for ¾ of its exports, though Portugal is still one of the lower income countries within the EU, with its lower wages attracting manufacturing investments from other states within the EU. Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city, economic capital, and principal port, with its name derived from the Portuguese city built at the location in the early 1500s – “Casa Branca”. Morocco was once part of the Roman Empire, with the Arab conquest in the 7th century bringing Islam to Morocco, which has an important influence on its economic activity.
Course Description
Students will be exposed to an array of cultural and business differences in the region with unique emphasis on challenges and opportunities related to economic development and growth. While in Portugal and Morocco, students will interact with executives, academics, and government officials. The overall objective of the course is to learn about the process of economic development and the path to higher incomes, drawing on the experiences of Portugal and Morocco.
Format of Instruction
The class will meet monthly prior to trip departure. Students will review case studies and other readings about Portugal and Morocco and the current economic and cultural environment of emerging markets and the EU. Students will develop case analysis, and do presentations on selected readings, as well as participate in class discussion and complete a final project.
Instructor
Ravi Sarathy, Professor, International Business and Strategy, D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Accommodations, Transportation, & Meals
Participants will be housed in double rooms in high-quality tourist hotels during the program. Accommodations for spouses or friends are not available. Breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners are included. Students are usually responsible for other meals. Students are responsible for securing passports and visas. Inter-country transportation is included.
Portugal and Morocco represent two contrasting economies in the Mediterranean and North African region, with each country at a different stage of economic development. While Morocco is still an emerging market, Portugal is already a developed economy, albeit one of the smaller middle-income countries within the European Union. Portugal has had to overcome decades of inertia under a dictatorship and as a colonial power with colonies that once spanned the globe. Portugal’s entry into the European Union, and the transformation wrought with this opening up of its economy, is an interesting lesson in the benefits and drawbacks of regional integration. In contrast, Morocco has deep Arabic and French colonial influences, is a constitutional monarchy, and has to accommodate Islamist principles in its economic strategies. Both countries are relatively small economies in the global arena, with GDP at less than 1% of World GDP, and hence need to better integrate with the world’s major economies in order to continue to achieve economic growth.
Areas of Interest
Portugal and Morocco border the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, with significant amounts of coastline, and within close transportation distance of the major markets of the European Union. Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, a hilly city on the Tagus River and the Atlantic, and with its population of around half a million, is small by European capital standards, but a city rich in history. Shipping and global navigation, a high-tech industry of the 1500s, was the impetus behind Portugal’s rise as a maritime empire, with Lisbon the port of departure for explorers such as Vasco de Gama and Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan). Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, to its considerable benefit, with its GDP increasing from around $25 billion in the mid-1980s to nearly $220 billion in 2017. Intra-EU trade now accounts for ¾ of its exports, though Portugal is still one of the lower income countries within the EU, with its lower wages attracting manufacturing investments from other states within the EU. Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city, economic capital, and principal port, with its name derived from the Portuguese city built at the location in the early 1500s – “Casa Branca”. Morocco was once part of the Roman Empire, with the Arab conquest in the 7th century bringing Islam to Morocco, which has an important influence on its economic activity.
Course Description
Students will be exposed to an array of cultural and business differences in the region with unique emphasis on challenges and opportunities related to economic development and growth. While in Portugal and Morocco, students will interact with executives, academics, and government officials. The overall objective of the course is to learn about the process of economic development and the path to higher incomes, drawing on the experiences of Portugal and Morocco.
Format of Instruction
The class will meet monthly prior to trip departure. Students will review case studies and other readings about Portugal and Morocco and the current economic and cultural environment of emerging markets and the EU. Students will develop case analysis, and do presentations on selected readings, as well as participate in class discussion and complete a final project.
Instructor
Ravi Sarathy, Professor, International Business and Strategy, D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Accommodations, Transportation, & Meals
Participants will be housed in double rooms in high-quality tourist hotels during the program. Accommodations for spouses or friends are not available. Breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners are included. Students are usually responsible for other meals. Students are responsible for securing passports and visas. Inter-country transportation is included.
This International Field Study will focus on the growth of the economy of Peru over the past few decades and the cultural, economic and political reasons behind this growth. We will have a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the driving forces behind Lima’s globalization with the traditional Andean values embraced in Cusco. We will examine how each city is leveraging its image to drive business and tourism. Students will meet with corporate leaders in local industries such as textiles, energy, import/export, finance and IT as well as explore cultural landmarks in Lima and Cusco.
The Peruvian economy has had considerable success in recent years and has been a role model for many Latin American nations. With multiple years of GDP growth rates of over five percent since 2000, Peru has been one of the fastest growing economies in the Western Hemisphere. Importantly, poverty reduction has been a key component of growth strategies for Peru and leaders have found a way to preserve traditional Peruvian values while embracing the global economy. The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the business and governmental practices that have resulted in a sustainable level of economic development in Peru in recent years. Further, we will explore cultural differences in the region and how each country has established its ‘brand’ on the world stage.
Areas of Interest
Lima and Cusco will be the hubs for this IFS. Lima has a rich history dating back to the sixteenth century. Peruvians are known for their genuine kindness, business acumen, traditional values, creativity, and global outlook. Peru is a true multicultural society and the economic growth of Peru has been looked to as a model for a number of emerging markets. We will visit a wide range of industries in each city ranging from food and beverage to financial services to construction/mining.
Course Description
Students will be exposed to an array of cultural and business differences in the region with unique emphasis on challenges and opportunities related to emerging economies. While in Peru, students will attend lectures by business executives, leading academics, and government officials. Students will also interact with their counterparts from a top university in the region. The overall objective of the course is to learn about the challenges and advantages of operating a business in Peru.
Format of Instruction
The class will meet monthly prior to trip departure. Students will read case studies and popular press articles about Peru and the current economic and cultural environment of South America. Students will write up a case analysis and student teams will present their recommendations for export feasibility projects to colleagues in Peru.
Instructor
Christopher J. Robertson, Professor & Group Coordinator of International Business and Strategy Group, D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Accommodations, Transportation & Meals
Participants will be housed in double rooms in high-quality tourist hotels during the program. Accommodations for spouses or friends are not available. Breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners are included. Students are usually responsible for other meals. Students are responsible for securing passports and visas. Inter-country transportation is included.
The Peruvian economy has had considerable success in recent years and has been a role model for many Latin American nations. With multiple years of GDP growth rates of over five percent since 2000, Peru has been one of the fastest growing economies in the Western Hemisphere. Importantly, poverty reduction has been a key component of growth strategies for Peru and leaders have found a way to preserve traditional Peruvian values while embracing the global economy. The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the business and governmental practices that have resulted in a sustainable level of economic development in Peru in recent years. Further, we will explore cultural differences in the region and how each country has established its ‘brand’ on the world stage.
Areas of Interest
Lima and Cusco will be the hubs for this IFS. Lima has a rich history dating back to the sixteenth century. Peruvians are known for their genuine kindness, business acumen, traditional values, creativity, and global outlook. Peru is a true multicultural society and the economic growth of Peru has been looked to as a model for a number of emerging markets. We will visit a wide range of industries in each city ranging from food and beverage to financial services to construction/mining.
Course Description
Students will be exposed to an array of cultural and business differences in the region with unique emphasis on challenges and opportunities related to emerging economies. While in Peru, students will attend lectures by business executives, leading academics, and government officials. Students will also interact with their counterparts from a top university in the region. The overall objective of the course is to learn about the challenges and advantages of operating a business in Peru.
Format of Instruction
The class will meet monthly prior to trip departure. Students will read case studies and popular press articles about Peru and the current economic and cultural environment of South America. Students will write up a case analysis and student teams will present their recommendations for export feasibility projects to colleagues in Peru.
Instructor
Christopher J. Robertson, Professor & Group Coordinator of International Business and Strategy Group, D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Accommodations, Transportation & Meals
Participants will be housed in double rooms in high-quality tourist hotels during the program. Accommodations for spouses or friends are not available. Breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners are included. Students are usually responsible for other meals. Students are responsible for securing passports and visas. Inter-country transportation is included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications will be submitted through Qualtrics. A link will be provided to the form, which will open on Friday, December 6th, 2019 at 9AM. No applications will be accepted in advance of December 6th. Applications will close on Tuesday, December 10th at 9AM. For more information, view the Application Process here.
Each IFS is offered as a three-semester-hour graduate business course. Students will be registered for the course in the Summer 1 term and will be responsible for the corresponding tuition charge. This year’s tuition rate is $1,640 per semester hour, for a total charge of $4,920.
There is also a program activity fee of $1,000 charged to all students*. The fee will be assessed with the Summer 1 tuition charges. Once a student has been notified and accepts their trip, dropping the class before February 14, 2020 will result in a charge of $200. The full program activity fee will be assessed and not refunded for any cancellation after February 14, 2020.
Students are responsible for travel arrangements and costs of air travel to the starting point of the course and from the departure point. Students are also responsible for passport and/or visa costs, meals not covered by the program activity fee, and incidental expenses.
*Not relevant for MSIB and full-time MBA students
There is also a program activity fee of $1,000 charged to all students*. The fee will be assessed with the Summer 1 tuition charges. Once a student has been notified and accepts their trip, dropping the class before February 14, 2020 will result in a charge of $200. The full program activity fee will be assessed and not refunded for any cancellation after February 14, 2020.
Students are responsible for travel arrangements and costs of air travel to the starting point of the course and from the departure point. Students are also responsible for passport and/or visa costs, meals not covered by the program activity fee, and incidental expenses.
*Not relevant for MSIB and full-time MBA students
Tuition scholarship funds may be used for the tuition if funds remain on account. You may request the Financial Aid Office to modify your budget for the current year so that you may receive more aid (usually in the form of loans) to help cover some of the other expenses.
The fee covers program costs such as management fees, double occupancy accommodations, breakfasts, some lunches and dinners, course-related local transportation, and university and cultural programs. Single occupancy accommodations, where available and requested, will be additional. Roommate requests for double occupancy rooms will be honored, if possible.
Yes, you should plan on bringing spending money for some meals, incidental expenses and personal items. Check with your local bank to learn if your ATM card will be accepted in the cities you’ll visit.
All students will need their passport, valid for a minimum of 6 months following the conclusion of their trip. Specific details regarding passport and visa requirements will be discussed with the participants on each trip.
Absolutely. Most students choose to arrive ahead of time or choose to stay after the trip to travel. However, all students must be at the appropriate hotel at the start of the program.
Students must book their own flights to and from the course. Students are not required to travel together to and from the course, as many wish to arrive early or stay late, but all students MUST travel together during the course. You are free to book your flights directly with the airlines or use your own travel agent. Specific details will be available after the trips are assigned.
Some of the learning is in classrooms located within or near the hotel. In addition, there will be visits to universities, cultural attractions, manufacturing facilities, local companies and government offices.
You will have some free time, but keep in mind that this is an intensive course that demands much of your time. Expect to put in full days, but we feel that a large part of the experience is seeing the sights and experiencing the various culture hands-on.
You cannot. You are welcome to travel before or after the trip with partners, family, or friends. However, during the academic trip, you are expected to be fully present. Under no circumstances will partners, family, or friends be allowed to be present during the trip. you will have limited free time, and even during this time you are socializing with peers and possibly working in teams with your faculty and/or peers. This is an intense course and students are expected to be academically engaged during the entire trip.
Pack light. Remember, you have to carry around whatever you bring. Several business casual outfits are appropriate and packing some comfortable clothing is recommended as well. Women, bring closed toed shoes, as some cultures frown about open-toed shoes in a business setting. Taking a laptop computer is a good idea to take notes, keep a journal and to write case analyses/papers.
While the trip is mostly business casual, business formal may be necessary for some company visits. Your IFS trip leader will discuss country specific dress codes in more detail as the trip date approaches.