International Environment of Business

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Country: The Netherlands
City: Maastricht
Department(s): Business
Leaders : Dr. David Boggs (djboggs@eiu.edu)
Subjects: Business 
Terms/Dates: Summer - 5/8/08 to 6/9/08
Credits: 4
Budget: Cost Breakdown
Eligibility and Prerequisites:

Good Academic Standing
Good Judicial Standing
Business majors, minors or pre-business
Notes: This program is subject to a minimum student enrollment.
Application Deadlines: December 7, 2007
(Extended to January 25, 2007)
Application Materials:

EIU Program Application (Faculty-led Programs)

Basics for Faculty-led Programs (step by step from application to realization)

Academic Program

This study abroad course introduces students to the international business environment focusing on the European Union (EU). Topics include cultural, political, social, and economic factors affecting international business; the regulatory and ethical environment of global business; and an introduction to financial, marketing, and management issues affecting businesses. The course, which will be taught in Maastricht, The Netherlands, will include field trips to business firms and, possibly, to the EU headquarters in Brussels.  Students will be encouraged to travel to other places in Europe on weekends.
Activities/Itinerary

1

May 12

Overview
The cultural environment of international business

1

May 13

Guest lecture:  Comparing business customs, etiquette, and school systems across cultures
Guest Speaker

1

May 14

International trade—history and theory

1

May 15

Assignment 1 due – 1-2 page paper

1

May 15

Field trip - Port of Antwerp

2

May 19

Economic and political environment of international business
EU – current issues
Guest Speaker: Christophe Dumont – IBM Belgium

2

May 20

EU -  History, structure, and regulatory issues

2

May 21

Ethical issues in international market structure

2

May 22

The global financial environment: foreign exchange and currencies, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank

2

May 22

Assignment 2 – 2 page paper

3

May 26

Finance in international business

3

May 27

Assignment 3 due – 2-3 page paper

3

May 28

Field trip – ING world headquarters, Amsterdam

3

May 29

Field trip – Heineken – near Amsterdam

4

Jun 2

Human resources in international business (with focus on EU)

4

Jun 3

Entry strategies & marketing issues in international business (with focus on EU)

4

Jun 4

Group presentations and assessment

4

Jun 5

 Field trip – CAT Belgium – near Brussels

 

Jun 30

Final paper due


Enrollment/Credit

Make course/substitution selections on your EIU Program Application. The credit hours associated with your selections may not exceed the credit hours allocated for this program: 4

Below are the choices available for this program:

Course Number: BUS 3970 (CourseID: 1637)
Approved Substitute: ECN 3891 (SubID 1859)
Approved Substitute: FIN 0000 (SubID 1860)
Approved Substitute: MAR 0000 (SubID 1861)
Approved Substitute: MGT 0000 (SubID 1862)
Course Number: MBA 5997 (CourseID: 1638)
Approved Substitute: none (SubID 1863)
Accommodations

Students will live in single dorm rooms with shared baths. Three meals per day Monday through Thursday meals are included in the price.

Orientations

At least two pre-departure orientations will be provided and are required for all participants.

Your faculty leader will hold one of these orientations, where he/she will cover information on safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies), as well as planning logistics.

The Office of Study Aborad (OSA) will hold the other orientation. They will cover general information about traveling abroad to different areas of the world and facilitate a panel discussion composed of students who have already participated in faculty-led study abroad programs.

Necessary Documents
Passport
To enter a foreign country, you must have a valid passport. If you are a U.S. citizen and do not currently have a valid passport, or if your passport will expire during the time you will be overseas, please go to the U.S. State Department web site for information on how to apply for/renew your passport.

You are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on your host countries. It will provide you with a great deal of information to help you prepare for your trip.

**Please be aware that you are responsible for obtaining the most up-to-date information on foreign entry requirements. The Office of Study Abroad only provides general information, as regulations and procedures are always changing. Please consult the Consulate for more information. **