Over the summer, the Dean's office and the William Davidson Institute put into place two exciting new electives for MBAs. These courses, each focused on different regions, have been selected with the objective of exposing Ross students to global business. According to Dean Valerie Suslow, a champion of these courses, "an important component of being a global business school is training the next generation of business leaders to operate in today's global marketplace," and the faculty hopes that these courses help to achieve just that. Also, according to Suslow, the school is hoping to expand these electives to many more countries, based on the success of these classes. Below, find a first-look interview with each of the course professors to find out more about these electives.
Class Title: Bridging in the Globalized World - Turkey and the European Union. Interview conducted with Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, an Assistant Professor in the M&O Department and Faculty Associate at the William Davidson Institute.
Why Turkey?
Turkey and Istanbul specifically serve as a bridge between East and West, a culture and growing marketeconomythat illustrate fundamental issues in bridging the BoP to the ToP, traditionalism andcosmopolitanism, growth and sustainability. So our deep-dive analysis of Turkey's bid for membership into European Union will bring to light an array of issues including: cross-cultural management, global leadership, brand management in emerging economies, the effect of potential radical shifts in monetary and regulatory policy on local markets and foreign investment, the diffusion of green technologies, and so on. Turkey is the point of focus, as it exists as a microcosm of the currents that are in play throughout the globalizing marketplace. This class exists to bring to the table a country distinct from East Asian and India to discuss as we think about globalization.
What was the impetus for this global focused class?
TheDean's office and the WDI were visionary in seeing the real need to offer our MBAs the opportunity to experience first hand current issues related to globalization. When the Deans asked faculty to submit proposals for a travel-study course, I saw this as great opportunity to offer one of my dream courses in which MBAs have the opportunity to develop their global leadership skills, network with business leaders and MBAs abroad, and provide new knowledge on a topic near and dear to their hearts.
Who is eligible for the course?
Amaximumof 25MBA2s and evening MBAs.
What is the primary focus of this course?
Developing students' global leadership acumen through a student- chosen project on any topic relevant to Turkey's bid for membership into the European Union. As well, the overarching theme of this course is 'Bridging in a Global Market Place,' where students will work to connect what seem like very disparate issues - BoP to ToP, traditionalism and cosmopolitanism, and growth and sustainability.
What kind of student would be best suited to this course?
Students who have an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities related to cross-cultural management and a sense of the skills needed to compete in a cross-cultural environment.
Will this cost me any money?
Are you asking if there is such a thing as a free lunch? This entire class will cost less than spring break on theC“te d'Azur, and about the same as a week surfing in Coolangatta. This trip-- which will include access to and networking opportunities with business leaders and managers from diverse industries, government leaders, and MBA students from Koc and Sabanci University in Istanbul, along with city tours-- would cost much more if it were not for a gracious subsidy provided by WDI and the Dean's office. To find out more specifics, please attend the information session.
Do I bid on this class? If not, then, how do I get into the class?
Students will not need to bid for this class. The process will be explained at the information session.
Are International Students eligible?
We are all international students in the global marketplace, no? If the student can legally travel to Turkey, then yes, s/he is eligible.
How do you say "hello" in Turkish?
Depends on the target of your greeting of course...
merhaba -> hi, hello
nasilsiniz? -> how are you? (formal)
naber? -> what's up (very causal)
What else should students know about this course?
The unique collection of individuals that students will meet with prior to the trip and in Istanbul is amazing. The itinerary I've put together will provide students with substantive and relevant knowledge about the opportunities and challenges of globalization, increase their networks they will have throughout their careers, and deep insight into the fundamentals of global leadership.
Class Title: Legal Strategies for Intellectual Property Rights Protection in China.
Interview conducted with Lynda J. Oswald, Michael R. & Mary Kay Hallman Fellow and Professor of Business Law.
Why China?
China provides an excellent setting to explore the intellectual property rights (IPR) challenges that firms face in foreign settings. Although China's burgeoning economy provides many opportunities for foreign firms seeking to expand business opportunities, develop new markets, and/or invest, its historically weak IPR regime poses risks for foreign businesses as well. China has made significant strides in IPR protection measures in recent, yet China remains a complex and challenging environment for companies seeking to protect their IP assets. Thus, this course will enable us to explore the international implications of IP law and strategy in depth in the context of a county with a dynamic economy, growing global business presence, and legal systems significantly different from that found in the United States or other western countries.
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