The Denver Executive MBA Program takes experiential learning beyond the classroom and workplaces of its students. Crossing international boundaries is the best way for participants to gain first-hand knowledge of global operations, international business practices and cultural relationships.
The 10-day learning tour includes exchanges with top executives and managers, discussion on international business practices and tours of companies that compete in the global economy. Program candidates return with a refreshing outlook and global perspective that they can apply to their corporate lives.
The trip takes place during the first summer following the start of new classes, and a portion of the cost is subsidized. Whenever possible, the program faculty align case studies and best practices with firms to be visited on the international tours, allowing Denver Executive MBA students the opportunity for hands-on reviews of domestic and international counterparts and partnerships. Contact program staff for updated schedule and further information.
2008 Study Tour
The study tour in 2008 visited Beijing and Shanghai, China. The tour began in Beijing with a sight-seeing day, allowing the class to visit such sites as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven, as well as a variety of other cultural sites over the course of the trip. In succeeding days the class visited the offices of Zhongzi Law Office, Kerr-McGee Petroleum China and China Beijing Equity Exchange. The class also met with officials regarding the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Continuing to Shanghai, the group toured the city’s new deep water port and met with representatives from Pro-Logis, Coca-Cola and The Walt Disney Company China.
2007 Study Tour
The Denver Executive MBA class of 2008 completed a study tour to Belgium and Poland. Seventeen students and faculty visited several business and political organizations and cultural sites. The trip was coordinated with the assistance of Mr. Marek Siwiek, vice-president of the European Parliament and member of the College of Business Global Leadership Council (see photo).
The objective of the international trip for each DEMBA class is to maintain a deeper understanding of business practices, international relations, and underlying cultural traditions of the visited region. This year, for example, many of the visits underscored European Union expansion and its implications on U.S. business interests and security. Preparation for the trip began earlier this spring, with international expansion projects focused on the companies and countries on the itinerary.
The trip began in Brussels with discussions with representatives of the Solvay Business School, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Hogan & Hartson, InBev, EuroControl, and a visit to the European Parliament. InBev is the largest brewing company in the world and EuroControl manages all air traffic in Europe. The students also toured the Port of Antwerp.
The tour proceeded to Poland where the group visited with Dell Computer, the University of Warsaw, and the commercial section of the U.S. Embassy. The Poland portion of the tour focused on Warsaw history and current development opportunities. The trip concluded in Krakow, Poland.
The value of the trip comes in the research and preparation for the tour as well as the interaction with the organizations in the host countries. The tour is part of the Global Enterprise course within the Colorado State University Denver Executive MBA program and continues the tradition of global sustainable entrepreneurship within the College of Business.
2006 Study Tour
The 2006 study tour visited Seoul, South Korea and Beijing, China. In coordination with academic partners The Seoul School of Science and Technology (aSSIST) and the China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing, twenty students, staff and faculty visited several organizations, facilities and cultural sites throughout the region.
Denver Executive MBA students began their trip in Seoul with visits to Namyang Aloe, one of the largest providers of aloe in the world, and PSK, which launched U1 Media, a digital broadcasting company. Additional visits to LG Electronics and Woongjin Coway, a bath and skin care products manufacturer, wrapped up the Korean portion of the trip.
In Beijing, Colorado State University’s DMBA team was hosted by the China Agricultural University, which is a leading agricultural education and research institution in China that offers a wide range of subjects for students majoring in agriculture, biology, engineering, veterinary medicine, economics, management, humanities, and social science. Stops in Beijing included BD Star Navigation, BOE Technology Group, and Huiyuan Beverage and Food Group.
The visits underscore the growing sense of environmental responsibility manifested by some of the people, companies and agencies in both countries.
2005 Study Tour
The students on the 2005 study tour prepared cases and projects for several companies in Korea and Japan, coordinated with on-site visits to Kimberly-Clark, Toyota, Sony, ASO/LaFarge, Kowaco, and Hewlett-Packard in both countries. The student teams researched differences in leadership, culture and markets, as well as Asian economic factors.
In addition, the students viewed many significant projects in both Korea and Japan including the Korean Water Corporation ecological project and ASO/LeFarge production and recycling efforts.
2004 Study Tour
In July 2004, DEMBA students, faculty, and guests visited Munich, Germany, and the cities of Warsaw and Krakow in Poland.
BMW, Deloitte & Touche and Siemens were among the companies visited by the group in Munich. A highlight in Munich was a presentation by Peter Olfs, senior director emeritus of Siemens. Olfs spoke about the influence of culture on how people view, utilize, and deploy technology and the consideration of cultural differences in the design and marketing of products.
In Poland, Colorado State Univeristy students and faculty were beneficiaries of Dean Ajay Menon’s efforts to establish a network of global contacts for students and faculty. Students were able to visit several telecom sector companies including TK Telecom (Telekomunikacja Kolejowa) and enjoyed an exclusive question-and-answer session with Dr. Cezary Stypulkowski of PZU (Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen) Insurance.