RSM Executive MBA study trips bring new insights to participants
Rotterdam, August 2009 --- The Executive MBA participants at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University embark on international immersion trips each year as part of their MBA programme. The study trips comprise of, amongst others, local company visits, lectures by local faculty, best local business practice discussions and visits to developmental projects.
This year, the first and second year EMBA participants went to South Africa, Japan and India respectively this year. According to Arkadiusz Mironko, Academic Director Executive MBA Programmes, one of the reasons for the study trips is to expose participants to business environments very different to what they operate in on a daily basis, hence the choice of these locations. “We want to confront our students with business settings and situations that force them to think in a different way, finding creative solutions to a diverse range of complex challenges,” he said.
The second year participants travelled to India. Two study trips were available to the first year EMBA participants – either to Japan or South Africa. Participants were addressed by various key business and government stakeholders as well as faculty from local business schools in the respective destinations. All Executive MBA participants had to complete various projects and assignments surrounding the study trips, both pre- and post-departure.
Sonja van Staveren, Programme Manager for the first year EMBA class, who travelled to South Africa with the participants, described the trip as a fantastic experience. “Students had an opportunity to engage in a different cultural and business setting which will facilitate a greater understanding of business practices within emerging markets with huge potential,” she said. She added that participants also received a better understanding of various challenges affecting their daily work lives through this experience.
Participants commented that it was extremely educational and insightful to see the different approaches to business and the effect of cultural influences on business in the respective countries. They commented that it was interesting to assess the parallels and opposites between European and local business practices.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is a top-ranked international business school renowned for its ground-breaking research in sustainable business practice and for the development of leaders in global business. Offering an array of bachelor, master, doctoral, MBA and executive education programmes, RSM is consistently ranked amongst the top 10 business schools in Europe.
www.rsm.nl
For more information on RSM or on this release, please contact Marianne Schouten, Media & Public Relations Manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at
mschouten@rsm.nl.
