Summer 2010 - GO INTERNATIONAL!

Download the Agreement and Release form and return it to the Ahlers Center

Barcelona, Spain and Marrakesh, Morocco

May 31 – June 6: Program in Barcelona

June 6 - July 11: Program in Morocco

June 14 – July 12: Distance Learning (online)

Courses Offered:

• GSBA 532: International Comparative Management (2 units)
• Dr. Denise Dimon – University of San Diego
  • Pre-requisites*: 501 or 515 or equivalent
  • May be applied towards the International Business and Management emphases

This course highlights the impact of culturally-based values on the practice of management. It emphasizes the consideration of both business and cultural issues in managerial decision-making. Further, it explores the wisdom and myriad of issues involved in the transfer of managerial practices across cultures. It provides the individual with insight into their own cultural assumptions as well as their basis of business ethics. Topics range from cultural self awareness to designing culturally-appropriate and ethical management systems.

• GSBA 523: International Financial Management (3 units)

• Dr. Ricardo Leal – COPPEAD/UFRJ (Brazil)
  • Pre-requisites*: 505 or equivalent
  • May be applied towards the International Business and Finance emphases

Provides a survey of the major financial decisions faced by multinational enterprises. Topics include the international financial environment, exchange risk management, global financing, and the investment and funds management decisions of multinationals. Common business processes and skills practiced are usage of currency instruments, hedging strategies, valuation of multi-currency financial and real assets, and the design of multinational fund-flow mechanism. Teaching methods include lecture, class discussion, and case studies.

Mondragon, Spain

July 5th – July 9th: Coursework Abroad in Mondragon

• GSBA 594 Models of Participatory Leadership (3 units)
• Dr. David Herrera- University of San Diego
• Pre-requisites*: 501 or 515 or equivalent
• May be applied towards the International Business and Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Enterprises emphases

This intensive summer course is an opportunity for participants to be exposed first-hand to a unique organizational model of participatory leadership, management, ownership and decision making by attending lectures and visiting sites at the Mondragón Corporación Cooperativa (MCC) in Mondragón, Spain. Students will become acquainted with MCC’s unique leadership, management, educational, training, financial and human resources systems. Participants will also learn the core values that support MCC, which are based on a balance between organizational and personal needs, solidarity with each other and the community, and economic and social justice. Finally, participants will become acquainted with the institutionalized policies, processes and practices that support MCC’s economic and social success.

 

Guadalajara, Mexico

July 22, 23, 24 & August 6: Coursework at USD

August 25 - August 29: Trip to Guadalajara

 

• GSBA 594 Microfinance and Wealth Creation (2 units)
• Dr. Steve Conroy- University of San Diego
  • Pre-requisites*: 503 and 505 or equivalents are strongly recommended. Students should have conversational knowledge of Spanish, as many of the company visits will be conducted only in Spanish
  • May be applied towards the International Business and Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Enterprises emphasis
  • This course is in collaboration with, and includes students from, Tec de Monterrey

This course provides a unique opportunity to explore the area of microfinance and wealth creation—both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Ever since Grameen Bank founder, Professor Muhammad Yunus, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, awareness of and interest in the microfinance business model has been rising dramatically. This course is designed to explore and analyze the key issues associated with microfinance and wealth creation. In the process we will address such questions as: What is microfinance? What are microfinance institutions (MFI’s)? What are the various business models for MFI’s and wealth creation more generally? Must all MFI’s be nonprofit companies? What are common factors among successful MFI’s? How many microfinance institutions (MFI’s) are there globally? What are some of the criticisms of microfinance? What are some of the successes? What is social venture capitalism?

Students will have a chance to explore these questions through course readings, class discussions, group projects, on-site visits to MFI’s and meetings with MFI practitioners and their clients. Students from Tec de Monterrey will come to San Diego for joint class sessions, special guest lectures and local organizational visits. Then USD students will travel to the city of Guadalajara, Mexico to see first-hand how microlending is being carried out in Latin America.