This summer, study-abroad courses are being offered in India, China, Italy and in the University’s campuses overseas — Wroxton College in England and FDU-Vancouver.

India

An undergraduate course (Managing Culture, Diversity and Change in the Global Workplace) and a graduate course (Leading Culturally Diverse Workplaces) will be offered in India from June 29 through July 8. During the 10-day educational sojourn, students will visit the major cities of New Delhi, Agra and Mumbai and have the opportunity to experience various aspects of culture, diversity, heritage, economy and leadership in the Indian context.

The graduate course will explore the dimensions of diversity, cross-cultural models, assessment tools and best practices to improve cross-cultural relationships. The undergraduate course will emphasize culture and cultural differences in employee, management and organizational behavior. Paulette Laubsch, administrative science (Metro), and Joseph Thomas, associate director, online master in administrative science degree program, Petrocelli College (Metro), will jointly conduct the two blended courses of theory and field experiences.

Participants will have on-line course components before and after the trip, but there is no on-campus requirement. For more information, contact Joseph Thomas, associate director, online MAS degree program, Petrocelli College (Metro), at (201) 692-7170, jthomas@fdu.edu, or visit http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=4665 .

China

Students in the global MBA program will take a business trip, June 1 to 14, to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China, as part of the requirements for the capstone course. The purpose of the trip is to develop a strategic understanding for the growth in key centers of economic development that has characterized the Chinese economy over the past few years.

According to James Almeida, associate dean, Silberman College (Metro/Flor), who designed the trip, “Each region that will be visited has its own unique features in terms of focus and the manner in which it has contributed to economic growth in China. Shenzhen is a city just across from Hong Kong and represents the first attempt by the Chinese government at their economic revival. Pudong, located on the outskirts of Shanghai, was the next region to be developed, followed by Tianjin, outside Beijing. By visiting all three regions, students will get a sense for the similarities and differences among these areas.”

Students will attend a variety of seminars on international business, visit multinationals and other economic organizations and gain a cultural appreciation for the country. Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing, an international partnership school of the Silberman College of Business, will coordinate the trip. Students will be accompanied by Evangelos Djimopoulos, chair, economics/finance/international business (Metro/Flor), Zhaobo Wang, decision sciences (Flor).

Prior to the departure, Wang will conduct an orientation session at a local Chinese restaurant to teach students Chinese business dining etiquette and acquaint them with Chinese customs, traditions and the manner in which the Chinese people interact with foreign visitors. Students will also learn some conversational Chinese so that they are well prepared for the experience.

This capstone experience of the program requires students to work in teams and on specific projects related to entering and operating in the Chinese market. After they return from their business trip, the students will spend the next six weeks developing a comprehensive analysis of the factors associated with entering the Chinese market and examining appropriate strategies for competing in that market.

To learn more about this opportunity, contact Karin Hamilton, administrative director, graduate and global programs, Silberman College (Flor/Metro), at 973-443-8290 or hamilton@fdu.edu.

Italy

For the third straight year, a short-term study abroad in Italy (Rome and Florence) is being offered through the department of modern languages and literature. Two courses are being offered: Beginning Italian 1 taught by Josephine Spina, Italian (Flor), and Contemporary Italy taught by Angelo Spina, Italian (Flor), for those who want to become familiar with the Italian culture.

The first part of both courses (July 7–31) will begin with classes at the College at Florham. The second half of the course, from August 1 through 12, will be held in Italy. The world-famous Renaissance city of Florence was chosen as the program’s home base to give students an opportunity to observe and study the works of da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and many others. The group will also be able to visit Pisa, with its tower, church, baptistry and manicured lawn; Siena, with Duccio’s “Madonnas” and its oval square; and Venice. For information contact Josephine and Angelo Spina at jspina@fdu.edu, aspina@fdu.edu or ezraspina@aol.com.

FDU-Vancouver

An undergraduate course is being offered in FDU-Vancouver. The Great Pacific Northwest: Environmental Issues and Cultural Perspectives, a combination lecture and laboratory/field course, will be taught by Richard Lo Pinto, biological sciences (Metro). The first two weeks (June 11–21) in New Jersey will be devoted to lectures, field and lab experiences exploring environmental issues and understanding how the ecosystems function. The third week (June 25–29) will be spent taking classes in FDU-Vancouver and exploring the area’s rainforests and observing the interactions between humans and Vancouver’s diverse ecosystems. For information about the summer courses in FDU-Vancouver, go to http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=4626 .

Wroxton College

Three undergraduate courses and one graduate seminar will be offered at Wroxton College, Oxfordshire, England, this summer.

The visual and performing arts department, College at Florham, will conduct the undergraduate course, Exploring the Great Museums of England: History of British Photography and Painting, August 1 through August 19. The course, taught by Kristin Baxter, art (Flor), with lectures by Wendy Hart, guest lecturer and art historian (Wrox), will include visits to museums and historical sites in London and throughout England. Lectures on British photography will be followed by a related, hands-on project that focuses on artistic processes. For more information and to apply, call Brian Swanzey, director, Wroxton study abroad (Flor), at 973-443-8086 or e-mail brian_swanzey@fdu.edu.

The British Mind, a humanities course, will run from June 17 through June 28. It will be team taught by Christopher Devine, chemistry/philosophy (Metro); Francis Ingledew, English/comparative literature (Metro); and Jason Scorza, philosophy/political science and director, art/media studies and English/philosophy/humanities (Metro). The course will include field visits to art, scientific and natural history museums; ecological walks in rural England; excursions to cultural and intellectual centers such as Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and London; and guest lectures by British faculty. For information call 201-692-2263 or e-mail scorza@fdu.edu.

The School of Criminal Justice, Metropolitan Campus, will run the undergraduate course Comparative Criminal Justice Systems: United States and Great Britain from May 19 through June 1. Taught in collaboration with British criminal justice professionals and the faculty of Wroxton College, the course will examine the respective social, cultural, historical, political, economic, geographical, operational and administrative components of both systems. Students will have the opportunity to visit local police constabularies, the London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard), British courts and British prisons and have a private tour of Parliament. For additional information contact Robert Vodde, director, criminal justice (Metro), at 201-692-2465.

The graduate seminar Changing World of International Business, offered from June 4 through June 14, will focus on understanding the global business process, its environments and cultures; managing in global environments and cultures; and understanding and working in specific regions and culture. Additional topics include corporate culture; the impact of change on global business, technology and mobile work; and the multinational corporation. Conducted by Michael Goodman, communication (Metro), and director, Corporate Communication Institute (CCI) (Flor), the seminar will include lectures by experts on corporate communication and its strategic management in a global environment. Students attended a seminar in March on campus and will attend CCI’s Conference on Corporate Communication. For information call 201-692-2263 or e-mail goodman@fdu.edu.

April/May 2007

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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