The Doermer School of Business provides learning experiences in international business in France and the European Union (EU) and in Mexico. The experiences consist of short courses in how to do business in the France/EU and Mexico. Each short course is designed and delivered by our academic partners Ecole de Management in Grenoble France and Tec de Monterrey (ITESM) in Monterrey Mexico.
The short on-site course in the subject country is designed to allow students to enrich marketing studies for two northeast Indiana firms that are interested in opening new markets, expanding existing markets, or reentering former markets in that part of the world.
The experience is housed within the three-credit course D490. The trip to the subject country and the short course learning with our local academic partner take place during mid-semester. The travel, lodging, and meal expenses are paid from funds given to this project by Bill Lawson and the Miriam and Ian Rolland Family Foundation. At the end of the semester, students present their marketing studies to the management team of the northeast Indiana subject companies.
The experience is a study of the business and people cultures of the subject countries.
In the Spring of 2010, a group of students had the opportunity to go to Fudan University in Shanghai and Peking University in Beijing, China. The students have a client firm, which they study during the semester. The client firm, which were used in the Spring 2010 was Leepoxy.
During March 5th to March 15th, 2010, a group of students had the opportunity to go to Shanghai and Beijing, China. While "on-location", students studied and stayed in Shanghai and Beijing learned about the Chinese economy, business culture, and cultural differences between China and the United States. The students also visited five companies covering different industries and different types of organizations.
While the students learned about Chinese business customs, they also did market research for two Fort Wayne businesses, considering how their clients’ products and services may be marketed, sold, and used in that part of the world. Once back in class at IPFW, they put together international business plans for each firm pointing out how they can improve their strategic positions on the global market.
Not all of the students’ time was spent on business; they also had several cultural excursions, including visits to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing and a trip to the Great Wall. As part of their experience, the students kept diaries of their experiences.
These students did not just decide to take this course and go on this trip; they were among a field of 40 top-level students who were invited to apply for admission to the class. Susan Byers, director of the DSBMS Student Center, said about half the invited students applied and from those the ten class members were selected.
Byers and Assistant Professor of Marketing Nichaya Nan Suntornpithug, the course instructor, accompanied the students on their journey as did Otto Chang, dean of the school. The group arrived in Shanghai Friday afternoon and stayed there until Tuesday, March 10 when they moved on to Beijing. They left China Sunday, March 15.
The cost of the trip is underwritten by local businessman Bill Lawson.
In the Spring of 2009, a group of students had the opportunity to go to Fudan University in Shanghai and Peking University in Beijing, China. The students have a client firm, which they study during the semester. The client firm, which were used in the Spring 2009 was Do it Best Corp. and Vera Bradley.
During March 5th to March 15th, 2009, a group of students had the opportunity to go to Shanghai and Beijing, China. While "on-location", students attended different lectures and seminars hosted by local institutions on the topics range from local culture to local business practices. The students also had a chance to interact with the Chinese business students from University of Shanghai for Science and technology in Shanghai and Beijing University of Chemical Technology in Beijing, China. The international study trip also includes visits to companies pertaining to fashion and home improvement industries and cultural outings.
In the Spring of 2008, a group of students had the opportunity to go to Fudan University in Shanghai and Peking University in Beijing, China. The students have a client firm, which they study during the semester. The client firm, which were used in the Spring 2008 was SensoryCritters.com and BioAdvanTek, Inc.
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