International Opportunities

One third of our students are international. This facilitates learning about business practices in other cultures and it characterizes the school, inside and outside the classroom. “Most recognize that as corporations expand their markets, it is at least 50 percent international,” says Ernest Betts, assistant dean for multicultural programs. “They know that their future career advancement is very much related to their knowledge about how to do business in a variety of countries.”

Study Abroad Trips
Students are required to have either a class that focuses primarily on international business or take part in a study abroad program. Each May, the Study Abroad Trip allows Broad MBAs to learn about business in real-world emerging and mature markets rather than in a classroom. Destinations have included Turkey, England, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Mexico, Thailand and, in 2005, Brazil and South Africa. The comprehensive agenda for a study abroad trip includes government visits, cultural tours and meetings with prominent MSU alums in that country.

Broads in Brazil
During the summer of 2005, 20 students from the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management attended a study abroad trip to business centers in Brazil. The purpose of the trip was to examine the methods by which prominent businesses are handling the rapid expansion in the emerging marketplace that is the Brazilian economy. During the excursions through Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the "Broadies" met with Brazilian Senator Suplicy and were hosted by numerous companies and institutions including the Brazilian Stock Exchange Bovespa, the FGV Business School, Johnson & Johnson, Embraer, Unibanco, GM Brazil, Eli Lilly, Petrobras, the COPPEAD Business School, and many others. Each of these organizations provided a unique perspective on balancing the tasks of doing business within an emerging market as well as within the global marketplace.

In addition to the official company visits, the students had the opportunity to meet nearly 30 MSU alumni currently living and working in Brazil. These alums took the time to share their thoughts, life experiences, and tips and tricks they had learned along the way. Though the company visits taught the students a great deal about international business, the real gems came from the information shared by the alumni.

Since most of these formal and scheduled events took place during normal business hours, the evenings were mostly free to explore the city. As luck would have it, the best friend of one of the Broad students, Brillo, lived in Sao Paulo and escorted the group around the city to locations and events which they would otherwise never have known. Apart from the divine restaurants and hot nightclubs, the most memorable of these events was a backstage tour of the most highly ranked samba school in Sao Paulo.

According to Jerod Karam (Broad MBA 2006), who participated in the trip, "As can easily be imagined, the "Broads in Brazil" trip was one that we will not soon forget."

International Assignments
The Broad MBA Program is a member of the MBA Enterprise Corps. Following graduation, selected students are able to complete a one-year international assignment serving as a consultant for a private enterprise located in an emerging market.

International Knowledge
MSU is home to the nation's top-rated Center for International Business Education and Research, one of 28 such federally funded initiatives to help businesses compete in the global marketplace. The Broad School and MSU's CIBER support development of faculty expertise in international topics. It also enhances research to assist businesses as they address the challenge of competing in the global marketplace, maintaining a website with diagnostic tools and regional economic information. It offers panels and forums for executives on topics such as the European Union; sponsors studies on international markets; and it runs a training program for its business faculty.

Related Links
MBA Enterprise Corps
Center for International Business Education Research Web Site