Discover the European Business Environment
Course Overview
MBA 550: The European Business Environment
This is a 3 credit MBA elective course that will include an online component and a travel component. The course will explore business opportunities and challenges in the European Union. We will visit EU institutions in Brussels as well as meet with business and academic professionals in France, Germany, and Poland. We will also visit sites of cultural interest.
Anticipated Travel Itinerary
Friday, May 17: Depart for the airport. This is very flexible and will be tailored to where each participant lives for easy access to a convenient airport. Our actual departure and arrival airports will be determined based on available flights, costs, and schedules. The following itinerary is based on previous trips but may be amended slightly for this year.
Saturday, May 19: Arrive in Paris. See major sights.
Sunday, May 20: Paris bike tour and meeting with business owners. Free time in Paris.
Monday, May 21: Take train to Brussels. Tour EU Parliament and other EU institutions. Brussels chocolate tour and tour of the Grand’Place.
Tuesday, May 22: Fly to Berlin in the morning, walking tour of Berlin in the afternoon.
Wednesday, May 23: Meet with US expatriates/IT entrepreneurs in Berlin, BMW motorcycle plant tour.
Thursday, May 24: Free day in Berlin.
Friday, May 25: Train to Wroclaw, Poland. Tour of old town square.
Saturday, May 26: Tour of Volvo bus manufacturing plant. Discussion with local business people.
Sunday, May 27: Excursion to the countryside. Tour of castles and WWII sights.
Monday, May 28: Return to Harrisburg/Shippensburg.
We will be staying in 3-star or better hotels with double occupancy. If you would like a private room, there will be an additional $600 fee. Some breakfasts and at least two dinners will be included. Several lunches and other dinners will be organized as plans get finalized. For all other meals, participants will be responsible for paying separately, although additional meals as a group are very likely depending on the final budget.
Course Budget and Costs (per person)
Course Budget and Costs (per person)
Round trip airfare to Europe $600
Lodging $600
European Transportation $500
Some Meals and Misc. expenses $400
Total Travel Expense $2100
In-State Tuition & Fees $1884
Total Expense $3984
Spouses or other non-student traveling companions are welcome and will be responsible only for the travel expense of $2100. If expenses turn out to be less than expected, extra money will be allocated for meals and/or other extra activities during the trip. If expenses turn out to be higher than anticipated, some additional payment may be necessary (but this has never happened in the history of the trip).
Payment Schedule and Details
You will be required to make four separate payments to the Office of Extended Studies. These payments are non-refundable once they have been made.
December 1: $1000 | February 1: $600 | April 1: $500
Destinations
As the headquarters to the EU (European Union) and NATO, Brussels is often referred to as The Capital of Europe. It is an international metropolis – a mosaic of languages, cultures, and traditions. Aside from the splendid and varied architectural styles of the city, Brussels also hosts over 80 museums, numerous tourist attractions, a vibrant nightlife, and more restaurants than you could count.
Berlin is thriving as a competitive business location. The city’s outstanding infrastructure, its large and highly qualified workforce, and its excellent colleges, universities, and research institutions are major reasons motivating companies to locate here. Once an industrial city, Berlin is on the way to becoming a modern center of service providers and technology startups. Berlin has a thriving arts scene and is a hub for expatriates from many different countries. Of course, Berlin is also full of sights of recent and more distant historical significance.
Wrocław (vrots-wahf) is located on the Odra River, and with its 12 islands, 130 bridges and riverside parks, is idyllic. The beautifully preserved Cathedral Island is a treat for lovers of Gothic architecture.
Wroclaw in the Silesia region of southwestern Poland was a hotbed of 1980s anti-Soviet resistance. It retains a proper rebellious streak. But that melds with a chill vibe befitting an ancient university town (the city has a population of approximately 635,000—135,000 of them students).
The city was, in turns, under Bohemian, Austrian, and Prussian rule. Though it has one eye on its rich history, charm, and beauty (colored Renaissance buildings, cobblestone streets, and gas lamps that at night are lit by hand), the other is focused on a strong avant-garde streak with a vibrant and creative cultural scene thrust into the spotlight this year as a European Capital of Culture. Fabulous exhibitions, installations, and events are going on everywhere.
But Wrocław is not just a pretty face. It is Poland’s fourth-largest city and the major industrial, commercial and educational center for the region. At the same time, it’s a lively cultural center with several theatres, major festivals, rampant nightlife and a large student community.
The “City of Lights”
Paris is the heart, and in many ways, the soul of continental Europe. Rich in history, culture, and architecture—you will never be lacking for something interesting to see or do during your visit. Walk down the Champs Elysees, visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame, admire the artistic treasures in the Louvre, or just sit in an outdoor café and take in the ambiance.
