First-time Fair Provides Global Business Opportunities

Students travel from booth to booth to learn more about international business opportunities at the International Study Fair.PROVO, Utah – Oct 20, 2010 – Study abroads, internships and field studies — oh my! From Ghana to Greece, Mexico to Mongolia, India to Italy, and Brussels to Brazil, students explored more than twenty international business opportunities showcased at the first-ever International Study Fair held 15 September in the Tanner Building atrium.

"Wherever on this planet our students find themselves, and they find themselves everywhere, they need a skill set that will allow them to make a difference," says Jim Stice, Marriott School associate dean. "Global Management Center programs encourage students to build that skill set while exploring various cultures, opportunities and potential careers."

The fair had information on seven business study abroad programs for a variety of emphases and to a variety of regions including Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The new Mediterranean business study abroad travels to countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, visiting such organizations as 3M in Athens, Greece; Citigroup in Istanbul; and British Petroleum in Cairo. Bruce Money, chair of the Department of Business Management and professor of marketing and international business, says this program is rich with diversity.

"The Mediterranean mixes a variety of economies, religions and cultures — for students who truly want to taste a bit of everything," says Money, who also directs the Mediterranean business study abroad program.

Students explore the intricacies of Italy's high public debt yet strong GDP, Greece's recently tumultuous economic downturn, Turkey's blend of modern industry and traditional agricultural commerce, and Egypt's government-regulated private sector, he says.

Representatives from the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies also provided information on international internships with the European parliament, LDS Employment Resource Services, global nonprofit organizations, and other tailor-made opportunities for students looking for a personalized international experience.

Kim Rosen (left) shares her experience studying abroad in Italy with a student (right)."An internship takes your experience abroad a step further as you begin to understand the people and their culture on a ground level. Plus, an internship is formed perfectly to fit a student's wants and needs," says Evan Williams, a junior studying business management from Seattle. Williams interned with LDS Employment Resource Services during summer 2010 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Information on field studies, ORCA grants and MPA opportunities abroad were also available.

Previous program participants shared their experiences with students perusing the fair. Kim Rosen, recruiting coordinator for CIMBA, a study abroad program in Italy, found her experience studying abroad in a small town outside Venice both academically and culturally enriching. While courses were taught in English, they were challenging enough to push her limits, she says, and she and other students had many opportunities to interact with the locals.

Shalece Kehl, a senior studying marketing from Murray, Utah, was part of the Global Marketing Study Abroad that visited organizations such as American Express in New York, Nestlé in Switzerland and Marriott International in China.

"The case studies that companies presented on our visits were especially helpful — little golden nuggets of information for real-life situations," Kehl said. "This experience was my passport to excelling in international marketing."

Brittany Fors, a junior from La Cañada, California, looked for her next international experience at the fair, after recently returning from a study abroad in Jerusalem.

"I'm about to enter a career field that is much more internationally integrated than it was twenty years ago," says Fors, who is studying OBHR. "Experiences abroad shape me into a better job candidate if I have experienced this international playing field firsthand."

For more information on business study abroad programs or other international opportunities, visit gmc.byu.edu/studyabroad or kennedy.byu.edu/isp.