Babson College announces a new global curricular experience that immerses students in a semester-long exploration of the economic, cultural, political and historical dimensions of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), to be offered for the first time in Fall 2009.
The BRIC countries, covering over 25% of the world’s land and accounting for more than 40% of the world’s population, are significant driving forces in today’s global marketplace. The experience will include travel to three of the four BRIC countries (Russia, India and China), where students will combine onsite coursework with meetings with business leaders, government officials and academic leaders in these countries to hear and see firsthand how and why the global business landscape is changing.
Curriculum. The curriculum includes 16 credits, split between eight credits of Advanced Liberal Arts, four credits of Entrepreneurship and four credits of General Management. The Babson faculty delivering the program, all participating within host countries during the semester, include Prof. William Coyle (Accounting Division and Director of Russian Programs), Prof. Kandice Hauf (History and Society Division), Prof. Bala Iyer (Technology, Operations and Information Management Division), and Prof. Donna Kelley (Entrepreneurship Division). The coursework will link closely with company visits and cultural activities to allow students to experience a living classroom – students will experience the culture and business environment while studying about it. A wide variety of industries will be explored in each country, however in India there will be a focus on its role as a global services provider and in China an emphasis will be placed on new ventures and the entrepreneurial process. Local experts will be frequent visitors to the classroom, adding the unique opportunity to learn from those who have shaped and experienced the growth in these dynamic economies.
Cultural experiences. The culture and history of each country will be explored in the classroom, but more importantly by visiting important sites and engaging in cultural activities in and around the three cities where the program will be based: St. Petersburg, Russia; Delhi, India; and Shanghai, China. Each of these cities offers many rich opportunities to learn about the societal forces that have shaped and continue to shape their respective countries.
Semester structure. The semester will begin with pre-departure sessions held on the Babson College campus in late August. The program next moves from Boston to St. Petersburg for approximately three to four weeks, followed by stays of similar length in Delhi and then Shanghai. The schedule in each city will include a busy schedule of intensive classroom time, guest lectures, company visits and cultural experiences. The travel portion of the program will conclude before Thanksgiving, with final academic work to be completed before the end of the traditional semester. This work will not require a return to the Babson campus in November, but re-entry and debriefing sessions will be held at the beginning of the spring semester at Babson.
Housing, meals and transportation. Babson College will arrange for housing and meals in St. Petersburg, Delhi and Shanghai. Transportation for required company visits and cultural excursions within each of the three countries will also be arranged by Babson, as will group air flight arrangements from Boston to St. Petersburg and between each of the three cities.
Applying to the program. Application to the program is done through the regular Office of International Program study abroad application process that takes place from mid-November to late January.
Want to learn more?? Do you want to learn more about this unique and exciting opportunity? You should plan on attending the special information session devoted entirely to providing an overview of the program.
