The Youth Vote - College of Business Administration - University of ...

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN HONG KONGThe 8,000 Mile CommuteUNIBUSINESS FACULTY GO GLOBALTraditions in Hong Kong include a classpicture in front of the UNI MBA sign at theconclusion of each course.With UNIBusiness’ overseas MBA program, UNI’s faculty from the Iowa campusare immersed in a completely different culture and placed at the forefront of theglobal economy, where they often learn as much as they teach.Over the last 10 years more than 40 faculty members have taken advantage of theopportunity to teach in Hong Kong and have brought their experiences back to theU.S. And while they get to spend two weeks in one of the most fascinating cities inthe world, they put in a lot of work before, during and after their trip.The same, but differentThe UNI MBA program in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Hong Kong are identical anddesigned for working professionals. But the preparation and the delivery differ asmuch as the locations. In Hong Kong, faculty members teach on-site during intensetwo-week sessions that include weekends and use eLearning methods prior to andfollowing the on-site classes. In comparison, Cedar Falls classes are typically heldonce a week over the course of an 11-week trimester.The courses are the same, but in Hong Kong faculty members oftenfind they have to explain common U.S. concepts, such as plagiarism,remind students to speak in English and stay flexible with theirexamples and case studies.As one of the first instructors in Hong Kong, associate professor ofmanagement Atul Mitra used examples and case studies that related toHong Kong or China. He had a plethora to choose from given the area’svibrant economy and business culture.“I read about local happenings in the economy and used thoseexamples to make the concepts relevant and put the lessons in context,”he said.Steve Corbin, interim head of the Department of Marketing andassociate professor, also does his homework to localize the students’course work. 2011 marked his fifth trip to teach in Hong Kong, andthrough the years he has developed relationships with alumni who he’sbrought back to the classroom. After a major CEO spoke to the class,Corbin subsequently assigned a real-world final project: a marketing developmentplan for that firm to be evaluated both by Corbin and the CEO.“It made the course real for many students, and the outcomes werecommendable,” he said. “It caused students to better appreciate the applicability ofthe material to real-life situations. It was a value-added experience for all partiesinvolved.”Beyond the classroomLong-lasting relationships have been built over the 8,000-mile span betweenCedar Falls and Hong Kong, and one of the best bonding experiences seems to beSunday lunch. Traditionally, the MBA students take the instructor out fora big sit-down meal in the middle of their longest day of class for each session.UNI MBA students in Cedar Falls use theirJan 2010 holiday break to become the first Iowa-basedApr 24, 2010students to take courses in Hong Kong.Amy Yeung (’04) visits UNIBusiness in Cedar Falls toserve as the first MBA Alumni in Residence to havecompleted her degree in Hong Kong.8