Africa and Chile added to 2006 GIP lineup
Parker Snowe, Associate Director, International Programs, MBA Program Office
Issue date: 10/31/05 Section: Insider
The Global Immersion Program (GIP) is well known as one of the most prominent examples of Wharton's commitment to international business education. What many students may not know is that, in terms of the number of student participants, it is the second-largest international program at Penn! Since its inception 12 years ago, over 1,000 Wharton MBAs have traveled to over 20 foreign countries under the auspices of this program. Many have returned saying that it was the highlight of their Wharton careers.
This year the GIP will once again offer four-week study tours of China, Southeast Asia and South America, plus a two-week tour of India over the winter break. New for 2006 is the re-design of the South America program to include Chile, and the offering of a study tour to Africa in cooperation with the Wharton African Students Association (WASA).
The China GIP, traditionally the most popular based on student enrollment, will again include Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. The Southeast Asia GIP will include Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, repeating last year's extremely popular program.
The South America GIP will again include Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but a new feature for this year is the addition of Santiago, Chile. The reason for this change is three-fold: 1) Chile is once again experiencing the solid business growth it exhibited in the 1990s; 2) the local Wharton Club recently hosted a successful Global Alumni Forum; and 3) several Chilean MBA students lobbied the MBA Program Office and made a compelling case for its inclusion.
Following on the successful offering of the India GIP over winter break last year, the Wharton African Students Association (WASA) approached the MBA Program Office about the possibility of an Africa GIP. Although details are still being finalized, the MBAPO and WASA are working together to plan a three-week tour of West and South Africa following the MBA graduation on May 14. This study tour will be modeled on the India GIP, in that it will be open to first- and second-years, will be offered outside the course electives auction and carry an optional credit unit. More details will be available at a special orientation meeting to be held in early November. Students interested in getting more information should contact Robert Befidi of WASA.
Each GIP is divided into three parts. First, participants attend lectures by faculty area specialists on the region's history, politics and economy during Quarter III of the spring semester. Second, the overseas immersion experience or "lab" component of the course begins the weekend following final exams and runs for four weeks, ending this year on Friday, June 7th. Finally, participants are required to write a short research paper on a topic related to their immersion experience. The papers are due at the beginning of the fall semester of the second year.
The highlight of the course, the immersion experience, features lectures at local business schools, meetings with senior executives in key industries, visits to production facilities and social events with Wharton alumni. Typically, each week features a key city or theme, with several days set aside for sightseeing and cultural events.
Each study tour will be offered as a section of the GIP half-credit elective course, MGMT 656. Registration will take place through the spring electives auction scheduled to begin for first-years on November 11th, with students expected to bid for a seat in their preferred program. There will be 45 seats available in each section. (Note: The India and Africa GIPs are outside the course auction and taken for optional academic credit as ISPs; registration details are available in the MBA Program Office in 300 JMHH.)
Based on last year's registration, the GIP staff expects another banner year. All first-year students received a registration packet in their mail folders, which includes specifics on each study tour, as well as detailed enrollment information. Students are encouraged to contact the GIP staff in 300 Huntsman Hall, by calling 898-5012 or via e-mail at snowep@wharton.upenn.edu.
This year the GIP will once again offer four-week study tours of China, Southeast Asia and South America, plus a two-week tour of India over the winter break. New for 2006 is the re-design of the South America program to include Chile, and the offering of a study tour to Africa in cooperation with the Wharton African Students Association (WASA).
The China GIP, traditionally the most popular based on student enrollment, will again include Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. The Southeast Asia GIP will include Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, repeating last year's extremely popular program.
The South America GIP will again include Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but a new feature for this year is the addition of Santiago, Chile. The reason for this change is three-fold: 1) Chile is once again experiencing the solid business growth it exhibited in the 1990s; 2) the local Wharton Club recently hosted a successful Global Alumni Forum; and 3) several Chilean MBA students lobbied the MBA Program Office and made a compelling case for its inclusion.
Following on the successful offering of the India GIP over winter break last year, the Wharton African Students Association (WASA) approached the MBA Program Office about the possibility of an Africa GIP. Although details are still being finalized, the MBAPO and WASA are working together to plan a three-week tour of West and South Africa following the MBA graduation on May 14. This study tour will be modeled on the India GIP, in that it will be open to first- and second-years, will be offered outside the course electives auction and carry an optional credit unit. More details will be available at a special orientation meeting to be held in early November. Students interested in getting more information should contact Robert Befidi of WASA.
Each GIP is divided into three parts. First, participants attend lectures by faculty area specialists on the region's history, politics and economy during Quarter III of the spring semester. Second, the overseas immersion experience or "lab" component of the course begins the weekend following final exams and runs for four weeks, ending this year on Friday, June 7th. Finally, participants are required to write a short research paper on a topic related to their immersion experience. The papers are due at the beginning of the fall semester of the second year.
The highlight of the course, the immersion experience, features lectures at local business schools, meetings with senior executives in key industries, visits to production facilities and social events with Wharton alumni. Typically, each week features a key city or theme, with several days set aside for sightseeing and cultural events.
Each study tour will be offered as a section of the GIP half-credit elective course, MGMT 656. Registration will take place through the spring electives auction scheduled to begin for first-years on November 11th, with students expected to bid for a seat in their preferred program. There will be 45 seats available in each section. (Note: The India and Africa GIPs are outside the course auction and taken for optional academic credit as ISPs; registration details are available in the MBA Program Office in 300 JMHH.)
Based on last year's registration, the GIP staff expects another banner year. All first-year students received a registration packet in their mail folders, which includes specifics on each study tour, as well as detailed enrollment information. Students are encouraged to contact the GIP staff in 300 Huntsman Hall, by calling 898-5012 or via e-mail at snowep@wharton.upenn.edu.