My colleagues and I at Appalachian State and partner universities abroad began developing courses in International Entrepreneurship in 2005. The field is still relatively new, however, as evidenced by the fact that only recently have textbooks in global or international entrepreneurship started to become available. While there has been significant growth in entrepreneurship offerings at universities around the world, it is still rare to see courses in international entrepreneurship that include dynamic cross-cultural project experiences.
We have developed two basic models for the International Entrepreneurship course. Both involve travel abroad but the more interesting model includes two way travel during a normal semester. By the end of this year, 74 Appalachian State students will have participated in 6 courses with students from 3 partner universities - the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg in Bamberg, Germany, the Universidad Europea de Madrid in Valencia, Spain, and the Universitè Catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. The course is co-taught with faculty members from both universities. Each school’s instructors, students and staff generally take responsibility for all of the arrangements during the visit from the overseas partner, including but not limited to arranging lectures, company visits, sightseeing, housing, local transportation and some meals.
Our course offers a unique, rich multi-cultural entrepreneurial experience and engages students in the planning and delivery of key components of the course. Students work on business plan projects with students from other countries, visit businesses and participate in lectures and discussions abroad, and keep a journal of their observations on cultural and business differences and similarities between the United States and the country they visit. By staying in private homes and traveling during the semester, these courses are also delivered at a cost that is frequently much lower than traditional short-term study abroad experiences.
The course is broken into three main parts. First, one group visits the other early in the semester for approximately 8-9 days, typically departing on a Friday and returning on a Sunday. Students are introduced to each other via email and/or video conferencing prior to the trip. Once they are together in person, they participate in team building and/or ice breaking exercises and spend a day or two during the arrival weekend getting to know each other. Early the next week they begin to develop ideas for “born global” businesses and form small teams comprised of two students from each country based on common interests. Students then begin working on group business plan projects with the goal of having a good project plan developed by the end of their first week together. During the week, lectures are typically provided in entrepreneurship, business plan development and/or intercultural communications plus unique aspects of business and entrepreneurship in the host school’s country.
Each visiting group also tours regional businesses and meets with entrepreneurs. As an example, recent international groups visiting Appalachian State have toured the nation’s largest ambulance manufacturer and the world’s second largest mail order and internet art supply house, had a discussion with a venture capitalist, and a participated in leadership training exercises at the headquarters of the Center for Creative Leadership. If possible, we also try to schedule our partner school’s visit to coincide with relevant activities on campus. For example, this spring a group of Belgian students were able to participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Symposium with 350 other students. This coming fall, students from Spain will be able to participate in the Global Opportunities Conference and Appalachian State homecoming activities.
After the visiting group goes back to their home country, cross-cultural project teams work virtually for approximately 6-8 weeks, using email, chat, Skype, Google docs and other tools to collaborate on their business plans.
Toward the end of the semester, the groups switch places and the other school travels to the partner university. There, they complete group business plan projects and deliver final presentations. Again, the visiting student group gets to tour businesses, meet entrepreneurs in another country and hear presentations on business practices and entrepreneurial issues unique to that country.
A key part of the course design is the hosting experience. Students from each university host visiting students in their homes and apartments. Students are also involved in the planning for the visiting student group, from organizing social events and meals to planning and coordinating visits with entrepreneurs and companies. Students also plan sightseeing excursions and arrange trips to sporting events like college football games and professional basketball games in the United States and professional soccer matches in Europe. Students develop deep friendships after living with each other for 16-18 days in total and working together on projects all semester. The result is a very rich cultural experience.
One key advantage to this course model is the cost to students. First, accommodation costs are minimal with home stays. Second, travel is typically in off peak months like November or February, resulting in airfares that can be as much as 50% lower than tourist season. Finally, unlike summer courses, students are taking the course in-load so they do not incur additional tuition like they would for summer courses. Total student fees for these types of courses, including the cost of faculty travel, range from $1,100 to $1,650 depending on the destination. These fees typically cover all air and ground transportation, any accommodation expenses, group activities and at least several meals during the week abroad.
Students gain a significant cross-cultural experience in a format that often better fits student needs and budget than other options available to them. Just like at most schools, exchange opportunities are available at Appalachian State with universities all over the world, but these experiences typically require a minimum of semester abroad and require much greater advance planning. Furthermore, semester abroad experiences are often far too outside the comfort zone of many students as opposed to travelling on a faculty led trip with a group of peers. Traditional faculty led, short-term, summer study abroad programs are also available, but the out-of-pocket costs to students are often three times greater than the extra costs of taking the International Entrepreneurship course. Plus, these courses often are not able to provide a project experience working with students abroad due to differences in academic calendars. Our course provides students with a very cost-effective, rich and engaging cross-cultural learning opportunity. There are significant benefits to Appalachian State University as well. These courses have helped the university forge deep, multi-dimensional relationships with our partners. These deeper relationships have resulted in increased semester long student exchanges, multiple faculty teaching exchanges, and joint research.
Yes, these courses can be a lot of work, but the payoff makes it all worthwhile. Students develop a deep understanding of cultural and business similarities and differences between countries. They learn how to write business plans. They learn how to work in multicultural teams and the challenges that presents related to culture, language and time differences. In the end, and perhaps most importantly, they greatly expand their awareness of the global environment in which many of them will ultimately work.
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