CSS Focuses on Global Studies in Masters Programs
Thursday, June 14, 2012
By:
Dan Hanger
Photojournalist:
Adam Jagunich
FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT
In the latest edition of College Connection, we take you to the College of Saint Scholastica where masters students are traveling overseas as consultants before graduation.
"We go to China. We go to Russia. We just had a group go to India," said Randal Zimmerman, a professor at CSS.
Zimmerman is the first to tell anyone that his School of Business and Technology students are not sitting around learning in a little bubble.
"The students pretty much tell us it's the best part of their program while they are here," Zimmerman said.
The Capstone Abroad program is a 16-week seminar for students getting their Master of Arts in management or their Master of Business Administration.
Half way through the program, the students head to another country, like Russia, working with a business in ways to increase productivity.
Professor Zimmerman says it's just like a real-world international consultant would do.
"It's their first time abroad. So it's the first exposure to different cultures," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman says a global education is crucial to becoming a well-rounded graduate of business.
"A lot at who's invested and who's driving the economic renaissance in our region up here -- it's investment from India. It's investment from china."
While the two-week schedule abroad is very intense, emotional and physical and mentally draining, Zimmerman said it's not only worth it for educational purposes but also for personal development as well.
"A number of students in their reflections and analysis are always struck by how similar organizational problems are. Yet the solutions are usually different based on culture," Zimmerman explained.
CSS is holding information sessions on their masters programs coming up on June 28 at 5:30 p.m.
It's open to the public.