Students in M.B.A. Cohort 15 traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, in May for their second one-week international business experience in the program.

The group, which consists of both on-campus and online graduate students, studied Prague’s developed economy in contrast with the emerging economy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the students traveled on their first international business experience in June 2011.

Students visited the Czech National Bank, the central bank of the Czech Republic and the supervisor of the Czech financial market, to learn about the political and economical framework in Prague from Executive Director Vladimir Kolman. At Ernst and Young, students learned about doing business in Central and Eastern European regions from Peter Ferrigno, the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa Area Leader for Human Capital.

At Oracle, a multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing computer hardware systems and enterprise software products, students learned about technology and innovation in the Czech Republic. Students also visited the headquarters of Amway, a direct selling company that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, where Corporate Affairs Manager Jan Stransky discussed the presence of the health, beauty and home product industries in the Czech Republic.

To learn about the auto industry in Prague, students visited Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobile and participated in a plant tour at the facility. They also received a tour at Velkopopovicky Brewery, along with a presentation about the brewery’s economical and technical facets.

Tom Brinker, Director of the M.B.A. Program and Professor of Accounting, and Raymond Lamorgese, Adjunct Professor of Business Administration and instructor of the program’s BA695 capstone course, accompanied the group of students. During the trip, Lamorgese held an instructional session with the students to discuss case studies and international business visits prior to the start of their capstone course, the culmination of the 22-month program.

While abroad, the students also explored Prague during cultural visits to the Terezin, which served as a Nazi concentration camp during World War II, Prague Castle, the biggest castle in the world, the famous historic Charles Bridge that crosses the Vltava river, and the historic Old Town Square.