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Graduate & Executive News
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MBA Students Complete International Residency back to top
Finishing its fifth year, the International Residency has become an essential part of the Richmond MBA experience. For the first time, students could choose between 2 trips – one to Brazil and one to France. In March, 18 students went to Brazil and 25 others went to France in May-June. |
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The International Residency is an integral part of the Robins School MBA and is required of all MBA students. The focal point of the residency is the International Consultancy Project (ICP). Students are divided into teams and each team is assigned a client – an actual company – and the team works with company management on an international business issue. While in the country, the visit consists of company meetings, attending lectures, and cultural activities.
In Brazil, teams of MBA students served as consultants to 5 different companies. They studied a container manufacturer, a maker of textiles for the shoe and performance apparel industry, a manufacturer of plastic packaging and film products, a builder of luxury power boats, and an owner and operator of upscale casual restaurants.
In France, the ICP was set up a bit differently. Rather than working with a variety of companies, all of the students were assigned to one company, Nissan-Europe. Within the company, each team was assigned to study a different topic.
“The international residency exposes our MBAs to different cultures, life styles, and ways of doing business that they simply do not get in the classroom,” said Dr. Tom Cossé, Associate Dean for International Programs. “Regardless of the student’s international experience, the residency is eye opening – from learning about the extensive employee benefits of a Brazilian cosmetics manufacturer Natura, to seeing Renault automobile engines being manufactured in Normandy.”
As one of the only professional MBA programs in the U.S. that requires an international residency and ICP, this is a draw for many MBA students. “The international residency was a very attractive part of the overall program and it was one of the selling points for me,” said Walt Arnold, a Financial Analyst for Philip Morris USA. “The international residency has been the best part of the MBA experience thus far.”
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Joe Vellozzi, a statistician for Capital One, actually thought of the international residency as a deterrent at first. “It seemed that taking vacation from work would be a hassle and the places I heard mentioned didn’t really appeal to me. In the end, I decided to do the program and give it a chance.” After returning from the residency, he heaps praise on the program. “The people our group met in Brazil were all awesome. The program was packed with interesting company tours and the project was a great learning experience as the companies we worked with seemed to genuinely need our help.” | |
Dr. Richard Coughlan, Associate Dean for Graduate and Executive Education, has been selected to serve as a member of the 2007 MBA Leadership Conference Advisory Group.
The Advisory Group is responsible for planning and developing the national MBA Leadership Conference sponsored by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and MBA Roundtable. Coughlan will serve on the eight-person advisory group with administrators from other leading MBA programs, including Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.
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Executive Education Programs Featured in Virginia
Business Magazine back to top
The Robins School is featured in July’s Virginia Business magazine as one of the select universities in Virginia developing innovative programs for working professionals.
Highlighted are the Executive Education division’s Excellence in Leadership Series for Small Business Owners and the leadership training programs it provides to a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation, William Byrd Community House, and the Historic Richmond Foundation. The full story can be read at http://www.virginiabusiness.com/magazine/yr2006/jul06/execed.shtml.
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Open Enrollment Class Attendance Jumps in 2006 back to top
The Executive Education division saw a 28% increase in open enrollment class attendance this year. Class topics include project management, human resources, train-the-trainer, communication, and leadership.
Management Skills for Supervisors, Business Writing, and Relationship-Centered Leadership increased the most this past year, while the signature classes Increasing Your Communication Effectiveness and Developing Your Leadership Skills continued to draw in many students.
“I think we’re seeing some positive effects of the Robins School being named one of the top 25 business programs in the country”, said Dr. Richard Coughlan, Associate Dean of Graduate & Executive Education. “Managers from a variety of industries are now discovering the high-quality educational programs we have to offer right here in Richmond. In the coming year, we will continue to build our open enrollment programs around the needs of the business community, leveraging the relationships we’ve established with our alumni and local business executives.”
Executive Education classes are open to the public. For a complete course list and enrollment information, visit the website at http://business.richmond.edu/mi or call 804-289-8019. |
Now Accepting Registrations for Fall Mini MBA� back to top
The Executive Education division’s signature program, the Mini MBA®, is currently accepting registrations for the Fall 2006 class. The program begins Monday, September 11th.
The Mini MBA� is non-credit program that provides a practical foundation in current business theory and practices in an intensive, 14-week format. The program is designed for professionals who are thinking about pursuing their MBA or just looking to update their business skills and education.
Course topics include Leadership Strategies, Finance, Marketing, and more. Two new classes on Creativity and Innovation have been added to the fall curriculum.
For more information and registration information, call 804-289-8019 or visit the website at http://business.richmond.edu/mi/courses/MGTI520N.html
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