Graduate Travel Seminars

Innovation Meets Corporate: CES and Beyond

Location: Las Vegas

Time: January 5-11, 2020

Professors: Jenni Dinger and Chaim Letwin

Seminar Fee: $2,900

This course will explore the point at which entrepreneurial innovation competes with corporate innovation while simultaneously seeking corporate retail partnership as part of their go-to-market strategy. Centered on the annual Consumer Electronics Show, students will be exposed to the marketplace where all industry players come together in one geographic location over the course of four days. Students will not only observe but be responsible for analyzing an opportunity/problem and presenting a recommendation to industry players (in this case either a startup or a global retailer).

What to Expect

Location: London Financial Markets

Time: March 7-14, 2020

Professors: Bill Johnson and Natalia Zaiats 

Seminar Fee: $2,900

London is one of the world’s leading financial centers. Over 500 banks have offices in London and it is home to the headquarters of many banking and insurance institutions. This course will include visits to brokerage houses; investment, corporate and retail banks; asset and wealth managers; private bankers; hedge funds; financial boutiques, and specialized finance.

What to Expect

• Understand the role of financial markets in the economy
• Examine the impact of the global financial crisis on UK financial markets and institutions
• Run a trade simulation
• Discuss current financial issues with executives

*Prerequisites: MBA 650
*The London Finance seminar is the only seminar approved as an MSF Elective. Any other travel seminar requires MSF Academic Program Director approval.

Location: London

Time: May 2-9, 2020

Professors: Rick Gregg & Amy MacNulty

Seminar Fee: $3,100

England has a nationalized healthcare system and is an international leader in care delivery and clinical outcomes. With this Global Travel Seminar, you'll study the English healthcare system and explore ways to improve the U.S. system.

What to Expect

• Learn about government ownership of healthcare delivery organizations, near-universal insurance coverage, allocation of resources, and recent reform efforts
• Visit healthcare-delivery organizations and meet healthcare providers, policy makers, and managers in London
• Examine quality improvement and cost containment initiatives
• Understand how the English healthcare system compares to the U.S. healthcare system

Location: Silicon Valley

Time: March 7-14, 2020

Professor: Jodi Detjen

Seminar Fee: $3,000

*Effective fall 2016: the seminar fee does not apply to MBA students required to take MBA 740. 

Please note MSF students require Academic Program Director approval to participate in any seminar other than London Finance. 

Experience the energy and innovation of the hottest technology location globally in Silicon Valley California.  Visit start-ups and some of the top technology companies. Enjoy the California sunshine in March.

What to Expect

• Identify how Silicon Valley’s approach to venture capital has enabled fast growth
• Build a working knowledge of how proximity, the economic environment, and clusters impact innovation and funding
• Determine how Boston competes and how it could become even more competitive
• Participate in live-case studies allowing for an intense interactive learning experience

Business in Brazil

Location: Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro

Time: March 7-14, 2020

Professor: Carlos Rufin

Seminar Fee: $3,000

Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, one of the 10 largest economies in the world and one of the world’s four major emerging economies. In recent years, Brazil has enjoyed high rates of economic growth combined with unprecedented political and economic stability and reductions in inequality, all of which is leading to rapid expansion of the middle class, high flows of foreign investment and positive publicity abroad.  At the same time Brazil struggles with unequal income distribution, high levels of corruption, poor infrastructure, major environmental protection challenges and low-quality public services despite high taxes. 

What to Expect

• Understand the complexity of the dynamic market, its unique culture and opportunities and pitfalls it presents
• Examine how European colonization and the plantation system left a profound impact on Brazil’s economy, society and institutions.
• Look at successful businesses in Brazil, from small entrepreneurial companies to multinational corporations and different business activities from marketing to supply chain management.
• Study the social dimensions in Brazil and the different challenges it creates 
• Visit with experts in the local economy
• Visit historical and cultural landmarks such as Christ the Redeemer, cable car to Sugar Loaf, Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro city tours

Location: Shanghai & Beijing

Time: May 1-9, 2020

Professor: Jane Zhu

Seminar Fee: $2,900

*Effective fall 2016: the seminar fee does not apply to MBA students required to take MBA 740. 

Please note MSF students require Academic Program Director approval to participate in any seminar other than London Finance. 

If you want to be successful in global business, you need to be successful in China. That’s because China is arguably the most important market in the world today. It is the largest market in terms of size, the third largest in terms of economic strength, and the fastest growing, with rates at over 9% annually for the past 10 years. China is the engine of growth for many MNCs and considered the future in terms of growth opportunities.

What to Expect

• Examine China’s dynamic economy and its competitive advantages
• Understand the development of the economy, leading companies and industries, social, cultural and historical influence on business practices and decisions
• Analyze the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market oriented economy
• Interact with management executives through site visits to major domestic and global corporations and agencies
• Visit cultural and historical sites, including the Great Wall of China

Location: Munich & Berlin

Time: May 2-9, 2020

Professor: Michael Behnam

Seminar Fee: $3,000

*Effective fall 2016: the seminar fee does not apply to MBA students required to take MBA 740. 

Please note MSF students require Academic Program Director approval to participate in any seminar other than London Finance. 

Experience business in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, by touring two of the world’s capitals of commerce: Munich and Berlin. As the world’s largest exporter of goods, Germany is home to many globally known and technologically advanced multinational corporations.

What to Expect

• Experience German management culture and gain insight into business practiced on a global scale
• Discuss case studies, developed by Professor Behnam in partnership with the host executives, allowing for an intense, interactive learning experience.
• Develop a working knowledge of the state and development of the economy, global participation, social, cultural, and political influences

Location: Singapore

Time: January 3-11, 2020

Professors: Jodi Detjen and Kim Wang

Seminar Fee: $3,100 

Singapore is the world’s most innovative financial center – surpassing London and Hong Kong in some eyes. It’s a unique convergence of East and West. Learn how Singapore has taken advantage of both perspectives to create a culture and economy that thrives globally.

What to Expect

• Identify how Singapore has created the Best Business Environment in Asia Pacific (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2019)
• Build a working knowledge of how proximity to various developing economies, the China powerhouse, and leveraging the English speaking and educational skills its people, enables Singapore to be #2 in the world in Economic Freedom (Heritage Foundation, 2018)
• Participate in live-case studies allowing for an intense interactive learning experience

PAD 840: Comparative Public Policy / Linking Business to Government in Ireland

Location: Ireland

Time: July 19-25, 2020

Professors: Brendan Burke & Aimee Williamson

Seminar Fee: $2700

Funding: Students are eligible to apply for a McDonnell Scholarship. Please contact us for details.

Apply: Complete the online application by March 16, 2020.

This course gives you the opportunity to experience public affairs in Ireland, a nation with many similarities and close ties to Massachusetts, but important distinctions. You will understand Ireland and the economic and political challenges that it faces in the context of the European Union and global economy. This course can be tailored to your own policy interests, with students from prior years working on projects related to a wide range of public policy and management issues, including trade rules, healthcare, tax policy, public safety, education, labor standards, disability policy, and many more.

What to Expect

• Partake in a direct, on-site experience to develop familiarity with Irish society and Irish public policy and administration
• Understand Ireland and the critical issues facing the country. Learn the basics of Irish politics, culture, and history
• Gain knowledge about Irish public policy and management issues, including public sector trends, disability policy, economic development and other areas of students’ interest
• Enjoy a sampling of Irish cultural and social experiences, in both Dublin and Belfast, Northern Ireland