Mason School students consult highest levels of the Cambodian government, heard live on Thailand's radio airwaves
Andrew Blasi | Editor at Large
Last Updated:2/3/10 Section: Features
For the past 15 years, Dr. Donald Rahtz of the Mason School of Business has offered an unparalleled course opportunity for students to travel with him to Southeast Asia over the winter break. The course, called "Global Business Immersion: Southeast Asia," takes place at the College over both the fall and spring semesters. In between semesters, students embark on a three week mission to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam from late December to mid-January. A combination of both undergraduate and MBA students, participants begin the course in the fall with an extensive immersion into the business practices, political structure, and cultural traditions of Southeast Asia. In addition, each year program participants are enlisted into a real-world consulting role for an American or regional entity with the expectation that their findings and recommendations will be presented during the winter break mission.
This year, program participants partnered with the Global Fairness Initiative in Washington, DC to develop a comprehensive marketing and strategic plan to promote Cambodia's apparel and footwear industry, one of the world's only developing nations to possess full International Labor Organization certified standards, to American consumers. While in Cambodia, participants met with the International Labor Organization, toured a large-scale garment factory with ILO monitors, and presented their solutions directly to H.E. Cham Prasidh, the nation's Senior Minister of Commerce. The group will soon return to Washington, DC this semester to present their findings and solutions to the Global Fairness Initiative.
Student participants are also granted the opportunity to meet with senior representatives from the banking, manufacturing, retailing, legal service, and agricultural industries. This year, students were even afforded the opportunity to visit the headquarters of GMM Grammy, one of Thailand's largest entertainment companies in Bangkok to learn about the entertainment industry. They also toured the facility, standing behind the scenes of a live television show and in the booths of some of the country's most popular radio stations. One undergraduate student, Sarah Louie ('10), went live on the air with Green Wave Radio, Thailand's most popular radio station and the host of Thailand's version of American Idol, where millions of listeners were introduced to William and Mary.
After two and a half weeks of business immersion, participants end their tour of Southeast Asia with a short vacation to Phuket on the Southwestern coast of Thailand. Upon arrival students are treated to a sea kayaking journey through the Andaman Sea, where hundreds of cliff islands dot the landscape. Camping, bungalows, and a five-star resort appropriately called "Paradise" encompass each of the three nights.
Every student returning from the trip had a universally positive experience, and many hope to return to Southeast Asia. This course will be offered again starting next semester to business and non-business students alike. Those interested should keep their eyes and ears open for interest meetings in February.
This year, program participants partnered with the Global Fairness Initiative in Washington, DC to develop a comprehensive marketing and strategic plan to promote Cambodia's apparel and footwear industry, one of the world's only developing nations to possess full International Labor Organization certified standards, to American consumers. While in Cambodia, participants met with the International Labor Organization, toured a large-scale garment factory with ILO monitors, and presented their solutions directly to H.E. Cham Prasidh, the nation's Senior Minister of Commerce. The group will soon return to Washington, DC this semester to present their findings and solutions to the Global Fairness Initiative.
Student participants are also granted the opportunity to meet with senior representatives from the banking, manufacturing, retailing, legal service, and agricultural industries. This year, students were even afforded the opportunity to visit the headquarters of GMM Grammy, one of Thailand's largest entertainment companies in Bangkok to learn about the entertainment industry. They also toured the facility, standing behind the scenes of a live television show and in the booths of some of the country's most popular radio stations. One undergraduate student, Sarah Louie ('10), went live on the air with Green Wave Radio, Thailand's most popular radio station and the host of Thailand's version of American Idol, where millions of listeners were introduced to William and Mary.
After two and a half weeks of business immersion, participants end their tour of Southeast Asia with a short vacation to Phuket on the Southwestern coast of Thailand. Upon arrival students are treated to a sea kayaking journey through the Andaman Sea, where hundreds of cliff islands dot the landscape. Camping, bungalows, and a five-star resort appropriately called "Paradise" encompass each of the three nights.
Every student returning from the trip had a universally positive experience, and many hope to return to Southeast Asia. This course will be offered again starting next semester to business and non-business students alike. Those interested should keep their eyes and ears open for interest meetings in February.
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