Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/62198
Passports Education to To offer the most effective international experience for students, schools should start with a program's design, not its destination. By Viktoria Kish The primary objective for many international programs is to give students a better understanding of business in the context of a partic- ular country or region of the world. But this objective, while laudable, can be far too general as the basis of an effective pro- gram. Today, the most effective international programs go beyond the general "Doing Business in Country X" banner. Instead the most successful trips are designed with a particu- lar context, course of study, or theme in mind. Once a theme is selected that suits the school and its students, administra- tors can choose a destination accordingly. For example, if students travel to itinerary that fails to provide a focused analysis of the local business environment or key industries. However, in a pro- gram that has been based on a particular theme—say, the automotive industry—Germany's strong engineering and 38 BizEd JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003 Germany to study "German business prac- tices," they may end up with a generalized