IB 590 European Union Business Experience

in Riga, Latvia

Study Abroad Course Syllabus

Walsh College Summer Semester 2014

 

Instructors: Michael Levens, Ph.D.

[email protected]

 

Linda Hagan, Ph.D.

[email protected]

 

Course Description:

This seminar provides exposure to European Union business practices through an intensive two-week visit to Riga, Latvia. Conducted in partnership with the University College for Economics and Culture (UCEC), this experience consists of two visits per workday to local businesses, government offices and other institutions. In addition, there will be cultural experiences and classroom sessions at UCEC. Latvia is a member of both the European Union and NATO and is strategically located in the Baltic region between Sweden and Russia.

 

Course Overview:

In recent years, the expansion and dynamics of the European market have created many opportunities for global companies. Moreover, the changing institutional and regulatory environment of the European Union (EU), and in particular the double wave of deregulation and supranational re-regulation, has had an increasing impact on European business, creating new opportunities as well as new threats and challenges. National and multi-national companies have therefore progressively learned the importance of monitoring the changes in EU primary and secondary legislation, evaluating the impact on their business and dynamically adapting the company’s strategy to the new conditions. The aim of the course is to present an overview of the EU decision making system as well as the most business-relevant EU policies. The course comprises presentations about the EU institutions, the Single Market, the Euro, competition policy, industrial policy, environmental policy, and more.

 

Course Objectives:

• Demonstrate a general but practical knowledge of EU policies that are most relevant for business

• Evaluate the impact of EU legislation on different business sectors

• Describe the relationship between culture and business practices based on the experiences from this program

• Contrast EU and Latvian business practices with US business practices

 

Course Timing:

Study Abroad in Riga, Latvia: Saturday, June 14, to Saturday, June 28, 2014

Final Course Project Due: Monday, July 14, 2014, by 11:59 p.m. EST

 

Course Format:

The format of the course will be that of a seminar that will include site visits, classroom lectures, and intensive group discussions.

 

Materials:

Handouts and course material will be provided to students or made available electronically.

 

Graded Assignments – Assessments

Students will be expected to complete the following assignments: [Students will be provided with a detailed rubric for each assignment.]

1. Personal Journals – Daily, students will journal their experiences. Along with including a detailed daily agenda in the journal, the students will write their personal accounts of their experiences and what they learned. Students should include their observations of the influence culture has on business practices in different business sectors. These journals will be checked that they have been completed, yet feedback will not be given regarding writing style and content to encourage students to express their thoughts freely. Students will contribute at least one entry from their journal to include in the Walsh Study Abroad Travel Blog.

2. Participation/Professionalism/Discussions– At all times, students will be expected to exhibit professionalism, a respect for guest speakers, host organizations, instructors, and classmates. Besides signing a Code of Conduct prior to the trip, the students will earn points daily based on the active participation in discussion and professionalism. Discussions will focus on EU policies relevant to business practice along with cultural differences between the United States and Latvia.

3. Cultural Verbal Presentation/Discussion– At the midpoint and at the end of the trip, students will give an oral presentation of their experiences (two presentations each student). Verbal presentations will be 5-7 minutes long and highlight a particular event, person, concept, insight or experience. Presentations will be made in front of the instructors and peers. For each student, the instructor and students will provide feedback.

4. Final Paper – Due two weeks after students return from the trip – related specifically to student’s industry. Students are expected to complete a scholarly research paper (about 10 pages in length) analyzing a specific area/field of business and the professional practices in Latvia. A section should specifically address the dynamics of the European market and European Union regulatory environment. Students should discuss the impact EU policies and legislation has on the specific business practice. Students should write the paper in APA format including a title page, executive summary, table of contents, and reference page listing references from approved scholarly journals as well as major mainstream publications.

Assignment Points:

Personal Journaling (while on trip) 25 points

Participation/Professionalism/Discussions (while on trip) 25 points

Cultural Verbal Presentations (2@25 points, while on trip) 50 points

Final Paper (Due two weeks after trip) 100 points

Total 200 points

 

 

 

Demonstrated Level of Competence:

 

A: Superior/Excellent Performance

B: Good Performance

C: Fair Performance

D: Poor Performance

F: Unacceptable Performance

 

Students Needing Special Accommodations:

If you have a specific disability (permanent or temporary, physical or learning) needing special accommodation anytime during the semester, please notify your professor prior to submitting first fee payment.

 

Student Learning Outcomes Assessment:

Walsh College works to ensure that its graduates are able to add value to the business community and to become successful professionals and leaders. One way to deliver that value is to embed into the coursework of every degree the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors the College has identified as Core Competencies. The four Walsh College Core Competencies are: Communication Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Research Skills, and Mastery of a Business Discipline. A selection of core competencies are chosen on an annual basis for assessment and a variety of measures are used collectively to assess student achievement. Some of the measures may include standardized tests; student, alumni, and employer surveys; and course embedded assignments.

Statement Regarding Academic Misconduct:
Conduct deemed appropriate for students at Walsh College is that which the faculty and administration consider most conducive for proper academic achievements. If any member of the faculty, administration or student body considers a student′s conduct inappropriate for the Walsh College environment, that person must report it to the Chief Academic Officer. Plagiarism, unauthorized collusion on examinations, theft, sale, purchase or other unauthorized procurement of examinations, use of unauthorized aids while taking an examination, having someone else take an exam in your place or submitting for credit any paper not written by student, taking an exam for another student, copying of "do not copy" designated library materials, copying copyrighted software and destruction of equipment by introducing a computer virus, and other similar actions are considered to be academic misconduct and unacceptable for students enrolled at Walsh College. Any of these acts may result in the immediate expulsion of the student and will be so noted on a student′s transcript. The misconduct related to academic matters will be reported to the faculty chair of the academic program. If the issue is not resolved with the involvement of the faculty chair, the incident will be reported in writing to the Chief Academic Officer. The Chief Academic Officer may take such actions as issuing a failing grade, ordering academic withdrawal from the course, redoing a paper or exam or recommending to the President or his designee, administrative dismissal or other appropriate disciplinary action.

The President of the College, or her designee, shall have the final authority with regard to disciplinary action to be taken which may range from a warning to suspension and/or dismissal from college. Any student issued a grade for misconduct may not at any time withdraw from the course. A student receiving an administratively directed grade as disciplinary action resulting from misconduct may not seek financial relief or withdraw from the course at any time.

Statement Regarding Ethical Standards:
The Walsh academic community will maintain the highest ethical standards in our quest for academic excellence. We will not lie, cheat, steal, or claim credit for the ideas and work of others. We commit to respecting the intellectual property of others and will always acknowledge the authorship of intellectual property in all forms.

Necessary Documents:

Students must sign and submit all necessary Walsh College documents (i.e., Study Abroad Registration Form, Walsh College Waiver and Release Agreement, Health and Emergency Treatment Authorization Form, and Code of Conduct) with first fee payment.

Study Abroad Trip Itinerary

[as of 6.11.14 *may be subject to change]

Date		Time	Business Visits/Activities	Locations
Sunday June 15		Afternoon 17.00 18.00 18.30-20.30 TBD	Arrive Riga via airport taxi on own Check-in Radisson Blu At leisure – Suggested Rest or Riga Hop-On/Hop-Off bus tour Meet in hotel lobby for initial briefing Group departs hotel via two taxi vans Welcome banquet at Lido restaurant Group returns to hotel via two taxi vans
Monday June 16 (Dr. Levens’ Birthday)		7.00-9.00 9.30 10.00   TBD TBD 14.00-16.00 TBD 18.00-19.30	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Group departs hotel via two taxi vans Welcome address from UCEC , small seminar with Students Council in UCEC Lunch at UCEC Dining Hall -1 Group transportation via two taxi vans Air Baltic/seminar at Riga Airport Group returns to hotel via two taxi vans Dinner at hotel restaurant - 1	Lomonosova street 1/5   Territory of Riga aeroport, Pilotu 6
Tuesday June 17		7.00-9.00 9.30 10.00 TBD 14.00   17.00-19.00	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Group departs hotel via two taxi vans Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU Lunch at hotel restaurant -2 LIKTA, RIGA IT Demo centre   Dinner at hotel restaurant - 2	Meierovica blv.14, 4 floor Voldemāra 21
Wednesday June 18		7.00-9.00 10.00 TBD TBD TBD	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisur Riga Harbor Business seminar Lunch at restaurant TBD -3 Group transportation by two taxi vans Dinner and Evening on your own	Riga Harbour Voldemāra street 21
Thursday June 19		7.00-8.30 9.30-11.30 TBD 12.30 13.00-15.00 16.00 TBD TBD	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Latvian Bank – Money museum seminar Lunch at restaurant TBD -4 Group transportation by two taxi vans LGS , Air Navigation services, Business seminar/visit EU Representation in Latvia seminar Group transportation by two taxi vans Dinner at hotel restaurant - 3	Voldemāra street 2a Aeroport Riga Aspazijas blvrd.28
Friday June 20		7.00-9.00 9.00 11.00 TBD 12.00	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure State Chancellery of Latvia Business seminar Ministry of Finance Business seminar Lunch on your own Afternoon and evening on own	Smilšu street 1
Saturday June 21		8.00-9.00 TBD   Evening	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Open Air Ethnographic Museum – with Students Council of UCEC Lunch on your own Dinner at hotel restaurant - 4	BrÄ«vÄ«bas gatve 440
Sunday June 22		Morning   Afternoon Evening	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Day of rest/leisure – Explore Riga on your own Lunch on your own Dinner on your own
Monday June 23 (Latvia National Holiday – Midsummer)		8.30-9.00 9.30   TBD TBD	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Students meet with Drs. Levens & Hagan – Mid-trip reflection – Mini presentations on impact learning Lunch at hotel restaurant -5 *Dinner ~ Holiday festivities with University students / representatives – TBD - 5	Holiday House to celebrate Midsummer night with of UCEC Students
Tuesday June 24 (Latvia National Holiday – Midsummer)		Morning     Afternoon Evening	Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Organized attendance at holiday festivities with University students / representatives – TBD Lunch on your own Dinner at hotel restaurant - 6	Holiday House to celebrate Midsummer night with of UCEC Students
Wednesday June 25	7.00-8.00 8.30 10.00 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD		Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Group departs hotel by bus Chocolate factory Pure + museum Business seminar/ Visit Lunch at restaurant TBD -6 Group transportation via bus Afternoon Visit to the Ventspils University Group transportation via bus Dinner at hotel restaurant - 7	PÅ«re city   Ventspils, Inženieru street 101a
Thursday June 26	7.00-9.30 10.00 11.00 TBD TB 15.30 TBD		Breakfast buffet at hotel at leisure Group departs hotel Joint Stock Company Olainfarm Business seminar/ Visit Lunch at restaurant TBD -7 Group transportation Ministry of Economy Business seminar / Government Visit Dinner at hotel restaurant - 8	Olaine, Rūpnīcu street 5 Brīvības blvrd 55
Friday June 27	7.00-9.00 10.00   12.30-13.30   14.00 16.30 17.00-21.00   TBD		Breakfast buffet at hotel on own SEBBANK Business Seminar Lunch on your own Meet with Drs. Hagan & Levens – mini presentations of experience SWEDBANK Business seminar Group departs hotel via two taxi vans Farewell Banquet – closing remarks by UCEC representative at Aqua Restaurant Riverfront Group returns to hotel via two van taxis	Valdlauči, Meistaru street 1   Balasta dambis 1a
Saturday June 28       Monday July 14	Morning By 12.00       By 11:59 p.m. EST		Breakfast buffet at hotel on your own Check-out of hotel Farewell by Drs. Hagan & Levens Airport taxi to airport – on your own   Final Paper Due by e-mail to Drs. Hagan & Levens

Note: The instructors of this course reserves the right to make changes in this syllabus when and as the instructor deems necessary and with or without notice to the students.