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Summer in Norway: Intercultural Management – A Norwegian/Scandinavian Perspective
Summer 2009: 4 weeks (mid June to mid July)
Sponsored by The School of Hospitality Business in The Eli Broad College of Business; in cooperation with the Norwegian School of Management (Handelshøyskolen BI)
Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)
What's this program about?
The Norwegian School of Management (Handelshøyskolen BI), founded in 1943, is one of Norway’s largest educational institutions. The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University exchanges students with BI for an experience in international education and business.
Scandinavia is perhaps the closest you can come to a postindustrial knowledge economy. Scandinavian companies are also the innovators of participatory management techniques and network forms of organization. Norway is a small country, and in order for Norwegian businesses and the Norwegian economy to prosper, Norwegians must engage in intercultural business.
The summer program arranged with NSM-BI will provide you with unique insights into doing business interculturally. Beyond the academic component of the program, students will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Norwegian customs and culture, enhancing their overall study abroad experience. This is a general business program and is not limited to hospitality business majors.
Where does it take place?
NORWAY, The Land of the Midnight Sun. Roughly the same size as California, Norway is a long, narrow, and mountainous country. It is covered by forests, rivers, lakes, and glaciers. Its coastline stretches for hundreds of miles with beautiful fjords from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean.
The capital, Oslo, is the largest city with a population of almost 500,000. Greater Oslo has roughly 800,000 inhabitants, nearly twenty percent of Norway. Oslo is the business and cultural capital of the nation. The BI campus is located in Nydalen, a 10-minute subway ride from the center of Oslo.
What can I study?
Students will be required to enroll for a minimum of six (6) credits in the following courses. They will take these courses along with Norwegian and other international students.
| HB 307 | Intercultural Management | 3 cr. |
Objective:
To provide you with an overview of the research on culture and intercultural management and apply this knowledge in a specific context: Scandinavian/ Norwegian. By the end of the course you should be able to analyze intercultural interactions and identify potential problems and solutions. You should also be able to recognize key intercultural management issues within the Scandinavian Norwegian context.
Program outline:
The course is divided into three main areas of focus:
- Culture and communication. Defining culture and discuss culture’s consequences on communication
- The Scandinavian perspective / The Scandinavian Model. A focus on different Norwegian firms and sectors as well as on laws and regulations of work
- Competencies for managing intercultural interaction; implications of cultural differences at intra- and inter-organizational levels
Program structure:
The course will consist of lectures, group work, and company visits totaling 60 hours over a three-week period. Normally each day will be structured so as the lectures will take place before lunch. Field trips and other course-related activities/assignments may take place during the afternoons.
| HB 490 | Norwegian Life and Society | 3 cr. |
Parallel to BI’s summer program you will attend classes in Norwegian Life and Society organized in the framework of the International Summer School of The University of Oslo. These classes (twice a week) are an interesting complement to the BI classes and you will dive into various aspects of the Norwegian society. Topics that may be covered during your stay in Norway include Norwegian history, the political system, welfare state, economy, environmental issues, women’s position and the family, literature, visual art, culture and identity.
Objective:
To provide you with an introduction to and an overview of Norwegian culture and society in a historical and contemporary perspective, and to apply this knowledge in understanding differences in Norwegian and American management approaches or models.
Program structure:
The course consists of three inter-related components:
- Attend the twice weekly lectures at the International Summer School of The University of Oslo
- Summarize the lectures/that which you have learned
- Produce a report identifying how Norwegian culture and society differs from that of the USA, with an emphasis on how these differences have led to differences in how hospitality business is conducted in Norway and the United States. This report will be graded by Dr. Carl Borchgrevink upon your return to MSU.
What are the requirements?
This program is open to MSU students who are of at least sophomore status at the time of studying abroad and in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.
It should be noted that BI will determine final approved participants.
Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.
Where will I live?
A variety of housing options are available, ranging from single occupancy with private bath to larger, shared facilities. In Norway the universities and colleges do provide housing. The International Office at BI will help locate housing and act as your intermediary.
Students can also choose off-campus accommodations.
Who can tell me more about this program?
Carl P. Borchgrevink
The School of Hospitality Business
233 Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 353-9211
John Jensen
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone: (517) 432-8424
WEB SITES OF INTEREST
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Official Documentation and Information from the Norwegian Government – good source for official regulations, as well as general information
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Norway – The Official Site in the United States
The Norwegian Online Information Service in the U.S. has detailed and practical information about Norway -
Visit Norway – The official travel guide to Norway – a combined effort of the Norwegian Tourist authorities and tourism industries
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Working in Norway – also includes a special section about the education system
Do I need a passport or visa?
U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.
For more information about passports visit the web page.
A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.
If you are a U.S. citizen you are not required to have a visa, but can apply for a residence permit upon arrival in Norway. Please see the Norwegian School of Management - B. Passport - Visitors Permit web page for greater detail.
For more information about visas visit the web page.
Are there special health issues?
As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.
See the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook for further health information and recommendations.
How much does it cost?
Funds paid directly by the student include:
- transportation to Norway
- accommodations
- meals
- books and supplies
- MSU tuition and fees*
- passport application fee
- visa application fees (if applicable)
- pre-departure doctor visit
- pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
- personal spending money
Excluding airfare and tuition and fees, an estimated total for these costs is $2,690 (US08) for summer.
A program fee of $100 is required and includes pre-departure orientation and requisite accident and sickness insurance.
Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.
*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.
Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)
How can I get help to pay for it?
Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.
If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.
If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.
For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.
Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.
A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.
For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.
How do I apply?
You can apply online or download an application form.
Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.
Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.
A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.
Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.
Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).
Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.
| What's next? | |
| Come to a study abroad fair | |
| Talk with a Peer Adviser | |
| Read program evaluations | |
| Attend an info meeting
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| Apply online | |
| Additional Resources... | |
| Office of Financial Aid | 252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu |
| MSU Travel Clinic | East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu |
| Academic Advisers | http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html |
| Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities | 120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu |
| Area Studies Centers | International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu |
| MSU Global Access | Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/ |
| OSA contact info: | Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu |
