International Consulting Project
As part of the International Business Development program, Berkeley MBA students, including Dan Brounstein (pictured), MBA 07, traveled to Ghana to improve the sustainability of a school lunch program.
Full-time MBA Program
Global Management
The World is the Classroom
Three teams of Berkeley MBA students traveled to Ghana, Africa to help implement and expand a nationwide school lunch program that uses locally grown food, thus nourishing kids while boosting the local economy. Meanwhile another team worked with Nokia's Research Center in Tampere, Finland to develop commercial applications for new mobile technologies, while yet another team advised the government of Macedonia on a national IT strategy.
With the continuing globalization of the economy, the need to think and compete internationally has become imperative. Nothing could be more illustrative of this point than the 72 students on 18 teams who were part of the Haas School's acclaimed International Business Development (IBD) program in 2007. IBD sends dozens of students around the world to consult for a variety of organizations each year under the direction of Sebastian Teunissen, executive director of the Clausen Center for International Business and Policy.
IBD clients range from large multinationals to nonprofit organizations. During the first part of the year, student teams prepare a work plan in consultation with their client and undertake background research and analysis while attending classes on related topics. From mid-May to mid-June, teams spend three weeks on location in their assigned country. Upon return to the Haas School, they carry out additional research to complete the assignment and present their work to the Haas community in the International Business Development Conference.
Berkeley MBA students who want to emphasize global business may also take a series of international courses, including international seminars focusing on different regions of the world, to obtain a Certificate in Global Management.
The international emphasis of the Haas School is an integral part of its culture. Many Berkeley MBA students have lived, studied, or worked abroad, and over 30% of Berkeley MBA students come from more than 40 countries outside the United States. Many faculty, too, are either originally from other countries, or have extensive international experience and contacts. The impact of this international diversity on the MBA program is enormous, adding varied perspectives to classroom discussions, team projects, and everyday interactions.
