International Business in Belgium

Dates:

Tuesday, May 19 - Saturday, June 13, 2009

Faculty Leaders:

Prof. John Planchon, Department of Economics and Business Administration

Location:

Antwerp, Belgium and site visits as outlined below

  • Housing at Ibis Hotel (double occupancy)
  • Instruction at University of Antwerp

Site Visits:

Antwerp, Belgium

  • Diamond Bourse and World Diamond Council
  • Rubenshuis
  • Royal Museum of Art
  • Plantin Moretus Museum of Printing

Brugge, Belgium

  • Groeninge Museum of Flemish Primitives

Brussels, Belgium

  • European Commission
  • European Parliament
  • Museums

Ieper, Belgium

  • Flanders Battlefield and museum

Ghent, Belgium

  • Medieval museum
  • Cathedral with famous altarpiece

Leuven, Belgium

  • Stella Artois (InBev brewer and purchaser of Anheuser Busch)

Epernay and Reims, France

  • International School of Management for lectures on economics and business of the champagne industry
  • Moet et Chandon and Champagne estates

Paris, France

  • FedEx European Hub
  • The Louvre

Prerequisites:

Business 351, 361, or 371 for students enrolling in Business 483
Economics 101 for students enrolling in Business 283-International Studies 283

Academic Overview:

2009 marks the third consecutive year that the Belgium Maymester will be offered. Although the most popular portions of the program remain unchanged, the course offerings have been redesigned to help students contextualize the international business cases course and to provide students with a broader perspective and appreciation of the international business environment.

Credit Hours to be Earned: 6

  • BUS 483: Advanced International Business Cases (4 credits-BUS major elective) OR BUS 283-IS 283: Introduction to International Business Cases (4 credits)
  • BUS 265-IS 265: Business and Politics in the European Union (1 credit)
  • BUS 265-IS 265: Flemish Art Markets and Business History in the Lowlands (1 credit)

Courses cross-listed with International Studies Department may be used for major/minor credit.

Foundations Requirements to be Fulfilled: F11

 

Topics to be studied in International Business Cases course:

  • The international branding firm Stella Artois, owned by InBev which recently bought Anheuser Busch
  • Dekoninck, a local brewery which competes with the internationals
  • DeBeers diamond phenomenon and its joint venture to brand its diamonds with LVMH
  • LVMH and its portfolio of luxury brands, including champagnes that are experiencing booming demand but static supply
  • The country of origin effect on Belgium’s international printing, chocolate, and weaving industries (NEW in 2009!)
  • The international brand FedEx, headquartered in Memphis but expanding in Europe

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