|
Smith Experience Abroad:
2011-12
Doing Business in the Middle East:
Mega Projects Management
Fall term BUSI788M and winter term BUSI798M
| Cities |
Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates |
| Faculty |
Dr. Hassan Ibrahim |
| Dates Abroad |
Depart January 6th, 2012 US (arrive in Dubai January 7th, 2012)
Depart Dubai on January 14th, 2012 (arrive in US January 14th, 2012)
January 6th and January 14th are both travel days and there are no course
activities planned. Education Abroad requests that you purchase refundable
fares; courses may be cancelled due to unexpected circumstances. |
|
Mandatory BUSI788 pre-departure meetings |
First pre-departure meeting: Sunday October 16th, 2011 from 12:00pm (noon) to
4:00pm at 1505 Van Munching Hall, College Park.
Second pre-departure meeting: Sunday November 20th, 2011 from 12:00pm (noon) to
4:00pm at 1505 Van Munching Hall, College Park. |
|
How to
Register |
Register on Testudo for fall BUSI788M section
BA01 at the same time as your other fall courses. You will automatically
be registered for the associated two-credit course abroad. |
 The
history of the Middle East dates back to thousands of years, and throughout its
history the region has been a major center of world affairs and business. In
modern times, the Middle East remains a strategic region for world business and
a critical player in international relations. The course aims to provide
students with a good understanding of doing business in the Middle East, using
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a working lab.
While significant stocks of oil give the region economic power, several
countries have diversified their economies into services, including banking,
finance, trade, and transportation and logistics. UAE has a highly developed
economy but has suffered, perhaps disproportionately, as the six-year boom came
to an abrupt halt in the 2008/9 world economy. The course will provide a window
into how a country copes with change, and the opportunities, and challenges in
the Arab world at a time when such understanding is increasingly vital. In
addition to providing a general understanding of doing business in the Middle
East, the course will focus on management of projects of major size, which are
Dubai's trade mark, such as: Dubai Holdings (Dubai's sovereign fund), Dubai
Ports World (with a tour of Jebel Ali Free Zone terminal), Burj Dubai (the world
tallest building), The Palm Islands, Dubai Festival City, and “Taqa” (a $40
Billion global energy company).
| Note: |
| In-country transportation is expected to be included in tuition. |
| There is a $500 penalty if you drop the course after September 15th,
2011. |
| Please do not purchase any airline tickets until enrollment for the
class is confirmed through Blackboard, around September 15th. Students
are advised by UMD Education Abroad to purchase refundable airline
tickets. |
| Program fee is $3000 plus three credits tuition (total for BUSI788
and BUSI798), which includes shared hotel room, local transportation to
company visits and required cultural activities, any tickets or fees for
required cultural activities, 1-2 group meals, and professor and partner
fees. There is an additional $250 study abroad fee which goes directly
to the campus office to maintain the emergency plan. |
|
