Source: University of Otago
Students from University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, visiting the Otago Business School.
The Otago Business School has welcomed the return of Otago’s overseas partners for custom courses now that global travel is once again an option.
Visiting groups from prestigious partners – the New York University’s Stern School of Business and the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management – returned to New Zealand in January for custom business courses, the first visit since 2020 due to the global pandemic.
NYU Stern’s programme on doing business in New Zealand, curated by Associate Professor Lincoln Wood from Otago’s Department of Management, saw a cohort of 40 MBA students travel to Auckland for a two-week packed schedule of lectures, presentations, business site visits and tourism activities. There was special focus on sectors such as healthcare, the wine industry, financial markets, entrepreneurship and technology.
The programme is part of the MBA course offered by Stern to strengthen students’ business skills and to understand new markets, Dean Otago Business School and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Commerce Professor Robin Gauld says.
Professor Gauld met with the students in Auckland and says it was invigorating to get those connections again in person. He sees potential for some participants moving to New Zealand to work or start a business.
“Regulations and business models in New Zealand differ to the United States and, by offering the course, students wanting to start a career in New Zealand can more easily do that,” says Professor Gauld.
Professor Robin Gauld, left, with visiting students from New York University’s Stern School of Business (image credit Focal Point Photos).
On the Dunedin campus, 30 students from Carlson School of Management embarked on a three-day short course, Striving for Equity in International Business, at the Otago Business School, as part of a two-week tour around the country.
Along with guest lectures from Otago researchers, Carlson students enjoyed a tour of Otago Peninsula and a Karitāne Māori Tour.
Wendy Lutter, Academic Director, Master of Marketing programme at Carlson says she was very excited to bring the 30 undergraduate business students back to Otago.
“The international portion of the course where we travel puts everything into perspective by giving students new perspectives.
We did the course online for two years with some of Otago’s professor partners zooming into Minnesota, but nothing can replace the in-person connections and the learnings that accompany overseas travel. We value our partnership with Otago in bringing a rich global experience to our students.”
