College of Business Unites Online and On-campus Students in Study Abroad Program
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology’s Nathan M. Bisk College of Business concluded its inaugural short-term study abroad program based in Madrid, Spain. The program represents a blended form of learning that combines synchronous online lectures facilitated by Adobe Connect as well as traditional classroom meetings and visits to companies. The international travel component, from June 25-July 3, sent 24 students of all ages and backgrounds to Spain. This was the first time business students from Florida Tech’s main campus, extended campuses, and online programs were together in a classroom environment.
Program participants included eight students each from Florida Tech’s main campus and online MBA programs; an MBA student from the Redstone Extended Studies Division site in Huntsville, Ala.; and seven undergraduate students, from the main campus and online program. The students ranged in age from 19 to 53, and about one-third were from Taiwan, China, Venezuela and Finland.
The course, “Special Topics in Business: An International Experience” was led in partnership with ESIC Business & Marketing School, an internationally-renowned university. It included lectures on international trade theory and economic conditions provided by Mike Slotkin, associate professor, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business. He guided the program as well as the lectures on Spanish economic and marketing issues by ESIC faculty. The program included excursions to many cultural and historic treasures of Madrid, Segovia and Toledo, and was further enhanced by company visits to Planet Carrefour, a European retail hyper-market, and TNT Logistics, a European company similar to UPS.
Slotkin was aided and accompanied by Alex Vamosi, associate dean, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, and Chris Durie, manager of online business programs.
According to Annie Becker, dean, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, “This blended form of learning is vital. It allows us to offer an international educational opportunity to the majority of our students, particularly MBAs, who, due to employment commitments, would find it difficult to participate in a long-term program.”
The Nathan M. Bisk College of Business at Florida Tech offers undergraduate degrees in accounting, business administration, marketing, business and environmental studies, information systems and international business. The college also offers master’s degrees in business administration, both on campus and online, and healthcare management.
For more information about Nathan M. Bisk College of Business programs, visit http://cob.fit.edu/.
