A&M International Students Study in Germany, France This Summer

Texas A&M International University's trademarked theme "Nothing So Close Takes You So Far" has special meaning for 22 A&M International students enrolled in select business courses this summer.

The A&M International students will travel to Europe and complete a portion of the summer courses at universities in Germany and France.

The transcontinental courses are part of the International Business Program offered by the University's College of Business Administration, explained Jannet Garcia, Associate Director of the Institute for International Trade.

"The College of Business Administration has developed student exchange agreements with several universities throughout the world, including Europe, Mexico, and South America. Under these exchanges, A&M International students can complete courses at partner international universities and students from those universities can complete coursework here," said Garcia.

This summer, A&M International students will complete courses at the Berlin School of Business, the Fachhochschule Fur Technik Und Wirtschaft (FHTW), in Germany, and the Chambéry Graduate School of Management (Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Chambéry), the Brittany Graduate School of Management (Ecole Superieure de Commerce Bretagne), and the Montpellier Graduate School of Management (Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Montpellier) in Chambéry, Brest, and Montpellier, France.

A&M International students who will complete one or more of the summer courses in Germany or France are Kay Ascencio, Neil Ascencio, Luis Barrera, Enrique Bautista, Sandra Benavides, Carlos Granados, Arnaud LeGuen, Olga Lozano, Alicia Maldonado, Gabriel Martinez, Laura Olmos, Cristina Pena, Adamo Pesce, Nadia Plascencia, Charles Pool, Karla Quezada, Wendy Ro, Alejandro Rodriguez, Arturo Sanchez, Kathleen Stellema, Juan A. Vargas, and Jesus Velazquez.

Before departure, students are required to complete 35 hours of coursework for each course attempted. The coursework includes lectures on the language, history, and culture of the country to be visited; presentations on exchanging currency, touring, and traveling in Europe; and lessons on the history, development and status of the European economic union.

Students in the German program also examine studies comparing the border culture of Laredo as a gateway to Latin America and Berlin as the gateway to Eastern Europe

The German program is scheduled for May 20 - June 13. The course is under the direction of Dr. Kurt R. Jesswein, Associate Professor of International Banking at A&M International. In Berlin the students will attend lectures by Dr. Jesswein and FHTW professors, tour the German Congress (Bundestag), and The Basic Credit Bank (Grundkreditbank), and local businesses, and visit Viadrina University (Europa Universitat Viadrina), a partner institution with A&M International located in a border city between Germany and Poland.

Students will also have an opportunity to tour the region and neighboring countries during weekend breaks. In previous years, students who participated in the German program toured Prague, Krakow, Vienna, Budapest, and Munich.

While in Berlin, the students will room with FHTW faculty or FHTW students. Student exchanges between A&M International and FHTW began in 1995.

The Chambéry program is scheduled for May 18 - June 14. The course is under the direction of Dr. Kamal Fatehi, Professor of Management and Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing at A&M International. Chambéry is in the French Alps, near the border of Switzerland. The Chambéry program includes lectures by local faculty and field trips to area businesses and points of interest.

The Brest Program, scheduled for June 15 - July 12, and the Montpellier program, scheduled for July 13 - August 9, are under the direction of Dr. Alain B. Genestre, Assistant Professor of Marketing at A&M International.

Brest, home port of the French navy's nuclear submarines, is in Brittany, in the westernmost province of France. In Brest students will attend lectures by Dr. Genestre and Brest faculty. Students will also tour the port of Brest and the local fish auction.

Students in the Montpellier program will attend lectures by Dr. Genestre and Montpellier faculty, and tour local businesses. Montpellier, an important center for economic and industrial development, is a southern city close to the Mediterranean Sea Students in the Chambéry, Brest, and Montpellier programs may tour the region and neighboring countries during long weekends reserved for personal time.

"Many of the students who participate in these programs have never travelled abroad. These exchange programs afford our students an opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful regions in the world, as well as to experience the culture and economics of some of the US's biggest trade partners. In today's global economy, first-hand knowledge of the foreign marketplace is a must for international business students," she noted.

Texas A&M International University offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration. Available majors and concentrations include accounting, computer information systems, international banking, international logistics, production and operations management, economics, finance, transportation, and marketing.

Registration for next summer's courses begins in October. Students who participate in the International Business Program are eligible for financial assistance from the College of Business Administration and the University.

For more information on the International Programs at A&M International, please contact Garcia at 321-2551.

University office hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu