Study Abroad

Thinking about studying abroad? Well, now's your chance to find out why Michigan State is a national leader in study abroad!

China

An opportunity of a lifetime. We will be returning to China this summer. Photo credit: Oksana Odnovol, Summer 2010.

Human Resource Practices and Employment Relations in China
Next trip: Summer 2012
Previous trip: Summer 2010
Faculty contact: Peter B. Berg

The goals of this course are to provide students with a deep understanding of the institutional networks that make up the employment relations system and human resource practices in China. The course covers the following topics: comparative employment relations theory, the role of employers, labor unions, and the state in determining employment relations and human resource practices at the firm level. The course provides students with direct contact to the key actors in Chinese employment relations through visits to US employers, e.g. Microsoft, Intel, Eaton, and General Mills. In addition, students meet with labor union leaders and managers at Chinese domestic companies. The instruction for the course is delivered during a two-week trip to Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing. Students also receive lectures at Renmin University in Beijing and Nanjing University in Nanjing, and they have opportunities to network with Chinese graduate students.

Student Stories from Study Abroad: Kristie McAlpine »

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Pictured left to right: Eddie Daniels (fellow political prisoner with Nelson Mandela), Abby Werner, Maple Le, Professor John Beck, Dan Machiorlatti, Michelle Winner, Megan Anderson, Jonathan Tsegaye, and Kandace Hansen. Summer 2011

South Africa

Labor Relations/Human Resources in South Africa
Next trip: Summer 2012
Previous trips: 2006-2009, 2011
Faculty contact: John Beck

Participants join African students in the Labor Relations Masters program at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to look at industrial relations and organizational change in the South African context. Students learn about labor relations and human resource management through a variety of lectures, plant visits, interactions with labor and management leaders, and other hands-on experiences.

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Students get a unique opportunity to tour several facilities during this Study Abroad program. Summer 2011

France

International Human Resource Management in France
Next trip: Summer 2013
Previous trips: 2009-2011
Faculty contact: Ellen Ernst Kossek

This graduate program is designed to give graduate candidates in human resources and other related Masters majors such as business a study abroad learning experience in international human resource management in global markets. The goal of the program is to expose students to different human resource strategies and cultural employment relations models and the impact of corporations on the management of people in global complex organizations with a focus on contrasting French / European and U.S. with other nations (e.g. BRIC).

Students live in French student housing at the Rouen School of Business Grande Ecole.

Highlights of the study abroad class include:

• McDonald's French Headquarters meeting with VP for France and other Europe countries
• General Electric Medical Systems visit with Director of HR for Europe, Union Leader, Plant Manager and lunch with HR staff
• Tour of third largest hospital in France leading the way with innovative HR systems yet maintaining old aspects of culture
• Visit to Caen Peace Museum and D-Day memorial in Normandy where World War II battle took place
• Lecture on international compensation at Avaya
• Tour of Lubrizol Plant
• Cross-cultural class on training with French business students & reception with French MBAs
• Visit to Daneher subsidiary's lean production plant that employed a significant group of handicapped workers
• Lecture on employee rights in the European Union
• Online predeparture learning modules on international HR using British personnel text
• Predeparture French conversation class
• Meeting with Business Digest Journalist
• Attendance at an International Conference on Careers
• Visit to Hertz Construction European Headquarters
• Welcoming and Closing Group dinner and class on business etiquette and wine

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Germany

German Employment Relations
Next trip: TBD
Previous trips: 2005 and 2007
Faculty contact: Peter B. Berg

This program provides graduate students with a deep understanding of the institutional networks that make up employment relations and human resource practices in Germany. Students have the opportunity to in interact with key actors in German employment relations systems through visits to employers, labor unions, and the German labor ministry, as well as opportunities to network with German graduate students.