Students Participate in Summer Courses in Denmark and Italy

Frank Chelko SC&IS along with associate professor Dr. Lou Gattis from Finance conducted a 3 credit course "Doing Business in the European Union" in Copenhagen, Denmark. Eighteen Business students from Smeal College representing supply chain, finance, accounting, management, and marketing participated in the 6-week summer course. Topics included the European history that led to the formation of the EU, EU initial and current objectives, transition from totally nationalistic countries to unified members of a European economic system with evolving trade agreements, trade processes within and external to EU countries, and the establishment of a European common currency. Lectures were conducted at the Copenhagen Business School, an affiliate of PSU as part of a CBS 1200 student summer enrollment. The classroom was located in the CBS remodeled old Royal Copenhagen Porcelain factory building.  The course included a field trip to global logistics provider, A. P. Moller-Maersk's corporate center, where three executives representing various supply chain functions with the corporation, addressed the students.

Frank Archibald and Russell Barton led a class of 19 Smeal students through factories in Italy last May and June. Students talked with manufacturing managers of six different factories and prepared detailed assessments on supplier relations, distribution streategies, lean and quality initiatives, and overall manufacturing strategy. The program was hosted by the Institute at Palazzo Rucellai. Students had classroom sessions in the Palazzo, and took an additional course from Palazzo Rucellai faculty. The Departments of Management and Insurance and Real Estate also offered programs with the Institute.