Rutgers Business School hosts immersion program for Brazilian graduate students

Rutgers Business School hosted a cohort of 35 Brazilian graduate students in an immersion program that taught business, trade as well as public and private sector relations in the United States. These students are enrolled in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Public Administration program at their home university. 

The program was put together by Doug Miller, an associate dean and professor for MBA programs. He said it was modeled off a similar program run in 2017, though some aspects were changed. Monica Giron and Dietrich Tschanz of Rutgers Business School International Programs implemented the program, accompanying the students throughout the week on the New Brunswick and Newark campuses.

Giron and Tschanz organized the food, transportation and logistics of the week-long program. They worked to create the initial contract with the participants and customized the program specifically for their needs. Participants also attended multiple lectures and panels. 

“They heard from a faculty panel at the School of Public Affairs and Administration about approaches to government, non-profit management and social services. Business school faculty taught them about human resource management, mechanisms for international import/export, effective auditing of large government projects, urban entrepreneurship, the (information technology) IT sector and cultural differences in the workplace between the United States, Brazil and China,” Miller said. 

Miller said the participants also visited historic sites in New Jersey and New York City and toured the local New Brunswick area to learn about public-private partnerships. 

“Rio de Janeiro has segments that are centers of luxury and wealth, areas with large working class populations and clusters of poverty. Here, the students talked with faculty and others who are addressing each of those segments from a business standpoint, social entrepreneurship and government revenue and services,” Miller said. 

Tschanz said students visited the Port of Newark, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Trenton, New Jersey as well. He said these visits provided insight to the United States monetary policy and how the unique political environment of the United States affects business. It also revealed the important role New Jersey plays in international trade. 

“(Most of what) is being shipped with the destination of the East Coast to Chicago ... comes in through Newark because Newark is also very well connected to rail, and so whatever needs to come through is put on rail. So we wanted them to say that, to see the operation,” Tschanz said. “I hope they realize the importance of New Jersey in the context of the larger New York area — New Jersey is generally not that well known abroad.” 

He also emphasized their immersion in American democracy. They learned of the United States’ method of government, where “citizens to support a certain measure, talk to local representatives and to take up proposals.” 

Miller said the students enjoyed other experiences in the United States while participating in the program, such as hockey games, basketball games or Broadway musicals. 

Tschanz said he is hoping to have another Brazilian cohort back next year for the same immersion program, along with potential Australian and Chinese student groups, some of whom have already visited the University. He said the program will help the students with career advancement and that he hopes the students enjoyed their time at Rutgers. 

“I hope that they got a very favorable impression of Rutgers, and the Business School in particular, because they interacted with seven faculty from (Rutgers Business School),” Tschanz said.