The program begins in January and meets biweekly on Fridays and Saturdays until the end of May in Switzerland. Participants then spend an intensive summer residency of six weeks at the University of Rochester. Thereafter, instruction continues in Switzerland from mid-August until graduation in June of the following year. In April, a study week in Shanghai completes the educational experience. The total duration of the program is 18 months.
The biweekly format of the Swiss part of the program is designed for executives who do not want to interrupt a successful career and need a schedule which is compatible with their business responsibilities. Moreover, the format enables program participants to critically review, assimilate, and apply what they have heard in class. Learning requires time and perspective, which is what the format is designed to provide. The retreat character of the location at the Lake of Thun supports this goal.
Classes are held at the Congress Hotel Seepark in Thun. This four-star hotel right next to the lake provides an ideal setting for intensive study away from the hectic pace of day-to-day work. Located south of Bern, the Seepark is easily accessible by car or train.
The intensive summer session in Rochester allows participants to replace the rigors of daily managerial life with full-time study. It promotes an international experience by combining participants from the American and European programs for a period of intensive work. While staying in Rochester, the students devote their efforts to full-time study and self-improvement. Many participants find the time in Rochester the most valuable part of the program.
Classes are taught at the Simon School in its executive program facilities. Accommodation is arranged close to the campus. There as well as at the school, students find the necessary infrastructure for their studies. The university is also well equipped for a variety of individual and group sports.
A study week in Shanghai completes the curriculum. This stay is intended to enhance students' knowledge of Asian ways of doing business and to give them a better appreciation of cultural differences. Students discuss the opportunities and challenges of doing business in China, visit local companies, and listen to presentations by Chinese managers, academics, and expatriates.
Classes are organized with a local partner and in various production sites and service centers around the city. Accommodation is arranged close to the center of Shanghai. Students will be given the necessary infrastructure for their studies as well as facilities for sports and recreation. Transportation to the various sites is provided.
In 2009, the Rochester-Bern China Seminar "Emerging Markets: Entry and Managment" took place at the Maryland Center in Shanghai. More...
