Visiting Scholars Program Grows in Popularity

CLU School of Business program brings top educators from around the world

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Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler, of the International Management and Global Business Programs at the University of Applied Sciences (FH-Joanneum) in Graz, Austria

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – California Lutheran University’s popular Visiting Scholars program continues to attract international faculty, each with a diverse background and significant experience in global business, teaching, consulting and research. MBA courses in the Visiting Scholars program are conducted through the use of intense weekend sessions with students receiving reading and assignments prior to the in-class lectures. After an intensive weekend of immersive learning, students conclude the course through the completion of additional assignments.

The Visiting Scholars Program is managed by Ronald Hagler, Ph.D., Director of CLU’s MBA Program, and Harry Domicone, Ph.D., Director of CLU’s International MBA Program. To provide maximum flexibility to MBA students, the in-class sessions are conducted on Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday. The content and rigor of these classes are the same as other MBA courses. Only the format is modified, due to the availability of the international instructors.

For the upcoming winter and spring terms, the following courses are scheduled:

WINTER VISTING SCHOLAR COURSES

Cross Cultural Management
A popular course in the Visiting Scholars program, Cross Cultural Management will be conducted by Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler, who is the head of International Management and Global Business Programs at the University of Applied Sciences (FH-Joanneum) in Graz, Austria. FH-Joanneum is a major partner of the CLU School of Business. Dr. Apfelthaler’s credentials include numerous books, articles, and distinguished teaching and consulting experiences around the world. A former commercial attaché with the Austrian Consul in the United States and Singapore, Dr. Apfelthaler is knowledgeable about cross-cultural challenges facing modern business. He is often invited to lecture and consult on cross cultural business activities. The course will be taught during an intensive weekend Jan. 5-7.

Legal Issues in International Management
This course addresses the legal issues as they relate to international business. Some legal considerations seem to be universal, while others vary due to their economic and political environments. The laws and practices of several countries, regions and societies are examined, along with challenges that face organizations that “go Global.” In this class, common legal pitfalls are explained and examined, and course participants are shown basic ways to anticipate and avoid legal traps that frequently ensnare businesses of all sizes.

The instructor, Dr. Doris Kiendl-Wendner, is a full-time member of the faculty of the University of Applied Sciences (FH-Joanneum) in Graz, Austria. In addition to conducting a variety of business law classes at FH-Joanneum, Dr. Kiendl-Wendner has conducted courses in Germany, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Finland and Australia. She is a practicing attorney and has successfully represented clients in the areas of international business law and consumer law. Published in several international journals, she is the author of multiple books related to consumer law. This course will be offered Jan. 19-21.

SPRING VISITING SCHOLAR COURSES

International Consumer Behavior
Professor Donal Rogan of the Institute of Technology, Tallaght, in Dublin, Ireland, returns to CLU this spring to conduct his global trademark course. Professor Rogan has written a case on Jameson Irish Whiskey, and part of the class focuses on the opportunities and challenges faced by Jameson to better understand global consumers and develop suitable messages for varied markets. This is one of several cases authored by Professor Rogan, who has also conducted consumer behavior marketing research for a number of international organizations. The in-class portion of this course will be conducted March 16-18. Note the overlap with St. Patrick’s Day!

International Human Resource Management
Visiting Scholar Dr. Vlad Vaiman was educated in Russia, the United States and Switzerland. He is widely sought as a guest lecturer around the world. Dr. Vaiman conducts a weekend of immersive learning that focuses on the subtleties, nuances and legal issues of great importance to managers of firms engaged in international management. The intensive weekend of class time is set for April 27-29.

Social Enterprise and Corporate Responsibility
The course focuses on how entrepreneurial thinkers and trend-setting companies are working to make the world a better place while achieving their business objectives. Dr. U. Gauthamadas of India has an M.D. in psychiatry and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior. He is Director of the Academy for Disaster Education, Planning and Training (ADEPT), headquartered in Chennai. The academy works internationally with corporations, governments and NGOs to train professionals and volunteers in disaster response and management. ADEPT has played a critical role in the international response to the Asian Tsunami and the Kashmir earthquake. This course will be held March 23-25. For more information, contact Dr. Randall Donohue at Donohue@callutheran.edu

For information on the Visiting Scholars Program, please contact Dr. Harry Domicone at domicone@callutheran.edu

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