Students from Sonoma State University's Executive Master of Business Administration program will be in South Africa and Botswana from this month for the program's international consulting and experiential learning component. The meetings will provide strategic counsel on challenges faced by business and civic leaders in Johannesburg, Gaborone, Pilanesberg and Cape Town.
International study tours distinguish the EMBA curriculum by providing students the opportunity to interact and work directly with professionals and counterparts in different countries. Students receive international operations exposure in business, education, government, nonprofit, technology, tourism and healthcare.
"Students come away from the international consulting tours with a global network and fresh perspective on their strategic direction, both personal and professional," says John Stayton, executive director of Graduate and Executive Programs at SSU. "It's more than just the satisfaction of engaging and aiding leaders abroad -- students develop skills that comes from working on real business challenges with a diverse group in a foreign setting."
The student group will meet with officials from the U.S. Commercial Service, Diamond Company and Mine, nonprofit Deaf Hands at Work and other distinguished businesses in South Africa and Botswana.