Visit to Maastricht and Copenhagen

The School is looking to develop stronger partnerships with programs overseas, and as part of that development, Jeff Rummel will be visiting two programs this summer to see about increasing the number of UConn students studying there.

The first is the University of Maastricht, and the visit is scheduled for July 2nd.

The second is Denmark's International Study program at the University of Copenhagen, visiting there on July 5th and 6th.

For more information about these programs, see the links below.

After the trips, more information (and pictures) will be posted.

Question about regional campus students

There was a comment posted that asked whether regional campus students are eligible for study abroad. The answer is YES and you can go through the same process as everyone else. The best place to start is the Study Abroad Office website (see the link at the top of the blog) and the study abroad fair that they sponsor at the beginning of each semester (on the Storrs campus). There are quite a large number of programs represented at the fair, and you can ask lots of questions and learn about your options.

Spring semester in Ireland at University College Dublin

Jason is spending the spring semester at UCD in Dublin, taking classes there at the University with Irish students. Here's a report he sent while preparing for final exams:

"We arrived in Dublin on that fateful day of January 11th, a week earlier than orientation stipulated in order to secure rooms and comfort in our new accommodation, a quaint little townhouse right near city center. Living with all Americans has really made for a smooth transition to the emerald isle. We found quickly that Ireland and America share a lot more than a common language (McDonald's! for instance).

After spending a week "exploring" the charm (and pints) that Dublin has to offer we finally were able to become acquainted with our new place of higher education, University College Dublin. UCD is home to about 22,000 undergraduates and is a intellectual hub in Ireland as well as Europe. This semester I took Investment and Portfolio Management, European Union and Business Enterprise, International Marketing, and Irish History. The courses in the Quinn school are structured much the same as American Universities minus the grading system (a 70 is considered an A) and the fact that 80% of your final grade is weighted on the final.

You soon find out living in Ireland why most people come to visit, the people. A traditional Irish welcome is no myth and everyone is a character as well as curious as to your story. Everyone from the teachers, students, landlords, and shopkeepers really go out of their way to make sure you have their attention and you feel comfortable and at home. They really have been some of the most interesting and entertaining people I have met in my life.

Most of the students in the school participate in extracurricular activities and that's where most of the socializing is done as well. So far I've played with a few soccer clubs and went on a weekend excursion to Limerick with the softball team. I've been fortunate to make good friends with some Irish but have also made connections all across America as well.

Abroad students, especially in the Quinn school of business, are treated especially well as we have a meeting with free food and coffee every week that outlines how we are doing and what trips and extracurricular activities are scheduled for the coming week. So far we've been taken to several plays, a trip to Belfast, hiking in the Wicklow mountains, a trip to Kilkenny, and a farewell banquet sadly coming up next week.

The structure of the semester is also different from America. Our spring break was a three week block in the middle of March and finals are a month long (I have three weeks off). The semester out here runs a little longer so you have more time to enjoy all that Ireland and Europe has to offer in your time off!"

News from the University of New South Wales

Ashley is currently spending the spring semester in Australia and sent a report about her experience so far:

G'day! I've just returned from the twelve day Spring Break of a lifetime.
The trip was named One Fish Two Fish and took me from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef with many memorable stops along the way. The trip was sponsored by extreme adventures so there were countless jokes about things being "EXTREME." Our two tour guides were awesome- one is a pro surfer named Matt and the other is Veronica, who is finishing her last year of uni.

We started the trip by going to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. I got to feed an elephant (pretty gross actually), play with kangaroos and watch crocs get fed. There was a huge shrine for Steve Irwin and it was very touching. Then we hit Fraser Island, the world's biggest sand island. We got to off road in a bus and it was so exciting. Next up we headed to the gorgeous Whitsundays and stayed on Daydream Island. It lived up to its name 100%. I got to jet ski and banana boat. My group had to be on our best behavior on the island because the group before us had already established a bad rep- the night before we got there, the LEADER of their group got a little too EXTREME and jumped into the resort's shark tank!
That gave everybody a good laugh, except for the families that were just trying to enjoy their Easter and asked for refunds. I definitely didn't want to leave the place. From there we spent a day sailing on a yacht and a day white water rafting.

Finally, we ended up in Cairns (pronounced Cans), the city by the Great Barrier Reef. I got the opportunity to scuba dive, cliff jump, sky dive and snorkel, which were all amazing. But of course, my favorite was bungee jumping. It takes a lot to throw yourself over the edge, whereas someone just gives you a shove out of a plane. I didn't hit water like other people did but it was one of the most thrilling things I've ever done. The people on the trip have been so much fun- 59 study abroad students from the states. Now I have connections all over Australia and the US. It's hard to part ways. And of course, there is one additional member of the trip that can't be forgotten - the inflatable kangaroo that served as our mascot and went everywhere, yes everywhere, that we went (sky diving! bungee jumping!). He had somebody responsible for him every day and got renamed by them. There was a lot of emotional attachment to the roo and there was an intense game of rock paper scissors on the last night to decide who got to keep him. I still haven't developed my underwater camera pics or put my bungee jumping video on youtube, so be on the lookout for those!

For now, it's back to the books. I just got back from a Pasta Trivia night with my Sports and Law class. It was great to be with my classmates and professors in such a low key setting.

Oh, and she does report about the classes she is taking:

I'm really enjoying classes here at the University of New South Wales- I'm taking two sociologies, one business ethics and law and one sports and law. Class participation is greatly encouraged. There also seems to be more emphasis on writing papers than taking exams. In fact, I have one exam the entire time that I'm here! The professors are all very laid-back and take a strong interest in knowing all their students, even at such a big uni. One even requested that everyone send postcards from their Easter Break trips!

Applying to be in the Honors Program

Some students are admitted to the University and the Honors Program as freshmen, and they can complete their sophomore certificate and graduate with Honors. Students who are interested in Honors but are not presently in the program can apply and be accepted into the program during a period at the end of each semester.

The Honors Program is now accepting applications for students who will be UConn sophomores or juniors in Fall 2007 semester. The deadline is June 15, 2007 and students will receive notification by August 1. Students admitted to the Program and who fulfill all departmental and University requirements are eligible to graduate as Honors Scholars.

Students who are applying as rising juniors must obtain approval of the Honors advisor and department head in their major. By requiring departmental approval, the Honors Program seeks to ensure that departments will provide the student access to 12 credits of honors coursework (via honors courses, conversions, graduate courses or independent studies) and a faculty mentor for the student’s honors thesis. Departments may also set specific criteria in addition to the minimum University-wide requirements.

In the School of Business, there is also a director for the entire program, and you can contact Jeff Rummel if you have questions about Honors. You will eventually need to be sponsored by the department, but Jeff is working to increase the number of honors graduates and would be glad to speak with you as a first step. He can also discuss some of the new thesis opportunities at the School.

Rising sophomores may also apply at this time, but will not need to complete the departmental forms. Sophomores are admitted on a space available basis.

Application materials can be found on-line at http://www.honors.uconn.edu/academics/forms.php.

Summer Business Program in Florence

Jeff Rummel will be leading the second set of students to Florence for a summer study abroad program. This year there will be twenty four students from UConn and Penn State visiting companies around Tuscany in addition to taking another class at Palazzo Rucellai and taking time between classes to visit the city, other parts of Italy (trains are very reasonable) and even other parts of Europe (thanks to the discount airlines that fly to many destinations).

If you are interested in this program for next summer, please contact Jeff Rummel. Also note that Palazzo Rucellai has programs for students who wish to study abroad during the regular semesters as well. Check out the information available on the Study Abroad website.

Experiential Learning Project Opportunities

Honors students are eligible to apply for these experiential learning projects. You will be working on teams with graduate students and work from these projects can be converted into thesis work (talk to Jeff Rummel about this). Here is the announcement from the directors of the different programs:

Applications are now being accepted for edgelab, the Innovation Accelerator, and the SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator for fall, 2007. Information on the application process follows. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS May 28, 2007 – WE WILL BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS AS THEY ARE SUBMITTED SO "THE EARLIER, THE BETTER"! When applying, please provide a cover letter and resume. If you wish to apply to more than one of these opportunities, please indicate your preference ordering in your cover letter. This will assist us in matching you with the opportunity that will provide you with the best experiential learning for your career plans. We coordinate with each other and only one offer will be made to any one applicant.

edgelab

Anticipated Needs - 16 to 20 students - MBA, MS, Ph.D. and a few undergraduates

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at edgelab and the full-time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

Details
edgelab is a strategic alliance between GE and the University of Connecticut School of Business. edgelab is a unique laboratory that gives students the opportunity to integrate and build on their academic knowledge and develop innovative solutions to real-time, complex, business problems. The experience provides students with practical learning and career development opportunities to meet tomorrow’s business demands. Participants collaborate directly with GE executives and work hands-on with faculty to generate team-based solutions that provide educational value to students and business value to GE. Check out edgelab at http://www.edgelab.com/.

Team Profiles
edgelab is a collaborative environment that promotes teamwork in an intensive research environment. Teams are typically comprised of three to five students, two cross-disciplinary faculty members, a GE program manager, and GE subject-matter experts.

Project Areas
We offer exciting projects that impact real-time needs of GE businesses. edgelab is a center of excellence for new product introductions, stochastic / financial modeling, emerging technologies research, process improvement, risk management, and business development.

Student Benefits
• Exceptional educational opportunities
• Valuable work experience
• Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: edgelab@ge.com. Students of all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed as received -- application deadline is May 28, 2007. Please apply early so that we can begin scheduling interviews (this is especially important if you are leaving the Connecticut area this summer). Interviews will be conducted on-site at edgelab, (located at the Stamford campus
of the University of Connecticut). If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact jmarsden@business.uconn.edu

School of Business Innovation Accelerator

Anticipated Needs - 14 to 16 students – MBA, MS, and Ph.D. (undergraduates will be considered.)

The Innovation Accelerator provides exceptional educational opportunities in high-tech entrepreneurial ventures and significantly differentiates the learning process at the School of Business.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the Innovation Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

The Innovation Accelerator (IA) is one of the primary outreach initiatives of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation housed in the Management Department at the School of Business. The IA assists entrepreneurial ventures in addressing myriad challenges associated with the identification and capture of business opportunities through interdisciplinary project teams of students that innovatively solve complex business issues for technology-based entrepreneurial ventures under the guidance of UConn faculty, with the involvement of the senior management of the participating venture. The teams help move innovation forward and the client venture closer to market by engaging in consulting projects such as performing comprehensive market analyses and associated market-entry strategies, developing strategic roadmaps and sustainable business models, fleshing-out business plans, evaluating the market feasibility of emerging technologies, and constructing customer relationship strategies.

Team Profiles
Innovation Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by UConn faculty and business executives from partnering companies.

Project Areas
We offer a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines. Projects will be conducted at the Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford.

Student Benefits
• Exceptional educational opportunities
• Challenging and differentiating work experience
• Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: innovationacceleratorapps@business.uconn.edu
Applications will be reviewed as received but the Application deadline is May 28, 2007. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Luke.Weinstein@business.uconn.edu


SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator

Anticipated Needs - 4 to 6 students, potentially more - MBA and possibly one or two undergraduates.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.
The SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator is located in our downtown Hartford Graduate Business Learning Center. Students, faculty, and business partners in the insurance and financial services industry work together in teams to solve real-time, complex business problems.

While many projects will involve the interface between finance and IT, achieving successful deliverables will require team capabilities in a number of functional business areas including finance, IT, marketing, business processes, and accounting. Team skills and communication excellence are also valuable attributes. Given the mix of partners, we anticipate challenging and critically important projects designed to lower cost, increase revenue, or enhance competitive advantage.

Check out more info on the SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator on the School of Business Website at Learning Initiatives.

Team Profiles
Following the edgelab model, Financial Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by UConn faculty and business executives from partnering companies.

Project Areas
Given the breadth of partners, we anticipate a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines.

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: acceleratorapplications@business.uconn.edu
Applications will be reviewed as received. Application deadline is May 28, 2007. Interviews will be conducted on-site at the Financial Accelerator (located at the School of Business Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford). If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact rdino@business.uconn.edu or jmarsden@business.uconn.edu