ExCEL exposes undergraduate students to business practices outside of the United States.

This program features meetings with executives of some of the top companies and businesses in major cities in Asia, as well as local and national government officials.

The goal of the program is for students to meet with business leaders, not just from U.S. companies doing business outside of the U.S., but also joint ventures, and wholly nationally owned businesses. In doing so, the program hopes to:

• Enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of international business.
  The program is focused on giving students a better understanding of the complexities of doing business under other economic systems, the scope of business opportunities, and the way U.S. companies operate outside the U.S.
• Develop their appreciation of cultural differences.
  There is no better way to learn, feel, understand, and see cultural differences than to be immersed in the foreign country for a period of time.
• Expose them to foreign business practices.
  A good amount of time is dedicated to taking students on company tours, multinational and local corporations, led by a general manager or executive.

Past programs have included trips to:

Shanghai, China in Spring 2004 visit highlights- Ingersoll-Rand, Lucky Angel Trading, , Etonenet, Hansa Luftbild, Hang Lung Properties (Shanghai)/Plaza 66, ABC Consulting

Beijing, China in December, 2004, 2005 and 2006,visit highlights-from Disney-China, Motorola, Warner Music,  Wal-Mart,  Lenovo, Hyundai, members of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic planning committee 

Seoul, Korea, in Spring 2005 visit highlights- Hyundai Motors, Korean Air, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Telecom and KT Corporation,and former President of Korea and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Kim Dae-Jung and First Lady Kim (picture above with USC Marshall students) .

Tokyo, Japan  in Spring 2006. visit highlights-Electronic Arts, Japan Times, American Chamber of Commerce,  Bobby Valnetine of the Chiba Lotte Mariners baseball team, and former Japanese Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo (pictured above at the official residence).

Taipei, Taiwan, in Spring 2007visit highlights-Citigroup, The Capital Group, TSMC (the world’s largest semi-conductor producer), eDynamics, MediaTek, the OEC group..

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Winter 2007 and 2008visit highlights-HSBC, Kova Paint, Mai Linh Corp., Indochina Capital, TanThanh furniture, the Dong Quang group, and Sea Links development.

Bangkok, Thailand in Spring 2008 and Winter 2009 visit highlights-CP Group, Kantana Entertainment, Fairtex Muay Thai Boxing Camp,  Elle Magazine,  Tesco, Proctor & Gamble, SCT Co., Samchai Steel, Mama, SPA Hakuhodo Advertising

Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE in Spring 2009 visit highlights- Tatweer (Dubailand, Tiger Woods Dubai) Nakheel (Palm Island, World Islands), ALDAR (Yas Island, Al Raha Beach), and TDIC (Saadiyat Isalnds, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi) McKinsey, Nomura, Jones Lang Lasalle, Emirates Air.

Budapest, Hungary in Spring 2010 visit highlights-Graphisoft, MOL, PannEnergy, OTP Bank, Korda Studios, SMR Automotive, Cushman & Wakefield,Deloitte Consulting, McKinsey Consulting and Thomas Horvath Partners.

Lima, Peru in Winter 2010 visit highlights- PetroPeru, LG, Peru LNG, TASA, Textil del Valle, as well as a 3-day tour of Machu Picchu and Cuzco.

Copenhagen, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden in Spring 2010 visit highlights-Novozymes, Maersk, Telenor, Carlsberg, Bonnier, Fluxome, Diamyd, and “green” housing pioneers Byggvesta.

Rome and Milan, Italy in May 2011 visit highlights- Proctor and Gamble, Kraft, and Unilever, as well as Accenture, Birra Peroni, Allianz, Alitalia and NeoMobile.

Additional Information and Requirements

The programs are approximately 10-days in length (including travel time) and consist of a series of visits with government, educational and business leaders. The visitation schedule is often intense, with 3-4 company visits each day (to view a copy of a sample visitation schedule, click here: ExCEL Sample Visit Schedule). Students will also be expected to complete research assignments, do company presentations, be prepared for all visits, as well as compete in a case-competition with a local institution.

These programs are open only to USC undergraduates who have at least 48 college level units (USC courseowrk as well as transfer/AP, IB or A-level credit) at the time of their application.

Past Student Reviews:

Spring 2010 Budapest
Spring 2010 Budapest
Spring 2009 Dubai
Spring 2009 Dubai
Spring 2008 Bangkok
Spring 2008 Bangkok

Future Programs:

In 2012 we will visit Havana, Cuba (December), Istanbul, Turkey (March). The May program will be announced shortly.

The Havana, Cuba  trip occurs during winter break and is by invitation only.

Applications and information for the Gabarone, Botswana  program are below.

Istanbul, Turkey March 2012

In March 2012 (Departing Los Angeles early evening March 8th (Thursday)- returning March 18th, 2012), the Marshall School of Business will embark on a once in a life-time program to Istanbul, Turkey. Standing at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the bustling commercial center of one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Turkey’s dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture, fisheries and farming sector. It has a strong and rapidly expanding private sector, especially in  banking and financial services, transportation/shipping, and communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, with the automotive and electronics industries rising in importance within Turkey’s export mix

34 students will be selected to be part of this program. Our goal will be to visit with business and political leaders as well as a variety of companies stretching across numerous business areas so students are able to get a good cross-section of what business is truly like in the region.

Please be aware, this program is not a sight-seeing venture. Company visits will take place during the week days, and will last the majority of the day. All students will be expected to be dressed in Business Formal attire during all visits, as well as be prepared. Students will be expected to conduct research and report their findings on the companies that will be visited.

 We will be flying Turkish Air, and staying at the DoubleTree Hilton Old Town . The Cost of the program is $3450 (this includes round-trip airfare, hotel, land transportation, a day trip and tour-including round trip arifare- to Ephesus,  breakfasts, and 5 lunches, tour guide and cultural tours). NO Scholarships are available.

Applications are due December 1 2011. Applicants MUST have a minimum GPA of 2.75 to qualify and a minimum of 48 units completed (either at USC, or a combination of AP, IB, A-Level, Transfer and USC) as of November 1, 2011.

 Please take note of the early departure date/time (evening of March 8th). Although this is a USC Marshall sanctioned program, faculty may not excuse you from class or assignments for these days.

Applications are on-line, and can be accessed via the link below.

ExCEL March 2012 Istanbul Application

Gabarone, Botswana May 2012

In May 2012 (departing the evening of May 11th and returning May 22nd) the Marshall School of Business ExCEL program, lead by Professor Michael Diamond, will make a once in a life-time visit to Africa, visiting Gabarone, Botswana. Over the past 30 years, Botswana has had the fastest growing economy in the world,   with annual growth in the double-digits over the past decade. 40 years ago, Botswana’s GDP was below $70 per person, making it one of the poorest countries in the world. Today, it’s GDP is over $14,000, rivaling that of countries such a Turkey and Mexico, and making it an economic power in Africa.
The majority of this growth is due to the riches obtained through mining for diamonds, but prudent investment has also made Botswana a major hi-tech center in Africa as well as manufacturing and a growing financial sector. Botswana is considered the “least corrupt” country in Africa, and this combined with a highly-educated population has made it a perfect place for foreign investment, with Botswana’s FDI being one of the highest in Africa.

 34 students will be selected to be part of this program. Our goal will be to visit with business and political leaders as well as a variety of companies stretching across numerous business areas so students are able to get a good cross-section of what business is truly like in the region.

Please be aware, this program is not a sight-seeing venture. Company visits will take place during the week days, and will last the majority of the day. All students will be expected to be dressed in Business Formal attire during all visits, as well as be prepared. Students will be expected to conduct research and report their findings on the companies that will be visited.

We will be flying British Air, and staying at the Gabarone Sun Hotel . The Cost of the program will is $3975 (if we are able to recruit a larger group so 34+ students, the price drops to $3800).  This includes round-trip airfare, hotel, land transportation, a day safari to the Mokolodi Nature Reserve,  breakfasts, and 5 lunches, tour guide and cultural tours.

The Mokolodi Nature Reserve is a short drive from Gabarone. It comprises 30 km of brush, where a variety of animals (rhinos, cheetah, giraffes, leopards, kudu, etc) roam free. The park also has programs for disadvantaged children allowing them to see wild-life up close and personal.

Students also have the option to forgo the Mokolodi Nature Reserve day trip for a 2-day Safari to Madikwe Game Reserve. Students participating in the 2-day safari will overnight in the park. Madikwe is one of the largest game reserves in South Africa (750 km), and is considered one of the premier reserves in all of Africa.  The additional cost for the 2-day Safari is $900.

 A limited number of need based scholarships are available for this program.

Applications are due February 12, 2012. Applicants MUST have a minimum GPA of 2.75 to qualify and a minimum of 32 units completed (either at USC, or a combination of AP, IB, A-Level, Transfer and USC) as of January 1, 2012. Graduate student applicants are exempt from the unit requirement.

To apply, visit the link below and submit an application by the February 12th deadline. We hope you will be able to join us on this amazing adventure to the heart of Africa, and one of the most dynamic economies in the world.

ExCEL Botswana 2012 Application 

If you have questions, please stop by HOH 200, or e-mail Sean O’Connell at: sean.o’connell@marshall.usc.edu.