Marshall Learning about International Commerce (LINC) Program

Marshall LINC is the only US program that focuses on exposing first-year business students to business practices outside the U.S.

In the Spring semester, students admitted to the program will enroll in a two-unit course and spend 9 days overseas.  During the course, they will learn about the culture, history, politics, as well as economic and business conditions in the country they will be visiting. Some students also have the chance to meet with their counterparts from a local university and they had opportunities to experience some prominent cultural venues in their respective countries.

March Trips

  • Mumbai, India Mumbai, India Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the business, financial, and entertainment capital of India, generating roughly 10% of India’s yearly GDP and 70% of their financial transactions. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the World and is home to an emergent hig-tech sector. All of the major financial institutions, banks, and stock exchanges are based in Mumbai. The headquarters or administrative offices of most major business houses doing business in India operate out of Mumbai. Also, home of India’s movie industry (known colloquially as ”Bollywood”), Mumbai is the 5th most populous city in the world, drawing residents from around India and the world.
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is the quintessential modern city, full of energy and contrasts. Once a small fishing village, Hong Kong now boasts a population of over 7 million residents. This former British colony and world-manufacturing powerhouse has repositioned itself in the past decade as the financial gateway to China. Every major bank and investment firm has offices in Hong Kong, making it one of the economic capitals of the world.
  • Santiago, Chile Santiago, Chile Santiago once considered a provincial city, is now the economic hub and the capital of Latin American commerce. Santiago is home to one of the fastest growing and most stable economies and governments in South America. The country has experienced consistent economic growth for the past decade and has recently seen a 155% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The Chilean GDP has “slowed” to average yearly increases of 7% boasting the highest average in North and South America.
  • Jakarta, Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia Jakarta is the business heart of one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Jakarta is also the capital of Indonesia, a flourishing democracy of over 240 million people spread over 17,000 islands. 13 Marshall undergraduate students recently spent the summer (2011) interning in this vibrant metropolis.

May Trips

  • Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires is one of South America’s premier business destinations. It has a modern business infrastructure and a strong economy. Some of the major local industries, which are continental leaders, include banking, telecommunications, chemical, and automobile manufacturing. With its wide boulevards, leafy parks, grand buildings, and varied culture and nightlife, Buenos Aires is the most European of all Latin American cities and is reminiscent of Paris or Barcelona. With several new museums and a continuous agenda of cultural attractions and events, Buenos Aires is a 24-hour city, with much to see and do.
  • Singapore Singapore Singapore is one of the four Asian Tigers, and has been voted the most business friendly city in the world. It is one of the world’s greatest financial and technological centers. It is also home to the world’s busiest port with roughly one-quarter of all shipping-containers and half of all the oil shipped worldwide passing through its waters.It is one of the safest cities in the world and home to a diverse mix of cultures, including large Indian, Middle-Eastern, Chinese, Malay, and European communities.
  • Sydney, Australia Sydney, Australia Sydney is the financial and business capital of Australia, and the region. Originally a British colony, Sydney was built around Port Jackson and Sydney Harbor. The city is home to over 90 banks, over half of the top companies in Australia, and four of the top ten largest companies by revenue in the region. The 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2003 Rugby World Cup called Sydney home.
  • Taipei, Taiwan Taipei, Taiwan Taipei is home to the 2nd tallest building in the world (Taipei 101, pictured to the left), is the largest semi-conductor producer in the world (TSMC), the capital of one of the “four Asian economic Tigers,” and one of the most vibrant economies. Taiwan is the world leader in terms of semi-conductor and chip technology, as well as one of the top producers of computers and computer equipment in the world.One of the most progressive and modern cities in the world, Taipei is also the cultural center for one of the oldest and richest cultures in Asia. There is a constant blend of old and new in Taipei with modern high-rises and trendy shops mixed in with ancient temples and palaces.
  • Tokyo, Japan Tokyo, Japan Presiding over the world`s third largest economy, Tokyo is the governmental, financial, and administrative center of Japan. Quick to embrace modern developments and fashions, Tokyo has continued to be at the forefront of trends and technology and remains the country`s most cosmopolitan city. Most major Japanese companies have their head office in Tokyo and for foreign companies, a presence in Japan generally means a presence in Tokyo.
  • Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Standing at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a fascinating blend of “East” and “West”, or “Modern” and “Classical”, of the ‘Secular” and the “Sacred”. Istanbul is also 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.
  • Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary Budapest is the economic and political capital of a country, and one of the most exciting and historic cities in “eastern” Europe. Until 1989, Hungary was a “Soviet” satellite, and whose economy was centrally planned and government dominated. Hungary, like a number of the Eastern Bloc nations, has undergone unprecedented political and economic changes in the twenty years since the fall of communism. Transformations which continue today, as Hungary prepares for EU membership, and the now uncertain economic and political future of the region. It is an amazing opportunity for students to gain a first-hand view of the stories dominating the world today.

Spring 2013

For 2013, students will once again enroll in a 2-unit course, with the focus being emerging and expanding markets throughout the world, with students set to visit Mumbai (India), Hong Kong, Santiago (Chile), or  Jakarta (Indonesia) in March or Taipei (Taiwan), Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Istanbul (Turkey), Budapest (Hungary), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Tokyo (Japan) in May.  The March trips will take place during the Spring Break  (approximately March 17-24, 2013), and the May trips will take place after classes end for the spring semester (approximately May 19-26, 2013). Students will NOT miss any class time to take part in this program.

Please note: For safety students MUST arrive and depart with the group. Students may NOT plan their own schedules to and from the destinations. Students participating in the May trip do NOT have to return to Los Angeles at the end of the program. To do so they will need to complete a waiver form and submit it to the professor during the first week of the class. Even though the student will NOT return to Los Angeles, this will NOT affect or reduce the price of the program.

Brief descriptions about each location are included below. You are also invited to read from students’ perspectives about their LINC experiences from past years:
2012 – Student Travel Blogs
2011 – Student Travel Blogs
2010 – Student Travel Blogs
To be considered for the program, students must be Marshall or Leventhal Majors, who are true Freshmen, and must apply and be accepted to the program. (See below for application information).

Costs

The cost of the travel portion of the program (airfare, hotel, ground transportation, and some meals) will be $3250.  Program prices do NOT include costs for visa application, evening meals, incidentals, dorm room extensions (May-trips only) and personal expenses. Additional funds will be available in the form of of need-based scholarships for those students who require additional financial support. (We have increased the scholarhip funds available from previous years). ALL Marshall/Leventhal students are eligible to apply for a scholarship, no matter their financial or visa status. Scholarship applications will be distributed with the LINC admission e-mail (so you will be admitted BEFORE you apply for a scholarship).

Application

Applications for the Spring 2013 Application will be due 5:00 pm September 28th, 2012.  Applications for scholarships will be sent with the admission e-mail, and will be due after you have been admitted to the program.  Admission is not on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to take your time in completing the application.

If you would like to discuss your options in person, please contact Sean O’Connell at (213) 740-5705 or by email at sean.o’connell@marshall.usc.edu.