Over the course of an information-packed two days, the 49 newest students in the Master of International Business (MIB) at Florida International University (FIU) got introduced to each other, heard “practical and useful lectures,” according to Moying Xing, who took graduate business courses at Tianjin Foreign Studies University and is one of 21 students in the program from China; and “learned about the tools and resources available to us” according to Damaso Daniel Medina, who holds an MBA from Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia.
The event, which took place in the Florida Keys, spanned presentations about Career Management Services, team building activities culminating in a race and a case study.
“The race was a great learning experience,” Medina said. “We didn’t know each other and yet, we became a team, sharing our strengths and abilities.”
Xing also appreciated the competition, which her team won, despite the fact that she didn’t feel well and another team member twisted his ankle.
“We all did our best,” said Xing, who wants to use her translation skills—Chinese, English, German, and Korean—in a variety of roles within a transnational company, perhaps, one day, her own. “And we all took care of each other, encouraged each other and helped each other.”
Ample information about the program gets everyone off to a good start.
Xing found the sessions beneficial on many counts.
“I was able to quickly get to know my classmates, adjust to a new country and cultural environment, get familiar with a new teaching and learning style, and gain a general understanding of the program,” she said.
The event—as well as the program itself—positions the students for success not only during their time at FIU but also in their careers. For example, Medina, who hopes to start an international trading company, appreciated meeting people from other countries, helping him “build a stronger network.”
A total of 40 Dual Degree students started the MIB in the College of Business Administration this fall. The Dual Degree enables students to obtain a master’s degree from their home university and the MIB from FIU.
