FYI: MIM Information Session

Come one, come all to the MIM Information Session

When: Wednesday June 3, 2009 6pm–8pm

Where: School of Business Administration, 631 SW Harrison St, Room 550 Portland State University

What: Please join us and discuss all the aspects of the MIM program from application requirements, to financing, to classes, electives and student life. We are prepared to answer all of your questions!!

Hope to see you there!

Casey

Priority Application Deadline - April 30th

Hello,

So, you are interested in applying for the Masters of International Management Program!

Great! You know, there are so many reasons why the MIM program is such a great opportunity. First and foremost, we strongly feel that the curriculum in the program is unique when compared with other graduate degrees. Our professors are experienced and dynamic. Many of our classmates are international students, providing all of us with a diverse leaning environment. The foreign language training reflects the international aspect of this program. And to cap it all off, we get to travel to Asia for a three week field study.

The priority application deadline is April 30, 2009

The basic application requirements are:
- A 4-year degree or its equivalent, with a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher
- GMAT or GRE exam
- Completion of MIM prerequisites (if needed)
- International students whose first language is not English, and who have not completed a degree from an accredited U.S. institution, must score at least 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based, and 79 on the internet-based TOEFL Test or 7.0 on the IELTS test

GO FOR IT… log onto the MIM Admissions Website
http://www.gradbusiness.pdx.edu/graduate_business_programs/mim/mim_admissions
and start your way to a fulfilling graduate program that will give you valuable skills for your future career in International Business.

In the mean time, if you have any questions about the application process, student life or if you would like to visit one of our classes, we encourage you to let us know.

Cheers,

Jack & Casey

Jack Chiu and Casey Cleary
Master of International Management Degree Candidates 2009
Portland State University

Spring Term Deliverables

Hello Everyone,

Just as I thought that this program couldn't get any more difficult...spring term came around, and I am realizing what difficult really means! Many of you have asked more specifically about what students are expected to produce in the program, so I thought I would let you know what papers and projects I am/will be working on.

Chinese: 5 minute presentation every other day using new vocabulary, one dictation every week to test comprehension, 5-10 new characters everyday, 10 minute presentation final and 20 minute conversation final.

Contemporary Asian Pacific Rim History and Politics: approx. 150 pages of reading every week, one group case study analysis every week (5 pages), one group presentation (15 mins.), final exam (essay based)

Global Human Resources Management: approx. 150 pages of reading every week, midterm and final (essay based), group project (HR poster about a specific country)

*International Finance and Investment: approx. 100 pages of reading every week, one group presentation (45 mins), four group case analysis (24 pages), an extensive finance problem every week, final (problems, multiple choice and essay)

*Global Law and Ethics: approx. 100-200 pages of reading every week, one individual paper (700 words), one group presentation (15 mins), midterm and final (multiple choice and essay)

* 1st year part time student classesr

PHEW...just listing it all out makes my head spin! Luckily, all of these classes, readings, papers and presentations are interesting and useful. They not only build on what I have learned in the program so far, but they allow me to practice how to make relevant business decisions. All of the cases that we use in this program are based upon real companies and real issues, so the examples we use are current and (to a degree) tangible.

I know it seems like a lot of work...well, it is a lot of work, but I am enjoying every minute of it and I know that I am compiling a tool box of sought after business skills that I will use in my future career.

Off to class now, so I'll check you all later!

Casey

Asia Trip Pictures

Hey All,

Wow, it feels good to be back state side. I had such a great time on the Asia trip but I'm glad to sleep in my own bed again. The term has started and we are back in the swing of things. I will update you later on how this semester is shaping out to be, but for now, I wanted to let you all know that Jack and I are available anytime to chat in person or on the phone about the program. We can also set you up with class visits or personal meetings with any of our professors. So, just let us know!

Also, here is a link to all my pictures from the Asia Trip! Enjoy!


Casey

Shanghai: Where Your Computer Is Made

Nimen Dajia Hao,

Wow, has it already been three weeks...?? This trip has been a whirlwind of great experiences and what a better place to finish than in Shanghai. If you have never been to Shanghai, just imagine a place where all the great cities of the world are joined together in architecture, feel, speed and culture. Walking down Nanjing Road through the Bund and across the river to the Pudong area feels like going through New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, Seoul and Beijing.

From Shanghai, we visited two OEM/ODM (original equipment/design manufacturing) computer manufacturers to speak with their managers and take factory tours. If you own a laptop, it was most likly made at Twinhead or Winstron. The most interesting point about these two factories is how much they differ from one another. For instance, one factory utilizes much, much more animation on their production lines than the other factory and one factory let us view its assembly much more in depth because it has less security constraints. These OEM/ODM's have two very different ways of doing business in the same industry and the on site lessons that we learned allowed us to gain valuable insights about sourcing and HR in China.

We also visited Suzhou Industrial Park which I think is best described as a Green Silicon Valley. It is a place where international technology businesses have heavily invested capital and knowledge to create a city that includes some of the top Science and Technology Universities in China, is the Asian headquarters for many global companies and houses thousands of well educated engineers and managers in LEAD certified, sustainable, buildings. I would not mind living here someday!

The Asia Trip section of my MIM degree has come to an end and I could not have imagined a better way to get a feel for doing business in Asia. This trip has cemented many concepts I have learned in the MIM program thus far and has also allowed me to have a better understanding of the processes and practices of business culture in Japan, Korea and China.

Many of the MIM students are heading back to Portland, but seeing how it is Spring Break, I am going to stay in China for a little while and spend some more time in the two "heavens on earth": Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Zaijian,

He Siyu (Casey)

Beijing: the Communist meets the Capitalist

Nimen Hao,

If you ever want to experience a place where the traditions of over 5,000 years meet the technology of tomorrow, a place where 20,000+ people are constantly striving to create a better life for the next generation or a place where a new form of government mixed between communism and capitalism is in its adolescence... spend some time in Beijing. Upon arrival, we learned that the People's Congress was in session and security across the city was very tight. Tiananmen Square, the biggest public square in the world, was closed during the evening, which made it seem even more grandiose without the usual throng of people. Since the Olympics, and since I lived here only a short 9 months ago, the city has already changed. There are more modern buildings, more boulevards, four more subway lines and all the historical monuments have been restored and cleaned. The speed and scale at which the Chinese can transform a plan into a reality is amazing.

Beijing is the center of government in China and if you want to do business in China, you have to have a government contact. We met with two Director Generals from China Banking Regulatory Commission, Department of Banking Supervision for Foreign Banks to discuss the history of banking in China, particularly since 1979 and how foreign banks and businesses go about investing or offering credit in China. It was a very valuable lecture, especially for those students who will specialize in Finance.

Unfortunately, Spring is the sand storm season in Beijing and the dust mixed with pollution was everywhere. Many students came down with a cold, including yours truly. Even worse, 10 people got food poisoning from the airline food on the way from Seoul to Beijing and I accompanied some of them to the Chinese International Hospital which is always a unique experience. It is pure chaos but somehow you are able to find the doctor, get the needed test and go home with medicine that works. Thankfully, everyone is almost back to normal now!

As for sightseeing, my classmate Jefferson and I arranged for a tour of Gugong (Forbidden City), Houhai Hutong (traditional Beijing neighborhoods around Houhai Lake) and Hotpot lunch... YUM! We also saw the Olympic Village, Temple of Heaven and Llama Temple. When eating food, the favorite is always Beijing Kaoya (roast duck) and Wanfujing Street Food (an assortment of food on a stick ranging from lamb to scorpion and seahorse.)

One of my classmates mentioned that Beijing is a city of incredible momentum. I would definitely have to agree. There is always a purpose here. People are always doing something to improve their situation as a community and individual. Whether for business, politics or culture, Beijing is definitely a place to get acquainted with and to keep a look out for in the future.

Zaijian,

He Siyu (Casey)

South Korea: The Future Is Now

Anyong haseyo,

Greetings from Seoul! The second city on our four city tour has been a fantastic experience. We landed at Incheon airport at 9pm and the beautiful night scenery along the Han River was breathtaking.

The first thing you notice is how futuristic the city is. We went on a tour of a Samsung apartment building and felt like we had transported 50 years into the future. The building was a closed loop system; environmentally friendly and technologically superior. For instance, while you are brushing your teeth in the bathroom, the tile floor that you stand on and your toothbrush takes your temperature, measures your body fat and blood pressure then sends that information to the fridge. The fridge then suggests the food you should eat for that day. Now that is a diet plan that might actually work! The house also senses where the people are in the room and directs the heat towards the people instead of heating up an empty space. The building generates its own energy through wind and solar power. It was incredible to see, especially for someone who is specializing in sustainability.

Our lectures were given by the President of the American Chamber of Commerce and a member of the American Consulate. We spoke about the situation between North Korea, South Korea, USA, China, Japan and Russia and how that can affect doing business in South Korea. We also learned about certain negotiation strategies when doing business with Koreans...i.e. negotiate till the very last second and that there is a very important etiquette for exchanging business cards.

The tour of Hyundai factory was incredible. Almost the entire car is built by robots! All 60 of us were walking through the factory with our mouths hung open in amazement as the robots welded, painted, assembled and checked for quality. Then, the wonderful people at Hyundai took us out for a traditional Korean feast:10,000 tiny plates filled with hundreds of kinds of Kimchi, Bulgogi, Sweet Potato Noodles and rice cake. SOOOOO GOOOD!!

Junu and Kwang, our full time Korean students, showed us a great time in the evenings. We went to one of the most swanky bars I have ever been to on the shore of the Han River and we took a cruise on the river. A lot of fun.

These past four days have been filled with amazing experiences. I am so glad to have gotten back to this great city again.

Casey