Conestoga news

March 23, 2012 4:12 PM

International exchange opportunities for business degree students

Thanks to new agreements between Conestoga and three accredited universities in Eastern Europe and South America, students enrolled in business degree programs will soon have additional opportunities to gain international experience through the course of their studies. 

The new exchange programs will allow to study abroad at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, Czech Republic; Duoc UC in Santiago, Chile; and the International Business School in Ljubljana, Slovenia (former Yugoslavia).

Students who participate in an exchange program will study at one of the partner institutions for either one term or an entire academic year while earning credits towards the completion of their degree. Conestoga students who participate in an exchange program will not be required to pay additional tuition fees. Host schools will assist participants in finding suitable accommodation and settling in to their new environment. Participants can apply for the Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarship ($2,500), which would help them finance their flight tickets and accommodation. 

 “This is a great opportunity for our students,” said  Dr. Barbara Fennessy, program chair. “Students will be able to study different aspects of Business Management while gaining valuable life, educational and international experience.”

Conestoga’s International Business Management degree program is designed to prepare students to handle managerial issues in Human Resources and Operations Management requiring broad knowledge of international business practices. The goal is to provide graduates with the ability to bring people, process and technology together to achieve improved performance in business, whether that business operates in the domestic or international arena.
The program design includes three co-op terms and three Consulting Projects and has been accredited by the Canadian Institute of Management (CIM) and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). The program also prepares students for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) designation and the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.

Conestoga’s Accounting, Audit and Information Technology degree program blend a comprehensive education in each of these disciplines to produce graduates who possess the skills needed in the global business environment. The program design includes three co-op terms and has been accredited by the Certified General Accountants of Ontario (CGA) and the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario (CMA). The Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA) is currently reviewing the courses in the program for accreditation. Graduates are also able to challenge examinations for the CIA designation awarded by the Institute of Internal Auditors.

About our exchange partners

The University of Finance and Administration (VSFS) was founded in 1999 in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic and widely considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.  Although the main teaching language is Czech, the university offers two 3-year Bachelor’s programs in English: Business Management and Corporate Finance, Marketing Communication. It also provides a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in English, as a joint program with the City University of Seattle in the US. Second language courses in German, Spanish and Russian are also available. The winter term starts in October and ends in December; the final exam period ends in January. The summer term begins in February and ends in April; the final exam period ends at the beginning of June.

The International Business School (IBS) was founded in 2009 in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia as well as its cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative centre. Although the main teaching language is Slovenian, the university offers a variety of business courses in English as well as second language courses in French, Spanish, German and Italian. The winter term starts in October and ends in December; the final exam period ends in January. The summer term begins in February and ends in May, with final exams in June.

Duoc UC was founded in 1968 in Santiago, the capital city of Chile, and Latin America’s most modern metropolitan area. Although the main teaching language is Spanish,  the university offers several business courses in English as well as Spanish as a Second Language. The first term starts in March and ends in July and the second term starts in August and ends in December.