Question 1: Why is The Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business's International Program different than other EMBA, MBA Refresher or mini-EMBA programs? Executive MBA degrees are generally expensive, demanding and time-consuming. Students have to sacrifice several years’ worth of evenings and weekends and all the family time and sacrifices this entails.

Answers:  Usually, the EMBA programs are like what you mentioned.  Executive MBA (EMBA) programs take more than a year of classes with classes generally scheduled mostly on weekends.  Our program, which we call a mini-EMBA is focused on students outside the U.S. and, however, is shorter and structured to complete in three weeks of in-class programs, involving onsite teaching in your home country and a trip to the U.S. for a focused one-week program on the last week.  “Business Coaching” would be an integral part of the program.  This is to ensure that the teaching in the program is transferred to the workplace.

Similar to other programs, our program is aimed at senior employees, with a full-time job, or with many years work-experience; but we recognize that managers in the region really do not see the economic logic in the early stages of economic development like in Asia in spending too much time out of their jobs to further their study, or they do not have enough time for it. Our program teaches global business by having students experience it themselves, get involved and experience the real environment.

Question 2: Does your program have specialized versions, which provide job-specific, customized content?

Answers:   Programs are tailor-made for each specific group, budget and training requirement. It may cover certain sectors and industries of the U.S. market that are growing or offering particular opportunities. Our hands-on learning with the opportunity to address real-world business challenges and devise workable solutions; therefore, allows you to learn techniques and content that is readily applicable to your business.

Question 3: Your program focuses on the U.S. market and on learning to do business in the U.S.  Why is that important to me as a non-U.S. business?

Answers: The U.S. is the largest consuming market in the world.  It is also one of the most free and open.  Restrictions to companies to export to the U.S. are minimal.  Despite the above, doing business and becoming a success in the U.S. market is not easy.  First, competition is fierce.  Countries from all over the world are exporting to the U.S. and seeking to expand sales here.  Further, the U.S. is a very large country.  It takes weeks to travel it.  Customers can be dispersed and finding them and educating them about your product will be much different than with customers in your own country.  Culture and language are also different here and changing all the time.  Gaining a better understanding of the complexity of the U.S. market and why it is important to you will be a major focus of our program.

Question 4: Why is the University of Notre Dame's Executive Educational program different from other university’s EMBA programs?

Answers: There is a choice of when you study, where you study and how you study. Earning an EMBA degree or a lesser mini-EMBA or MBA-refresher from one of the most prestige EMBA programs in the U.S. is always an advantage.  It will help you in your current and future jobs and in your daily work.

Notre Dame University Mendoza College of Business has impressive rankings, just to name a few, are:
- BusinessWeek Undergraduate Programs Ranking (2008) - # 3
- Aspen Institute - Beyond Grey Pinstripes (2007) - # 5 (MBA Programs)
- BusinessWeek - Nondegree Executive Education Custom Programs (2007) - #15 Worldwide
- The Wall Street Journal Survey of Corporate Recruiters (2007) - #4 Corporate Social Responsibility
- The Wall Street Journal Survey of Corporate Recruiters (2007) - #3 for recruiting MBAs with high ethical standards
- The Wall Street Journal Survey of Corporate Recruiters (2007) - #9 for accounting

Furthermore, the University's network of 272 alumni clubs -- including 54 international clubs -- is the most extensive in higher education.  With graduates renowned for their loyalty and generosity, Notre Dame annually ranks among the top five in percentage of alumni who contribute to the University.

In the world of business, Notre Dame alumni serve in chief executive and other leadership positions at firms such as Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Haggar Company; Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.; the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; Merck & Company; Marriott Corp.; Emerson Electric Company; Hershep Foods Corp.; and Liz Claiborne, Inc. Notre Dame alumni preside as chief executive officers at some 27 U.S. and international colleges and universities. Notre Dame graduates in high-level governmental positions also include U.S. Congressmen representing New York, New Jersey and Indiana and the national security advisor.  In recent years, Notre Dame alumni have won a Nobel Prize in medicine, a Pulitzer Prize in journalism, and an Emmy Award for contributions to television technology.

Lastly, in alumni satisfaction surveys, Notre Dame ranks among the top three nationally.

“Guanxi” or connections is known throughout Asia as a way of reaching out and utilizing the network of connections that help you get the necessary information, arrange the proper appointment or find the partner to help support your business requirement.  As can be seen from the above, Notre Dame has long understood and practiced this.  Help extend your business network through Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business education programs and make contacts that will last a lifetime.

Question 5: What can we achieve in a three-week course?

Answers: A three-week course enables participants to catch up on developments in the business world and management thinking and brush up their leadership skills.

Our program objectives are:

1. To learn about the macro-economical and social trends in the United States and understand their implications for doing business in the United States.
2. Understand the US Consumers, styles and buying behavior and find out the Unique Selling Points to US consumers
3. To learn and understand the business model in the USA, including company start up, fund raising, going public and how to build a strong organization in the US
4. To learn and understand cross-cultural practices and how to successfully integrate into the USA as a respectable brand.

Program includes the following:

- Balanced and diverse visits to an extensive range of companies and business organizations (privately-owned, state-owned, multinational firms), trade organizations, ports, government investment promotion offices and factories
- Meetings with influential and insightful figures in key government agencies, trade organizations as well as established business people
- Well-regarded speakers on political, diplomatic, economic, business and multinational operations in the U.S., with extensive question-and-answer session
- Specially arranged cultural visits and tours that include the most important tourist, sightseeing and cultural icons that better help trip participants to appreciate and understand the country’s civilization with explanations of the locations importance and context from knowledgeable experts
- Options for programs for spouses and others to help them better understand and appreciate work and life in a foreign culture
- At the successful conclusion of the program, you will be awarded a highly attractive Certificate from Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business International Programs acknowledging your successful completion of the program which can be placed on your wall, noted in your personnel file and resume and which will distinguish you from your contemporaries as a serious business professional interested in self-improvement and advancement.

Question 6: What are the profiles of the people that will be in my class?  Will there be only those from my country – be it China, Vietnam, Thailand or elsewhere?

Answer:  Our candidates have significant work experience and managerial positions, but more importantly it is their motivation and maturity, which is being evaluated, not their years of work.  They could be managers who are involved in global business and probably work in multi-national companies; those who are motivated by growing opportunities in the U.S., MBAs, etc. It is not necessary to be only Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai (if taking place in our programs in one of each of these countries), any foreigners residing or working in China, Thailand, or Vietnam (Korean, Taiwanese, American, European, etc.) or their family members could be included and there might be a number of “fly-in” students from outside China, Vietnam or Thailand to join our program.  This range of experiences helps to expand the program and improve the quality of the experience for all. It also helps extent your network of contacts so that in the future when you have a business issue involving a particular country or area you can utilize your alumni to reach out to find likely other alumni to assist and help you solve the issue.

Question 7: Is the EMBA more appropriate for the older, more seasoned executive rather than less experienced individual?  What if I am in my 30s?

Answer:  We focus on career trajectory, level of responsibility, and what others in the classroom will be able to learn from the individual. In this rapidly changing world, we’re finding that careers are moving at an accelerated pace, and therefore, we’re seeing some exceptionally accomplished younger candidates for our mini-EMBA as well.  The unique advantage that EMBA students share is the opportunity to learn from their peers - all working executives who come to the program with their own experiences and work challenges.

Question 8: If my company is to support me both financially and with time off to take this program - could you explain how your program can help companies develop global strategies? How does sending me to a mini-EMBA add to my company’s existing strategy setting capability?

Answer: Acquiring, motivating and retaining high quality human resources are one of the hardest challenges every company faces.  Education and training programs in which employees need to learn and develop are recognized and supported by their company creates the kind of bonds that help encourage retention and that build higher quality human resources.  Participants at this level of seniority in a company need to study outside their hometown and home country and to get broader experience to bring back into their future work.  More over, mini EMBA participants can use the program to complete a project for their company, especially if it is related to helping the company moving into new markets.  Generally a company supporting an employee in quality training programs such as those organized by the Mendoza College of Business is generally both beneficial for the employee and the company.

Question 9: I have a MBA degree. What will this Notre Dame University course give me additionally that I haven’t learnt from my MBA class?

Answer:  This program is a perfect way MBAs can refresh their knowledge. Given how quickly knowledge is developing, your knowledge base and experience can become potentially redundant.  This course is to give exposure to new thinking.  Even if you are just graduated, or for those who are younger, this
program would give you more experience in a different industry or environment.

Question 10: How will the certificate benefit me in the long run?

Answer:  As mentioned above the certificate, from a well-known U.S. University, will distinguish you from your contemporaries as a serious business professional interested in self-improvement and advancement.  Also, executives from various countries have found that their MBAs were not being recognized for one reason or another in the U.S., so this program enables them to gain that U.S. certification and made entry to the country’s business easier.

Question 11: I'm not with a large company, but a small and medium-sized enterprise. How can I benefit from executive education? The price is too high and I feel that business schools are not interested in small companies.

Answer:  Owners or managers of SMEs also need to have in-depth training and experience and to have real research on your new market. Usually, the SMEs will first seek a consultant to help and rely on developing opportunities; however, not all consultants are able to help them.  With this program, you can obtain that knowledge you’re seeking (please see our program objection above) 

Question 12:  What is the course structure?

Answer:  A three-week course, split into two sections, appeals to busy executives who are short of time. The courses are separated into two parts. The first two weeks are devoted to new research and topical themes and will be taught in country on separate weekends; then a later one-week module will be conducted in the U.S.  This module allows you to take some of the base information you learned in the weekend programs in-country and use it to develop better understanding of the U.S. market and how its opportunities and challenges can affect you, your competitors and how to adapt to better ensure success.

Question 13: Who will lead the trip and help to ensure the trip is both professionally fulfilling and meets all Notre Dame goals and educational goals?

Answer:  Bill Brewster will be the Notre Dame International Program Faculty for this trip.  Bill is a director of Notre Dame’s International Programs, a highly accomplished, internationally recognized, senior executive in the fields of international business development, six sigma, leadership and technology with extensive experience designing, developing and executing large multi-national complex programs. Bill created and maintains successful business relationships throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Co-trip leader is Chris Runckel, President of Runckel & Associates (www.business-in-asia.com) Runckel & Associates, a Portland, Oregon based international business consulting firm. Since 1999, Chris has assisted companies interested in investing, manufacturing or opening an office or factory in Asia and in particularly in Vietnam.

Chris is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Lewis and Clark Law School (with Honors) and practiced law in Washington State before joining the U.S. Diplomatic Service in 1975.  He has had a long association over his career with Asia and particularly with Vietnam.  He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1969-70.  He worked in President Ford’s White House as Deputy General Counsel of the Presidential Clemency Board, which recommended clemency for Vietnam era draft deserters and evaders.  In 1994, Chris became U.S. Special Negotiator for Vietnam.  In June, he was assigned to Hanoi as the first permanently assigned U.S. diplomat since the Vietnam War.  From June-December 1995, Chris headed up the U.S. Department of State office in Vietnam. In 1997, Chris was recognized for the breadth of his contribution to U.S. - Vietnam relations by being awarded the U.S. Distinguished Honor Award, the highest U.S. Award for diplomatic service.  Chris is Honorary Chairman of the U.S. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (www.usvnchamber.org) and an active speaker on Asian and business subjects to community, State and National groups.   A frequent visitor to Vietnam, Chris’s languages include Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German and Spanish.

Question 14: What about if I want to arrive early and recuperate or sightsee on the weekend before the trip starts?  

Answer:  This can be arranged, if you let us know if advance.  Generally hotel prices cost approximately $200 per night and early pick-up and even a private tour can be arranged if you advise us early. 

Question 15:  Passport and Visa?

Answer: You will require a valid Passport and Visa for your visit to Notre Dame’s campus and for attendance of the U.S. one-week program.  This will be worked out with you during the application process.  If accepted to the program, the University and the support providers will work with you to help give you the necessary support letters and documentation to assist you in the process of applying for and being granted your visa.

Question 16: What about Air travel to the U.S.?   

Answer:  Airline travel costs from and to China, Vietnam or Thailand and to Notre Dame in the U.S. are not included in the program’s price but an option for a special fare will be arranged with a travel provider to help get you the best rate possible.  Remember, you gain an extra day to get to the U.S., but you lose the day when you return to Asia because of the crossing of the international dateline. Time in the U.S. East coast is different from U.S. West coast.

Question 17: What will the weather be like? 

Answer: Weather in the Chicago and U.S. Mid-west ranges from hot and humid in summer to very cold in winter.  Oftentimes it is windy and weather can be changeable so a jacket is useful at all times.

Question: Where will we stay? 

Answer:  All accommodations will be “four star” or better quality hotels.