MURFREESBORO — In
some college classes, studying abroad doesn’t require a passport, a visa or
even a suitcase.
For the first time ever, MTSU students enjoyed simultaneous
cyberspace communication with students in another nation in Dr. John Lipinski’s
Strategic Management class.
The MTSU International Collaborative Online Network was
introduced in the spring 2013 semester. It connected Lipinski’s class with a
business class at the University of Pec in Pec, Hungary. The original online
synchronous classroom idea was introduced by the Office of International
Affairs.
Each group of students can see the other on plasma screens,
hear lecturers and ask each other questions.
“This is virtual study abroad,” said Lipinski, an assistant
professor in the Department of Management and Marketing. “This is the solution
for people who say we can’t afford to go abroad or we don’t have the time to go
abroad.”
For example, on April 16, Lipinski’s students were treated
to the perspective of Fredric Aubet, chief executive officer of Lafarge Central
Europe. Lafarge is the biggest concrete company in the world.
Speaking from the Pec classroom, Aubet described his
company’s venture into Hungary, complete with a PowerPoint presentation visible
to students in both countries in real time.
“You don’t learn as well with just the book as you do actually
getting to interact with other students from other countries,” said Blake
Brock, an entrepreneurship major.
“A lot of us are business majors,” added business
administration major Chris Dyer. “We’re probably going to be doing a lot of
international business in our lifetime.”
Lipinski will be traveling to Hungary later this month to
discuss ways to improve and expand on the pilot venture.
“I want the students to do a hands-on project, a real
project for a company, just so they can experience some of the demands, some of
the challenges of doing a long-distance project,” Lipinski said. “Putting money
on the line really changes the dynamics of a project.”
“Dr. Lipinski’s class has served as the successful prototype
we hope to expand across the university,” said Dr. David Schmidt, vice provost
for international affairs.
Lipinski also sees future applications for other academic
disciplines.
“How cool would it be to do a history class on the American
Revolution with a British university?” he asked.
For more information, contact Lipinski at 615-898-2736 or john.lipinski@mtsu.edu or Schmidt at
615-898-2998 or david.schmidt@mtsu.edu.
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