MBA - Global Immersion Courses - Finland & Estonia

Managing Disruption in Finland & Estonia

DWC Finland/Estonia gives students the opportunity to compare and contrast two nations connected by geography, history, trade, language and culture while simultaneously reflecting on disruptive future scenarios. Pre-departure activities include reading a mix of science fiction and non-fiction books on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Climate Change, Gene Editing, and/or World War. Despite similarities and cycles of disruption in the past, each country has taken a different path to 21st century wealth creation. Key cultural topics include assessing Finland’s recurring ranking of the “Happiest Country in the World” and Estonia’s national brand as a “Digital Republic.” Students will consider these ideas while visiting entrepreneurial start-ups as well as larger-scale companies producing export commodities.

In this course, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the business and economic environments of Finland and Estonia with focus on how two geographically and culturally similar nations followed materially different paths to economic development.
• Visit companies which are reflective of key drivers within each economy including technology and exports.
• Discuss the role of geopolitics to foster or inhibit trade, stability and prosperity with focus on the two countries strategic position between East and West.
• Explore the business, and societal implications of technology development.
• Contrast how these two nation's view the role of the state in the market and the lingering impact of the former Soviet Union.

Faculty Lead: Tim Laseter

Courses currently listed are a sample of previous global immersion courses. Future global programs will be announced at a later date.