[18 February 2008]
SMU students revisit the Middle East

SMU sends another 75 undergraduates on study trips to revisit the fast-evolving region to study the business environment and foster relationships

Singapore, 18 February 2008 – Building on the resounding success of its Business Study Mission (BSM) in May 2007, the Singapore Management University (SMU) is sending another two groups of undergraduates to the fast-growing economic region of the Middle East in 2008. The first group travels to the UAE and Bahrain from April 19 to 27 and the second to the UAE and Saudi Arabia from May 25 to 31.

The premise of a BSM is to expose these future leaders to the business spectrum in the Middle East and help them in networking and establishing relationships. The first team comprising 36 SMU undergraduates and the second team comprising 39 students aim to create a two-way relationship with their university counterparts from the Middle East who are considering an education in SMU. In addition to the plethora of onsite activities planned, the SMU students will also get the opportunities to mingle with Singaporean entrepreneurs who are based in the Middle East, with the aim of gaining valuable insights from professionals who are in the thick of the action. Lastly, as a part of the programme, SMU aims to place even more undergraduates this year on overseas internships with Middle Eastern companies.

The 75 SMU students from across various degree programmes will embark on one-week study trips to the Middle East to study the rapidly changing business structures in the member-nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council. This overseas field trip, which is the final installation of their “Business Study Mission” module, is backed by a series of intensive lectures, workshops and talks given by guest speakers, all of which culminate in their trip to the Middle East. At the same time, this BSM is also focusing on visiting of some of the universities in the Middle East like Zayed University, an all-ladies tertiary institution in the UAE. SMU students will engage in dialogue with these undergraduates.

With this lineup, SMU strives to expose its undergraduates to their peers in the region with the aim of building long-term relationships. This programme has been supported by His Excellency Asim Mirza Alrahmah, Charge d' Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Singapore, who is also the Advisor for the BSMs. His Excellency was recently quoted, “These BSMs reflects SMU's great interest in the recent developments in UAE. We believe that our support to such effort will add more depth and strength to the bilateral cooperation between our friendly countries.”

This continued student-run initiative – where from inception, the undergraduates themselves took ownership of the programme – is aimed at gaining insight into the dynamics of doing business in this region, as well as networking with the movers and shakers of the Middle Eastern business world. The nine-day itinerary, initiated by the SMU undergraduates themselves with facilitation from industry players and government agencies, includes meetings and networking dinners with UAE government officials, diplomats and established business dignitaries.

Visits to established institutions such as the Economic Development Board of Bahrain and the Gulf Research Centre, and site visits to major developments such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone have also been made possible, with the support of corporations such as Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and Etihad Airways, as well as the support and encouragement from His Excellency Asim Mirza Alrahmah. The undergraduates have also benefited from individual donors such as Mr Ivan Lee and other anonymous individuals who have enabled financially needy SMU students to be able to fund their BSM. Organisations such as Gulf Research Centre and Akar Properties have offered internships and extended their hospitality to our students by sponsoring accommodation and transport costs on top of a monthly allowance.

About the Business Study Mission

By using a specific country as a launch pad, SMU's Business Study Missions to Middle East take both a macro and micro perspective in looking into the fast-evolving business environment of and the available opportunities in the Gulf Region, with particular emphasis on the socio-political, cultural, legal environments, and how they influence the business practices over there. Via many unique case studies, group projects and guest seminars, this module aims to present SMU students with real-life environmental influences and challenges that impact businesses in the Gulf Region.

The course culminates in a trip to the location itself, where through a host of site visits, networking sessions, and presentations by distinguished individuals in the region from both private and public sectors, it aims to facilitate the development of a greater understanding of the region. SMU students will return with an enriched knowledge not just of its business developments and the lessons that can be drawn from them, but also of the rich culture and history of the territories. This, in particular, would give them a more holistic view of the world today and they will be able to extend their personal networks to the region.

This Business Study Missions to the Middle East is one in a long list of study missions that SMU regularly organises for its students every semester to key business hubs such as Argentina, Chile, China, New York, Spain, Germany, Thailand and India. Following these two Middle East trips in 2008, there will be another BSM to the Scandinavian countries and Russia.

Overall, the BSM provides SMU undergraduates with a platform to look at the world from a different perspective, one that is far beyond the academic setting and endows them with priceless experiences with the Middle East economy and society – experiences which will surely put them in good stead, not only in businesses in the Middle East, but the corporate arena of Singapore, and hopefully in their personal lives as well.

The website for the BSM to the Middle East can be assessed here.

Preparatory coursework for the trip

To aid their preparation for their trip, the undergraduates have to attend a series of core lectures over fourteen weeks. These lectures will introduce the theoretical contexts and frameworks applicable to the Middle East and will expedite their understanding of the factors behind the region's rapid development. Different speakers from various industries as well as government agencies are invited to conduct special guest lectures on the various aspects of doing business with and in the Middle East. The objective is to provide students with a more real and practical aspect to the course.

Topics covered during the lectures include international business trends, key trade models, business environment and making strategic business decisions in the Gulf region. As per the course requirement, students are required to submit two projects covering the various subject matters pertinent to that region. The first project would be to give an in-depth analysis into either country, looking specifically at one of the following four elements -social, economic, political or technological. The second project would be to study a company from Singapore which has established itself in the Middle East with some success. This is to give the undergraduates valuable insight on what is required to succeed in the Gulf Region. Students are required to approach a company of their choice, examine its strategy and methods, so as to provide an analysis and recommendations in a written report and presentation.

Industry support by offering internships

With several SMU students already placed in valuable internship positions in Middle Eastern corporate heavyweights like Emirates National Oil Company, Etihad Airways, Jurong International Consulting and Gulf Research Centre, the overwhelming industry support complements and enhances the Middle East experience by giving students practical, hands-on industry exposure. Besides, some firms have been generous enough to sponsors accommodation and transport costs on top of a monthly allowance. SMU interns have returned with many positive experiences to share with their fellow students, further encouraging future cohorts of BSM participants.

See Annex A for Itinerary of BSM to UAE and Bahrain 2008, and UAE and Saudi Arabia 2008.

See Annex B for list of Guest lecturers who were invited to conduct classroom lectures for the Business Study Mission to United Arab Emirates and Bahrain 2008.