[29 May 2008]
First SMU Business Study Mission to Russia is part of Spotlight Singapore in Moscow Business Delegation

Singapore, 29 May 2008 (Wednesday) – A group of 24 Singapore Management University (SMU) undergraduates will embark on the first Business Study Mission (BSM) to Russia to help connect Singapore and Russian business opportunities. From June 3-13, they will visit two key cities: Moscow for its political and business importance and St. Petersburg for its cultural and historical importance. Site visits to global and Russian enterprises in manufacturing, technology, finance, arts and education will expose the students to the rich and complex economics, history, culture, politics and industry of the country.

Combining elements of business seminars, cultural talks, mission travel, and reporting, the SMU Russia BSM provides global exposure to the students and first hand encounters with business leaders in the country. The SMU Russia BSM join a delegation of about 100 Singapore businessmen and attend the business exploration and networking programme of Spotlight Singapore in Moscow from June 4-7. Spotlight Singapore is organised by The Arts House & Embassy of Russia in Singapore, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, to promote business and cultural exchange with other countries. The students have also been commissioned by Spotlight Singapore to conduct market research and analysis on Russian consumer behaviour and trends in six major industries of the Russian economy: IT and telecommunications, food and beverage, banking and finance, retail and real estate.

"We are delighted to have such a sharp and dynamic group of business students from SMU join us in Spotlight Singapore and help promote economic and cultural relations with Russia. The Business Study Mission programme will help cultivate a pool of young professionals who will be exposed to the Russian business environment. Their presence and research efforts will also be valuable to bring about greater understanding and collaboration between both countries," said Mr Colin Goh, General Manager, The Arts House.

The Russian BSM has also gained the support of both Mr Andrey N Rozhkov, Russian Ambassador to Singapore, as well as Mr Michael Tay, Singapore Ambassador to the Russian Federation, who congratulated the students on participating in a historic moment. Both ambassadors believe the students will help connect with and enhance the cultural, educational and business understanding between young people in both countries.

Other than company visits as part of Spotlight Singapore, the BSM has also scheduled visits to other multinational corporations such as 3M, Aton-Management (Asset Management), ConocoPhillips and the elite Moscow School of Management Skolkovo. Students of the Russian BSM have also been commissioned by manufacturing and distribution companies in Singapore in consulting projects and develop Russia-Singapore case studies to enable them to assess viability for doing business in Russia.

Preparatory Coursework

Prior to the trip, the students underwent an intensive Russian immersion programme led by Dr Adel F. Dimian, Practice Associate Professor of Management at SMU, looking into the research and discussion of political, economic, cultural, social, fiscal policies, general business issues and the business and social environment of Russia.

The students acted as note-takers and scribes for the Russian-Singapore Business Forum 2008 in April, and also networked with Singapore and Russian businessmen during a prelude event to Spotlight Singapore in Moscow on 16 April. During the course, the students also interacted with guest speakers in preparation for the trip, including Mr Alexey Dakhnovskiy, Senior Counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Singapore, who introduced Russian business and politics; representatives from The Arts House about Spotlight Singapore; and SMU Practice Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour Michael Benoliel on business negotiation.

The preparatory coursework also involved a cultural dimension, where the students met Father Daniel, Parish Priest from the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Christian Church in Singapore, on the integral role the predominant Russia faith played in its history and daily lives. They also learned about a favourite Russian art form, the ballet, from Dr Stephanie Burridge, an adjunct faculty who lectures in eastern and western dance at SMU.

More information on the SMU Russia BSM is on http://www.business.smu.edu.sg/bsm/Russia/2008/index.asp

See Annex for the full SMU Russia BSM itinerary.

About the SMU Business Study Mission

Using a country-specific study as its base, the ‘Business Study Mission’ course offered in SMU examines the rapidly developing business environment and the available opportunities in a particular city or region. Particular emphasis is placed on the socio-political, cultural, legal environments, and the influence they exert on business practices. Introduced in 2002, SMU is the forerunner in Singapore to introduce such a course, typically to MBA students, at the undergraduate level.

Through case studies, student projects and guest lectures, the course aims to present students with real-life environmental influences and challenges that impact businesses in the city or region. The course culminates in a trip to the location itself usually the main city which is the subject of the study, where through a host of site visits, networking sessions, and presentations by prominent individuals from both private and public sectors, it aims to facilitate the development of a greater understanding of the city.

Participating students 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 country. Both of the above, too, will aid participating students in extending their personal networks to the region.

To date, some 800 SMU undergraduates have embarked on business study missions to countries such as Argentina, Bangalore, Chile, China, Germany, India, Qatar, Spain, UAE, USA and Vietnam. New BSM destinations for 2008 include Russia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia and South Korea.

About Spotlight Singapore

An initiative of The Arts House, Spotlight Singapore is an international exchange programme which serves as a cultural and economic gateway to new and emerging markets around the world for Singapore. The objective of Spotlight Singapore is to create understanding, dialogue and collaborations between the arts and business communities of Singapore with their counterparts in other parts of the world. Through a combination of artistic, business and humanitarian activities within a holistic programme that is reciprocal in nature, Spotlight Singapore eventually aims to foster a spirit of mutual understanding and strengthen the relationships between different countries with the people of Singapore.