Rutgers School of Business Study Program
Trip to South Africa
Spring 2019, 3 credit course
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Rutgers School of Business–Camden (RSBC) offers a three‐credit course on doing business in South Africa. The program highlight is a 12‐day study trip over Spring Break to South Africa (March 13 – March 25, 2019), where we will visit businesses, government, and nonprofit/community institutions and organizations to learn more about management and marketing practices in this region. These FAQs cover four topics: Coursework including applying for entry to the course, Trip.
COURSEWORK
Who is eligible for the class? How many credits will I earn? What types of credits will I earn?
This is a three‐credit class, open to MBA and upper‐level undergraduate business students by application. Admitted students earn management, marketing, international business (MBA), or business administration (undergraduate) credits. Talk with your advisor about how this course fits in your schedule and degree program.
The course is limited to a total of 25 business students.
How do I apply for the course?
Students apply for admission to the course online. The site opens to apply on October 1st.
On-Line course: https://globaleducation.rutgers.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=10589
In-Class course: https://globaleducation.rutgers.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=10383
What’s the class all about?
Coursework is divided into three parts: (1) pre‐trip coursework to acquaint students with issues and frameworks appropriate to the South African business context; (2) the trip, including academic work while on the trip; and (3) post‐trip analysis and reports. Students will work in teams and individually to complete academic work, which is graded on customary scales (A, B+, B, etc.).
What topics will we cover? What types of projects will we work on?
The course theme is “transformation” and the ways business interacts with stakeholders to increase welfare/well‐being in “triple‐bottom line” terms of people, planet and profits. South
Africa is a nation aimed toward transformation (from its apartheid past) and greater opportunity for her people and firms to thrive in sustainable ways. During the trip, we meet with business executives, entrepreneurs, government officials, consumers, and nonprofits to learn about business as a catalyst for positive change at every level of society including individual, community, and nation. As part of the course academic activities, students will complete experiential learning mini‐projects, case analyses, and a team project centered on business‐led transformation. Example topics include “bottom of the pyramid” consumers and markets; black economic empowerment efforts; government initiatives to create jobs and stimulate foreign direct investment; and recruiting, developing and retaining diverse and inclusive work forces.
What kinds of organizations will we visit? Why do we visit them?
We visit a variety of enterprises to learn about business challenges and opportunities in South Africa. Past business meetings have included the Port of Cape Town, SAB Miller, Pepsico/Simba, Pick n Pay, Johnson & Johnson, Vodacom and Brand South Africa. We also visit educational, cultural, and historical institutions to round out learning and appreciation of South Africa’s past, present, and future.
Who is the instructor and when will class meet?
The in-class course is taught by Dr. Rakesh Sambharya <sambhary@camden.rutgers.edu>. The class –will meet on three Saturdays in January and February 2019 plus two post‐trip class meetings in April 2019.
The on-line course is taught by Dr. Snehamay Banerjee <snehamy@camden.rutgers.edu>. This is an on-line course so class will be taught on-line.
I’d like to know more about the class. What should I do?
Contact the Professors, emails are above
THE TRIP
What exactly do we do on the trip? What’s our travel schedule?
The trip is scheduled for March 13 – March 25, 2019. The trip includes stays in Cape
Town and Johannesburg. In addition to business meetings, trip highlights include visits to:
- Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during the apartheid era;
- The Cape of Good Hope and South Africa’s expanding wine industry near Stellenbosch;
- Townships such as Soweto and Langa, where small businesses, economic development and community organizations are expanding since the end of apartheid; and
- Kruger National Park (or similar) where we will view wildlife and learn about the importance of the tourism industry to the country.
What kind of vaccinations do I need to travel to South Africa?
There are no vaccinations required to enter South Africa.
Who goes on the trip with us?
Cal Maradonna, MBA, Director of Learning Abroad, leads the trip. He has visited South Africa more than 30 times. He makes travel arrangements and leads us on our adventures during the trip itself.
Where do we stay? What’s the food like?
In Cape Town and Johannesburg, we stay at business traveler hotels. Generally, breakfasts are included in the hotel fees. You’ll pay for some lunches and dinners, and the trip will pay for others.
The food can be good to excellent. South African cuisine can be quite varied, reflecting diverse cultural influences in the region including traditional African, Dutch, British, and Cape Malay cooking influences. Most meals are “Western” (e.g., meat, starch, vegetables). Lunch is usually “on the run” because it takes a long time for a large group of people to eat lunch – and we have places to go and people to see. When we visit Kruger Park, we stay one night in the park’s lodging, typically a concrete “cabin” with the basics of beds, showers, running water and air conditioning. It’s a great experience!
Our travel arrangements in country are made by Destination Manager Muhammad Khan (“M.K.”) of Tribal Meetings . For 20+ years, Tribal Meetings has crafted tours that complement and enliven the academic experience of our students. In planning our accommodations, on‐site visits, and tours, M.K. and his associates work hard to create memorable journeys of learning for us.
ABOUT THE COSTS and PASSPORTS/VISAS
How much does this cost in terms of tuition? How much does the trip itself cost?
Regarding tuition, if in the Spring 2019 semester you will be a full‐time student with your other courses and you add this course, you will not pay additional tuition fees. That is, after you become full‐time and pay full‐time tuition, you can take additional credits without paying additional tuition fees. If you are not a full‐time student, you will pay tuition according to the appropriate fee schedule. In addition, the trip‐related cost is estimated at $3750. This fee covers airfare, ten nights’ shared accommodations, travel fees and in‐country transportation, all tour guides, all entry fees, and some meals while on the trip. It also covers transportation from Camden to and from JFK International Airport and a student health insurance policy. Once you have committed to the program and are registered in the corresponding course, the trip cost will be added to your Spring 2019 term bill.
What’s the current exchange rate? How much money should we bring on the trip?
The exchange rate is about 14:1 (13 South African rand to $1 U.S). Some items will seem less expensive than the U.S. counterpart (food) and others more expensive (books). You’ll pay for gratuities (tips), incidentals, souvenirs, and some meals. You should anticipate spending at least $50 in tips during the trip. Why? First, good travelers provide tips to those who provide basic and excellent service – all of our tour guides, bus drivers, etc. Second, Rutgers cannot budget those tips into the overall trip fee because of Rutgers rules and regulations. So, based on past trips and depending on your taste and budget, you may want to allocate a minimum of $400 for expenses not covered by the trip fee including tips, some meals and “lunch on the run.” How much you bring and spend for personal/gift purchases is up to you.
What type of documents will I need for traveling?
- If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a valid U.S. passport that is NOT due to expire before six months AFTER our trip. That is, if your passport is due to expire before October 2019, you must renew your passport. Also, be sure you have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for entry and exit stamps.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need a valid passport from your country along with an appropriate visa. Cal Maradonna will provide guidance on visa issues. More information will be provided at a later date.
I’d like to know more about the travel. What should I do?
Contact Cal Maradonna (maradonn@rutgers.edu)