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Twenty-eight undergraduate and graduate business students from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be traveling to the Czech Republic in January to visit a new Briggs and Stratton plant in the city of Ostrava. The trip is part of a three-credit study abroad experience that has been offered to UW Oshkosh College of Business students for the past 20 years. The course is intended to immerse students in international business, providing experience with international travel and international business practices. UW Oshkosh offers more than 30 study abroad programs that range in length from 10 days to a full academic year.

Leading the study tour, which includes visits to various locations in Germany and the Czech Republic and the trip to the Briggs and Stratton plant, is Barry Mulholland, finance instructor at UW Oshkosh. To arrange the trip, Mulholland worked with UW Oshkosh business alumnus Todd Teske, chief operating officer for the Milwaukee-based Briggs and Stratton, a global manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines.

In addition to taking a tour of the facility, the visit to the Ostrava plant will include discussions with the plant manager, the human resources manager and accounting professionals working at the plant. MBA students will be required to write a white paper on doing business in Europe. Undergraduate students will write a paper on the role of expatriates in business.

“My interest in participating in this program was because it is a valuable opportunity to experience aspects of international business firsthand,” said student Nicole Riggles. “In particular, I am curious about the different norms in European business environments. I would like to gain exposure to different business environments to benefit from that experience and potentially apply some ‘best practice’ in policy and practice upon my return.”