MIB students on excursion to Geneva

The 2009 Master of International Business (MIB) students spent three days (2nd – 4th May 2010) in Switzerland visiting various organizations as part of the course “International Institutions and Co-operations.” The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to trade issues by examining the institutions that govern trans-boundary trade and investment and speaking directly with key members of such organisations.

The MIB students started off this three day excursion with a walking tour of the city of Lausanne and some free time to enjoy the city.

The following day the students visited the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the United Nations Headquarters, both located in Geneva. At the WEF, the students were given an overview of the institution from the Managing Director and also had a question and answer session with young professionals in order to gain an idea of what it is like to work at such a renowned institution. These presentations were followed by three interactive discussions regarding environmental issues, current trade topics in Asia, global competitiveness and international trade. The visit to the United Nations Headquarters focussed specifically on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and included a deeper look at International Investment Agreements.

The final day of the excursion included a visit to the World Trade Organization (WTO), where the intense discussions of the previous day continued with a focus on the history, functions, and current issues surrounding the WTO and its members.
The MIB 2009 students are currently in their second semester of the programme. The course “International Institutions and Co-Operations” is included in the module “International Economics.” More information regarding the MIB programme can be found here.