Students in M.B.A. Cohort 13 will depart for Beijing and Shanghai, China on Friday, April 15, for their second and final international business experience. The students, who will complete the M.B.A. program this summer, traveled to Paris, France in June 2010 for their first experience abroad together.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the cultural differences that exist between China and France,” says Uarda Selimaj. “I was always interested in finding out how China’s socialist system of the market economy operates compared to the Capitalistic Republic of France. China and France have many differences in culture, economy, geography and education, and I’m eager to compare how both countries make these differences work in the business world and for the future of their people.”

Tiffany Hopkins-Rothwel, who is interested in the fashion industry, also expects to see distinct cultural variations between the cohort’s two international experiences. “In France, fashion is a part of the culture,” she says. “I think the French take pride in the design of the products, but in China, the Chinese take pride in producing as many products as possible.”

During their weeklong stay in China, the students will spend the first half of their trip in Beijing, where they will meet with professionals at U.S. Commercial Services and Millward Brown, a leading global research agency. The remainder of their trip will be spent in Shanghai visiting businesses including Shenmei Beverage & Food Co. and Baosteel, the second-largest steel producer in the world.

While in China, the cohort will also have the opportunity to explore the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, Beijing Olympic Village, Jade Buddha Temple and Yu Yuan Gardens. Following their second experience abroad, the students will reflect on what they learned about doing business in China’s global marketplace in the program’s Global Business Blog.