Study Abroad

Thinking about studying abroad? Well, now's your chance to find out why Michigan State is a national leader in study abroad!

The School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SLIR) offers several opportunities to study around the world. The following are just a few of the programs we offer.

For more information you may also visit the MSU Study Abroad web site.

China

Human Resource Practices and Employment Relations in China
2010
Faculty: Peter B. Berg

The goals of this course are to provide students with a deep understanding of the institutional networks that make up the employment relations system and human resource practices in China. The course covers the following topics: comparative employment relations theory, the role of employers, labor unions, and the state in determining employment relations and human resource practices at the firm level. The course provides students with direct contact to the key actors in Chinese employment relations through visits to US employers, e.g. Microsoft, Intel, Eaton, and General Mills. In addition, students meet with labor union leaders and managers at Chinese domestic companies. The instruction for the course is delivered during a two-week trip to Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing. Students also receive lectures at Renmin University in Beijing and Nanjing University in Nanjing, and they have opportunities to network with Chinese graduate students.

France

International Human Resource Management in France
2009
Faculty: Ellen Ernst Kossek

This graduate program is designed to give graduate candidates in human resources and other related Masters majors such as business a study abroad learning experience in international human resource management in global markets. The goal of the program is to expose students to different human resource strategies and cultural employment relations models and the impact of corporations on the management of people in global complex organizations with a focus on contrasting French / European and U.S. with other nations (e.g. BRIC).

Students lived in French student housing at the Rouen School of Business Grande Ecole.

Highlights of the 2009 study abroad class included:

• McDonald's French Headquarters meeting with VP for France and other Europe countries
• General Electric Medical Systems visit with Director of HR for Europe, Union Leader, Plant Manager and lunch with HR staff
• Tour of third largest hospital in France leading the way with innovative HR systems yet maintaining old aspects of culture
• Visit to Caen Peace Museum and D-Day memorial in Normandy where World War II battle took place
• Lecture on international compensation at Avaya
• Tour of Lubrizol Plant
• Cross-cultural class on training with French business students & reception with French MBAs
• Visit to Daneher subsidiary's lean production plant that employed a significant group of handicapped workers
• Lecture by Pete Stone on culture shock and discrimination in Europe
• Lecture on employee rights in the European Union
• On-line predeparture learning modules on international HR using British personnel text
• Predeparture French conversation class
• Meeting with Business Digest Journalist
• Attendance at an International Conference on Careers
• Visit to Hertz Construction European Headquarters
• Welcoming and Closing Group dinner and class on business etiquette and wine

Learn more about this Study Abroad program in France.

Germany

German Employment Relations
2005 and 2007
Faculty: Peter B. Berg

This program provides graduate students with a deep understanding of the institutional networks that make up employment relations and human resource practices in Germany. Students have the opportunity to in interact with key actors in German employment relations systems through visits to employers, labor unions, and the German labor ministry, as well as opportunities to network with German graduate students.

Learn more about this Study Abroad program in Germany.

South Africa

Labor Relations/Human Resources in South Africa
2006-2009
Faculty: John Beck

Participants join African students in the Labor Relations Masters program at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to look at industrial relations and organizational change in the South African context. Students learn about labor relations and human resource management through a variety of lectures, plant visits, interactions with labor and management leaders, and other hands-on experiences.

Learn more about this Study Abroad program in South Africa.