by Amanda Pittman | Jul 27, 2011 | COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students
You might remember when we told you about our students in the Digital Marketing class having the opportunity to do a market research project for ROOTS, the Canadian based apparel company. At the end of the semester, the students presented their findings to the VP of E-Commerce, Digital Marketing and New Media for ROOTS. You can read our blog entry about it here. And we were thrilled to see a nice write-up about the class, presentation and findings in the ROOTS Summer 2011 magazine. Click on the magazine cover above and a window will open on the Roots article about the class.
by Amanda Pittman | Jun 20, 2011 | COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students
Riding the train from Oxford to London
Last Friday, COBA in Oxford hopped aboard our very first train to London. Excitedly, we stepped onto the platform of Paddington station. As we separated into groups, we were given our itinerary and left to explore the city until mid-afternoon. Most of us decided to take the tube (the subway) to the British Museum. We stood in the bustling station, confusedly trying to decipher the different lines and stops necessary to get there, as well as trying to avoid all the people who actually knew where they were going. Amidst the confusion, two of us were separated from the rest of the group. I happened to be in the minority.
Do not be concerned. My fellow derelict, Leigh Foith, and I did arrive safely at the British Museum, only to find our classmates visiting the ancient Egyptian pharaohs! This was a pleasant surprise, considering the magnitude of the museum itself, not to mention the traffic of visitors wandering its varied exhibits. After taking our individual allotments of history, different groups of us left to find some lunch. We then met, professors and all, at Trafalgar square to begin our tour of the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as the Houses of Parliament.
Waiting in the rain for the Parliament tour
Dr. Pope and Dr. Phillips
We went through security and emerged into a huge stone building, with high wooden ceilings and steps leading up to Parliament itself. Our tour guide explained the history of the palace, and how it has affected England’s political system throughout hundreds of years. That huge stone building we first came into had been standing for almost 1000 years. It was so interesting to hear the history of England while we stood on the spot of its occurrence. And the art! The Palace of Westminister was extravagantly built by Queen Victoria; the richness and details of murals, carpeting, sculptures and the throne itself were astounding.
Our tour over, most of us took the train back to Oxford, and several left for Edinburgh, Scotland. The next day, a group of us girls went back to London for some shopping and the Queen’s royal birthday parade. We found the royal family, Portabello road market, and the lovely Hyde Park. A perfect combination! It was a busy, but unforgettable weekend.
Mrs. Pope at the Portabello Road Market
by Amanda Pittman | Jun 16, 2011 | College Decisions, Current Students, Mobile Learning
Dr. Ian Shepherd, associate professor in our Management Sciences department taught an Economics class this past semester where students used ipads as part of a pilot program on campus. He says in the CNBC article:
“It allows me to focus on coming up with a new application that perhaps is more relevant to a student,” he says. “It has reinvigorated my love for teaching.”
Click here to read the full story.
by Amanda Pittman | Jun 10, 2011 | COBA Events, Current Students
Checking in with our group of business students and faculty who arrived in Oxford this week…
Global Apprentice: Oxford
Junior Marketing major from Amarillo, Carey Cox, shares a little bit about the group’s first week across the pond:
We, as COBA in Oxford Summer 2011, began our journey together around 2:30 on Monday afternoon. Successfully passing through security, we bade goodbye to familiarity, and gathered to wait for our boarding call. Upon getting settled in our seats on the plane, we were notified of a minor delay. We left the ground an hour later.
Unfortunately, sleep was elusive to most of us, and when our group arrived, the majority claimed the sum total of a 20 minute nap over the 9 hour flight. I was a lucky one, having taken dramamine, and enjoyed about 4 full hours. But our delightful professors scheduled a full day of activities to help us get on the local schedule. Our charter bus driver was funny and cheerful, and goodnatured even though the rest of us were significantly less than responsive. He gave us some info on Oxford, and England in general, as we made the last leg of our journey through the beautiful English countryside. Once we arrived at our darling, 1870’s home and freshened up a bit, we ate yummy sandwiches from a little shop down the street, then headed out into the town.
Oxford is probably the coolest place I’ve ever been in my life. I LOVE it. Love. I can’t wait to go back and look at all the places we passed, museums and shops and pubs and bakeries and schools and churches and parks…and it’s gorgeous. Roses and moss and trees everywhere.
There are three classes offered for this session: International Business, Intro to Management, and Operations Management. Each student here takes International and one of the other two. After morning class, we went to the Oxford Market, which is an open-air, half grocery/half flea market open on Wednesday mornings. It was exactly like I pictured it would be, except maybe more disorganized. Men and women worked busily, hawking their wares and produce in wonderful British accents. We didn’t really know how it worked at first, so we wandered around the booths and watched other people buy things. After a while we figured out which stands were connected, and that you could get a basket and fill it, then go to a main booth and buy it. There was fresh bread, all kinds of fruits and vegetables, fish and other seafood, beef, chicken, dried goods, and candy. There were also booths covered with jewelry, dvd’s, crafts, and huge stands of clothes and accessories.
One of the wonderful things about Oxford is that you get to absorb all the breathtaking scenery while you walk around town. The downside is carrying your groceries back to the house. This is also a breathtaking activity.
Our whole class is headed to London this weekend to watch Parliament at work, then I am sure we will all storm off to various exciting activities!
by Amanda Pittman | Jun 9, 2011 | Current Students, Dean Chronicles
Looking for some books to read this summer that are more meat than fluff? Need suggestions for books to add to your Kindle that you got dad for Father’s Day? Check out these three suggestions from Dr. Lytle’s summer reading list:
1. “Onward” by Howard Schultz – the story of Starbucks comeback.
From Amazon's Kindle store
2. “Four Seasons” – service quality book about the Four Seasons brand and how service established their success.
From Amazon's Kindle store
3. “Jesus Calling” – a daily devotional book that all the CEO’s at CEO Forum are using in their spiritual walk.
From Amazon's Kindle store
Let us know if you’ve read any of the above titles and what you thought!
by Amanda Pittman | May 25, 2011 | Current Students, Dean Chronicles
Hong Kong
A quick note from Dr. Lytle as he prepares to leave Hong Kong and head back to Texas:
Beijing ended well. Visits with key business professionals from major companies like GE and Vermeer were highly successful. Also, a visit with a major professor at Beijing University (The Premiere University) and businessman seemed quite profitable in terms of opportunity. The China Business Conference was well attended and my session was well received. In fact, I gave out all of my business cards without thinking so I had none for my trips to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Our Singapore visit was most fruitful. I visited with numerous Christian professionals and spent an entire day touring the city visiting the central business/financial district, local landmarks, and Sanatos Island – an international resort complex recently developed.
Additionally, I taught a half day seminar using material out of my book. 27 Christian business persons were with us all day. It was extremely encouraging. Their faith and desire to be who God wants them to be is inspirational. Several key contacts were made with nationals who have done their education in the states at Harvard, George Washington, and Cornell. I guess there are at least 4-5 solid opportunities for day-long corporate visits:
1. Hospitality/Retail – Principal West Paces Hotel Group, Cappella Resort on Sanatos Island (Harvard MBA).
2. Vice Chairman-Asia of Austria New Zealand Bank. Had dinner in his home.
3. CIO Austria New Zealand Bank.
4. Chancellor – Nanyang Technological University
5. Chairman and CEO – major environmental company in Singapore and former CEO of major industrial U.S. company.
In Hong Kong we met with a new contact from Walmart who has recently been placed in Hong Kong with his family. They are from Heber Springs and we discussed a variety of mutual friends from Harding and Walmart. He has offered office, store, and distribution center visits on the mainland.
Spent a 1/2 day touring the city – visiting the container shipyards at one of the world’s busiest ports. Also, spent 1/2 day at Hong Kong Baptist University meeting with International personnel exploring opportunities for our students at their university during short summer programs.
Mike Willoughby and I met with Dr. Victor Fung high atop his high rise office building. He is Harvard educated and runs a multi-billion dollar enterprise including Asian franchises for Toys R Us and 7-11. He committed to hosting our students for a day within his operations and put us in touch with his Director for the Victor and William Fung Foundation. He will be a good contact moving forward.
I leave for the airport in a few hours. Overall, it’s been a very successful trip! I’ve been blessed, encouraged and challenged. There are so many incredible opportunities here for our students. With God’s guidance and provision – I look forward to returning in the future with our business students.
