Finland & Estonia - The Future is now(BUS 3045)

Program Dates
Friday, May 16, 2025 to Monday, May 26, 2025
Description

Fly into Helsinki, Finland, to learn about the long European trading history since medieval times and explore the beautiful modern city. Indulge in a sauna or a spa before taking a stunning ferry ride across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn, Estonia. There, you’ll spend a week getting to know and collaborating with local college students in the beautifully preserved medieval capital of Tallinn, Estonia, at the Estonian Business School (EBS). EBS has been a leader in entrepreneurship for decades and is responsible for launching the highest percentage of Europe's privately held startup companies and one of the world’s leading institutions in the field of cybersecurity. Throughout the week we will learn about business and entrepreneurship while also exploring the incredible food, culture, and people of one of the world's youngest democracies! Estonia's rich musical history, food, idyllic castles, and 20-hour-a-day sunshine will round out a life-enriching study abroad experience. Explore the stunning castles, medieval walls and a multitude of ornate churches all set against a dynamic and future-forward modern capital city. Finally, take the ferry back to Helsinki to round out your exploration of why these two countries are at the vanguard of the world economy in the 21st century.

Join Practitioner in Residence Doug Marrelli, who brings decades of real-life experience in Supply Chain Management and who has worked with and for American and international companies, and Dr. Jose Riera, Ph.D. a seasoned corporate executive, an authority in cybersecurity and entrepreneurship, and AppState’s Management professor for Global Studies, for a truly unique and interactive course to two important European countries that are leading the way in digital technology, sustainable farming, and green energy. 

This is a new program open to all Boone, Hickory, and online undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of major, and may be of particular interest to Business Administration, Architecture, Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Studies, Music, and Language majors. This program was created in consultation with the Consul Thomas Luckadoo and the Consulate of Estonia based on our Hickory campus.  Reach out to program leader, Doug Marelli (marrellidm@appstate.edu) or Dr. Jose Riera (rierajj@appstate.edu) for more information.

Mention:

  1. Student will get credit for a 3 credit course 

  2. Financial scholarship support available based on need and financial availability

Course

BUS 3045 - Finland & Estonia - The future is now

Credits (3 credit hours)

  • This 3 semester hour course fulfills the  International Business major or minor electives (major, approved, required, or other),  a COB elective or upper-level elective, and fulfills the Global Issues requirement.

Prerequisite: 54 earned hours.

Cost

The cost of this program will be posted shortly.

Program Leaders

  • Doug Marelli, Management Lecturer

            marrellidm@appstate.edu

  •  Dr. Jose Riera 

             rierajj@appstate.edu

  • Lillian Nave 

          Senior Lecturer

          navely@appstate.edu

Eligibility
Students not eligible for this program who want to participate should contact the program leader to ask if accommodations can be made.
Eligible Groups: 
Appalachian undergraduates
Undergraduate business majors
Department/Credit
All faculty-led programs fulfill the Global Issues Requirement and can fulfill a COB elective or free elective. Be sure to speak with your academic advisor to see how a specific faculty-led program will fit into your program of study.
Department/Credit: 
International Business