Global Activities

LGO students have many opportunities to take part in global activities, including participating in Global Entrepreneurship Lab: Emerging Markets or Tiger Teams, becoming involved with China LFM (CLFM), and embarking on a LGO international plant trek or a MIT Sloan School of Management spring trip in March.

CLFM

Developed in 2005 by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) with the academic support of MIT, the China Leaders for Manufacturing (CLFM) program is China's only dual-degree, graduate-level manufacturing program. The curriculum, modeled after that of MIT LGO, focuses on advanced manufacturing and operations principles and practices. Upon graduation, each student earns Master’s degrees in both engineering and management from SJTU, a top-ranked university in China known for its strong schools of engineering and management. The first CLFM class of 36 students matriculated in September 2007.

The LGO/CLFM synergy committee has been established, with the goal of finding ways for the two programs to learn and gain value from each other through joint activities and projects. The relationship between LGO and CLFM affords LGO students unique opportunities to experience firsthand China's manufacturing environment. In March 2008, 45 LGO ‘08 and ‘09 students traveled to Shanghai and, joined by the 36 students in CLFM's first cohort, spent three days touring plants in the Shanghai area. A Global Operations Leaders Dinner gave students from both programs the opportunity to hear from several panels of LGO alumni in China, as well as senior manufacturing leaders, about the challenges and opportunities of doing business in China.

LGO International Plant Trek and MIT Sloan School of Management Spring Trips

LGO students have many opportunities to embark on international experiences, either through the LGO International Plant Trek or the MIT Sloan School of Management spring trips. The LGO International Plant Trek, which takes place every year during spring break, enables students to participate in a number of company tours. This year’s LGO International Plant Trek will take place March 22-28th, 2009 in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Students will participate in factory tours for UTC Sikorsky, ABB, and Volkswagen, as well as visit the distribution center for Adidas Europe. For the MIT Sloan School of Management spring trips, which also take place during spring break, students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in enriching education and personal experiences, whether it is through networking with high-tech executives in Korea, meeting with the President of India and touring major industries there, or viewing Africa’s small business and development prospects up close. Recent MIT Sloan School of Management spring trip destinations include China, Cuba, India, Korea, Mexico, and Turkey.

Global Entrepreneurship Lab: Emerging Markets

This principal MIT Sloan School of Management elective enables teams of engineering, science, and management students to work with the top management of international high-tech start-ups and gain hands-on experience in starting and running a new enterprise outside the United States. Lectures expose students to the issues and policies that affect the climate for innovation and start-up success around the world. The subject begins in the second half of the fall semester and continues for 2-3 weeks during Independent Activities Period (IAP), when students spend time at company sites around the world.