INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES IN COSTA RICA

Posted by Philip Calderbank (Highlands Ranch) pcalderbank@pjcrfid.com
Highlands Ranch Rotary Teaches Course to High School Students
 
At the end of April, a group of Highlands Ranch Rotarians went to Costa Rica to teach the Foundation in International Business Studies course to International Baccalaureate (IB) high school students. This course was conceived and developed by the Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch. “While on a previous visit, I noted that the IB students could really benefit from a course such as this” said Philip Calderbank, a Highlands Ranch Rotary Club member. 
 
The course took more than 3 months to develop and is based on four modules which are delivered as theory and practical sessions. Students are split into teams of six colors. So, there is Red Team, Blue Team, Purple Team etc. The teams then compete for points which are accumulated over the two days of the course. The four modules each take a half day and cover:
 
  1. Historical events and their effects on politics and international business today.
  2. The Stock Market. How it works and how international business must work within it. 
  3. Business Basics.
  4. Shark Tank contest: each team is asked to develop a product idea. The product must then be produced in a foreign country and sold into the USA. Teams then make a presentation which includes a 3-year sales and profit forecast, marketing plan, international rational, why the product will be produced in a particular country, and where the sales office will be located and why. 
Pictured are Team Purple the winners and Top International Business Team of 2018 and the full group of students and teachers. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The course has now been accepted by the Association of IB Schools in Costa Rica and will be taught in all 21 schools across the country. 
 
RCHR will return to Costa Rica in October when we aim to cover two projects.
 
  1. Teach the IB course to two or three more schools.
  2. Distribute books to Elementary Schools as a part of the Give a Book program.
We are looking to team up with other Rotary clubs in our District and in Costa Rica. Please consider joining us. For more information contact Philip Calderbank; Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch.  Pcalderbank@pjcrfid.com