Overview
The 2023 University of Hawaii Asian Field Study (AFS) is designed for students interested in expanding their business careers into the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. It consists of preparatory classes and an onsite trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, Bangkok and Phnom Penh (subject to change). Students will enroll in two 3-credit courses: 1) BUS 675, the AFS pre-trip preparation course which will be taught primarily online through Zoom and 2) BUS 676, the Asia business tour travel portion of the program. For BBAs, enroll in BUS477 for 6-credits, please consult with your academic advisor.
The courses may count toward one or two of the following: International Business (IB) elective, IB major elective, entrepreneurship major elective, upper division elective, or management elective for BBA students, entrepreneurship certificate for graduate students, and PAMI international management certificate (consult with your academic advisor for applicability).
For students that would like to study Asian Business but not participate in the travel portion of the Asian Field Study, it is okay to just register for BUS675. In this case, it is not necessary to complete the Online Application below.
Below is a summary of the planned program offering. Note that the dates, focus, and content are subject to change.
Online Application
- The 2023 AFS Application deadline: March 23, 2023
- Have your passport on hand when filling in the application. If you don't have a valid passport, apply for one immediately.
- The Online application is now open. Online application
Geographic Focus
While the overall Asia-Pacific region will be covered, in 2023 emphasis will be given to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, China and Cambodia.
Tentative Class Schedule (BUS 675)
Pre-trip BUS 675 Course Outline. Evening classes held online (Zoom) and two Saturday classes are in-person at Shidler.
| Session | Date | Day | Topic | Pre-Reading Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 23 | Tues (Zoom) 6 - 9 pm |
1) Asian Corporate Analysis: An Equity Approach |
Lecture Notes, case study and pre-lecture material/readings |
| 2 & 3 | May 27 | Sat (In-person) 9am - 4pm |
1) Country Analysis Methods: Economy, trade policy, comparative advantage and sovereign risk |
Lecture Notes, Case Study and Guest speaker pre-lecture material/readings |
| 4 | May 30 | Tues (Zoom) 6 - 9 pm |
1) Asian Foreign Exchange Markets and Risk Hedging and 2) Short student equity pitches | Lecture Notes, Due: Individual Corporate Equity Analysis and Pitch |
| 5 | June 6 | Tues (Zoom) 6 - 9 pm |
1) New venture business opportunities in and with Asia, 2) In-class exercise identifying, analyzing and valuing Asian venture business |
Lecture Notes and Case Study |
| 6 | June 13 | Tues (Zoom) 6 - 9 pm |
1) Asian commercial real estate 2) Case Study: Hotel valuation and financing |
Lecture Notes and Case Study |
| 7 & 8 | June 17 | Sat (Zoom) 9am - 4pm |
1) Student Group Country Analysis Presentations, 2) Guest Speakers, 3) Pre-trip preparation and planning | Due: Group Country Presentation PowerPoint and Summary Write-up, Guest speaker pre-lecture material/readings |
| 9 | June 20 | Tues (Zoom) 6 - 9pm |
1) Marketing in Asia, 2) Case Study: Kit Kat Japan and/or NBA China | Read Case Studies |
| 10 & 11 | June 25 | Sun (In-person) 9am - 4pm |
1) Student presentations providing pre-trip Executive Summary on companies and institutions to be visited or Research Project. 2) Guest Speakers 3) Short Quiz |
Due: Individual Write-up covering assigned site visit Industry/Company or Research Report |
Onsite Trip, BUS 676, 2023 Schedule (may change by a day or two depending on corporate visits)
- Depart Honolulu – Either June 26 (Monday) or June 27 (Tuesday)
- Tokyo – June 28 to July 2
- Kyoto – July 3-5
- Bangkok – July 6-11
- Phnom Penh – July 12-14
- Return to Honolulu – July 15 (Saturday)
- Final Research Project Due: July 30
Cost
The estimated program registration fee $5,800, which includes airfare originating from Honolulu (Neighbor Island or other origin is extra); ground, lodging based on double occupancy and breakfast while onsite in Asia. Other meals and incidentals are excluded. Trip cost excludes tuition. Participating students must also register for courses through the UH Outreach College (BUS675 and BUS 676) and pay the applicable 6 credit hours.
Scholarships
12-15 Scholarships covering between $1,000 to $5,000 have been generously donated from the following sources. Complete the applicable questions in the online application to be eligible for these scholarships.
- Freeman Foundation Asian Fellowship Program
- Ralph Inouye Endowment in honor of Professor KK Seo
- Asian Field Study Association
- Michael and Judy Pietsch Study Abroad Scholarship
Program Objectives
The objective of the Asian Field Study program is to prepare students for business careers and the pursuit of venture opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. This is accomplished by studying key regional market trends, industries and corporations, improving language skills, learning management strategies and adapting to unique cultures and business practices.
The program exposes students to diverse and relevant Asian business environments, utilizing academic theory, financial analysis, case studies and business models as a framework for real-world experiences, consisting of site visits, Q&A sessions with business executives and direct in-country research. Diversity is emphasized by mixing economies at varying stages of development, as well as specific site visits from a variety of industries and firm types. Emphasis is given to industries with synergies to the Hawaii economy such as tourism, healthcare, real estate/construction, financial services, entertainment, transportation, and internet commerce.
Target Participants and Prerequisites
For the BUS676 travel portion of the program, the size of the group has been targeted at 20-25 students. The 2023 AFS is expected to be comprised of mostly Shidler DLEMBA and MBA students with potentially a few BBA and non-business majors. Selection will be based on criteria contained in the application and meeting the following prerequisites:
- Registered UHM EMBA, BBA and MBA Students (priority given to those with 1st-year business core completed).
- UH System-wide undergraduate and graduate students from any discipline (priority is given to those with 1st-year major core completed).
- Overall: 3.0 GPA, Major: 3.0 GPA.
- Medical clearance to travel abroad.
- Successful completion of the preparatory pre-trip course (BUS 675) in order to participate in the onsite Asian business tour.
Timeframes
- Application Due Date (March 23, 2023)
- Acceptance Notification (April 1, 2023)
- Payment Due and Passports Collected (by April 13, 2023)