Global Operations and Information Technology in Africa (South Africa)

Courses offered: BIT 3954 (Study Abroad) and:

EITHER BIT 4454 Seminar in IT (DSS Option Capstone) online

OR BIT 4474 Global Operations (OSM Option Capstone) online.

For BIT 3954, students must read an assigned book about South Africa and do a short book report, prior to the program. During the program, students must write a group paper on an assigned South African company, keep a detailed journal and observations on cultural differences between South Africa and the US. A poster project will be due at the end of the program. Participation in all activities of the program is required.

For DSS option students taking BIT 4454, you’ll enroll in the course online and the lead instructor will be traveling with you to provide in-person guidance.  You’ll work as a team to complete a web app or mobile app using the agile software development method.  You’ll develop your global competence by building your solution for a South African organization and context, adding international experience to your resume.  The summer session in South Africa allows you to engage in immersive experiences with foreign businesses, giving you a global perspective beyond the conventional United States-based projects undertaken during the regular Fall/Spring semester in Blacksburg.

For OSM option students taking BIT 4474, you’ll enroll in the course online.  The business visits we’ll undertake have been carefully curated to heavily focus on trade and export, and enrich your study of global trade and operations cases during BIT 4474.  On the ground encounters with actual organizations engaged in global trade and operations will make your learning experience especially engaging and memorable.

Tentative travel schedule  -

• 1 day travelling to Cape Town from Washington DC
• 6 weeks in Cape Town, with:
  • 2 days at game lodge, on safari
  • 1 day at Langebaan boathouses
  • 1 day in Outdsthoorn, the ostrich capital of the world
• 1 day travelling back to Washington DC

Likely business visits:

• Western Cape wine farms
• Tech startups
• A diamond processing factory
• A worldwide import/export firm specializing in produce, wines, dairy, and plastics
• A global agribusiness trade firm
• A maritime shipping firm based in the Port of Cape Town
• Local entrepreneurs experienced in global trade
• A wine bottling and labeling company
• A citrus exporter
• A herb and spice manufacturer
• A game lodge, and
• A gin microdistillery

Likely cultural visits:

• Table Mountain summit via cable car
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens one of the world’s best botanical gardens
• Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned
• Boulder’s Beach penguin encounter
• Langebaan and West Coast Nature Reserve
• Chapman’s Peak drive and Cape Point
• Lion’s Head hike
• Cape Malay cooking class
• Cango Caves

Preparing

Check that your cellphone is unlocked for international roaming – call your cellphone provider ahead to unlock your cellphone for overseas usage.  Also, check if you have a TriBand-GSM-capable cellphone (insertable SIM card), as cellphones in South Africa run on GSM (not CDMA). Check ahead with your cellphone provider if your device will operate in South Africa.  You may be able to use international roaming with your current cellphone provider (e.g. some T-Mobile plans provide free international text messages and free unlimited international 3G data roaming in South Africa, with calls charged per minute).  You can alternatively obtain a South African SIM card in Cape Town, to insert into your phone, or purchase a cheap GSM cellphone in Cape Town.

South Africa runs on 220V, round-prong wall outlet plugs, unlike US 110V flat-prong plugs.  Laptop and cellphone chargers and electric shavers typically already have universal 110V-220V compatibility, and require only a simple round-prong to flat-prong wall outlet adapter.  However, other appliances, such as hairdryers, typically require a 220V to 110V voltage transformer, and are not recommended due to fire risk and appliance-damage risk. Hotels may have in-room local voltage appliances, such as hairdryers, or these can be affordable purchased in Cape Town.

Most South African hotels do not use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) - to avoid electric shock, check all your appliances for damage prior to use, and do not use any appliances in damp or wet areas.

There are up to 28 seats available for the program.  The application deadline is February 15, 2020.

ELIGIBILITY

• Juniors and Seniors
• If taking BIT 4454 (DSS Option): your prerequisites are BIT 3434, BIT 4444, BIT 4514, and BIT 4524.
• If taking BIT 4474 (OSM Option): your prerequisite is only BIT 3414.
• Minimum GPA: 3.0 (We will use mid-term grades to determine eligibility).
• Students must have a clean conduct record