Pieve International School

A group of about 40 students from Northern Illinois University, Exec-MBA, along with 3 members of their faculty enjoyed a 10 day study program at the Pieve International School meeting with local entrepreneurs, visiting sites of interest such as the Black & Decker plant and the Cucinelli Cashmere manufactureers. They also highly appreciated the representation of the regional associations of small enterprises offering a wine and food tasting from local food and beverage enterprises.

The ties between Pieve International School and USC are becoming stronger every year, and the organization of the programs gets easier and smoother every year. Everything is pre-organized by e-mail and video conference to assure this time will be a success. A well noted experience was the Siena trip to the Montepaschi, the oldest bank in the world, and of course the free time in Siena was also enjoyed! They particularly appreciated the visit to the Nestlé-Perugina Chocolate factory and the speech given by the then general manager of the confectionery division.

Program Director: Larry Greiner

Program Director: Don Kymes

Following the 1987 experience the 1992 event exceeded expectations. Between round tables and classes there were also cultural visits included both for students and their spouses. Special events such as the exhibition of newest Alfa-Romeo models, illustrated by the famous Car Designer De Silva, added value to the overall experience. At the closing Gala Dinner of the Pieve International School key regional authorities, entrepreneurs and top managers of major national enterprises were also present to celebrate the fianl night of their time at the Villa Pieve.

Program Director: Larry Greiner

An amazing experience of one week with a “2+2 formula”: two professors for two students. An old German oculist and a young Italian woman spent their time attending lectures in Italian Art History, Italian Language, Italian Culture and Italian Cooking Traditions, travelling around Umbria and living the pleasures of the Italian way of life.

Program Director: Rossella Vasta

Every major study of executive education has indicated one part of the curriculum should deal with the “globalization of business”. For this reason in September 1989, Class IV visited Italy to deal with issues surrounding “Europe 1992″. The class met at Villa Pieve CEO’s and executives from Benetton, Nestlè, Hewlett Packard, Alitalia, IRI and the largest buyout firm in Italy. This provided a first hand perspective of the issues, as seen by European executives. The next years the class visited: Tokyo, Niigata and Kyoto in 1990; Budapest and Vienna in 1991; Switzerland in 1992; Russia in 1993.

The first event of this type managed by Pieve International School. It was a great challenge for the whole staff but in the end it was a huge success. Among the Exec-MBA faculty, member Professor Larry Greiner and Professor Alan Shapiro both had words of great appreciation for the overall organization of the event and decided that all future trips to Europe would include an Italy Program run by the Pieve International School.

Program Director: Larry Greiner