2019 Winter Term New Zealand/Australia Global Immersion program: Apply Today!

The 2019 New Zealand/Australia Global Immersion program is now receiving applications at http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/education-abroad/program/11098. 

Background Information 

Situated at the south western corner of the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand and the Australia have been some of 

the most beautiful landscapes to live, study and work in. The program offers a unique combination of cultural 

and academic visits that allow for students to experience all that the region has to offer. Below is a list of the 

cities included on the program itinerary. 

The program will start at the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the world. The Reef is the largest 

living organism on earth, with thousands of reefs, hundreds of islands and over 500 types of hard and soft coral. 

Not only will you be able to visit the reef and learn more about the ecotourism associated with it, but you will 

also have the option to snorkel or scuba dive. 

Sydney is the second stop. Sydney is the largest Australian city and the most impressive. While in Sydney 

the class will tour a wide range of companies along with visiting the Sydney Harbor Bridge, touring the Sydney 

Opera, holding a koala bear, and hand feeding kangaroos.

Auckland will be the first stop in New Zealand. Auckland is an economic hub of the Asia Pacific region and 

one of the world's most business-friendly markets. Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and the world's 

biggest Polynesian center.

Renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture, Rotorua will be the next city. While in Rotorua, 

students will also visit the movie sets for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, is the last stop on the study tour. Queenstown has adrenaline 

activities for every thrill-seeker.

Information regarding the past course is available at the link below:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDJBr4Akes0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqMmRuETqeA&feature=youtu.be
https://www.facebook.com/UMDGIP/

Below are a few reasons to consider applying for the program. 

1) Great Educational Experience

With prime Asia-Pacific locations, educated work forces, an abundance of natural resources, and friendly people, 

Australia and New Zealand offer attractive business environments to explore. You will be exposed to all this 

ingenuity and where possible, experience at first hand these crazy and unique inventions!  The Australia 

component of the trip would involve traveling to Sydney, and the Great Barrier Reef.  Snorkeling in the Great 

Barrier Reef, visiting the Sydney Harbor Bridge, touring the Sydney Opera, holding a koala bear, and hand feeding 

kangaroos were just a few of the unique experiences that were part of the 2017 study trip to Australia.

Australia, the world’s 12th largest economy, is entering its 26th year of uninterrupted annual growth. With such 

solid fundamentals – as well as record-low interest rates, a strong banking sector, and financial liquidity – 

Australia has attracted a tremendous number of multinational companies. The company visits are very educational.

 An example is provided: 

https://www.facebook.com/UMDGIP/videos/vb.1140141789334040/1140205989327620/?type=2&theater

New Zealand has been named by the World Bank as the second best country in the world in which to do business 

two years in a row and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ranks New Zealand second in the world for innovation.  

New Zealand is ranked the “most socially advanced nation in the world”, according to the Social Progress Index of 

132 countries ranked on social and environmental performance by the Social Progress Imperative. New Zealand is 

one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. New Zealand is a nation with a proven record in multiple 

fields such as science, technology, manufacturing, sport, and social issues. It’s one of the safest country to visit.  

The course will examine innovation in the tourism sector in New Zealand. New Zealand takes pride on being a 

world leader in challenge and adventure with a number of innovative tourism services and products like AJ Hackett 

Bungy and Skywalk etc. From bungee jumping to sky diving New Zealand is frequently listed as the adventure 

capital of the world.  

These 2 countries are the birthplace of some of the most ingenious ideas. These range from Bungee Jumping to 

WiFi, the JetPack to Google Maps and the Zorb to wearable/mounted Action cameras.    

2) Impressive Speaker Series 

For the past iterations  of the Australia-New Zealand program organizations and speakers include the following: 

1) Australian Trade Commission: Paul Adler, Business Development Manager; 2) Fonterra, Llori Valenzuela, Sandy 

Hu, Head of Online Sales for Global Ingredients, Brand Experience Manager; 3) BurgerFuel, Alexis Lam, 

Marketing Manager; 4) Icebreaker, Rob Fyfe, Chief Executive Officer & (Former CEO of Air New Zealand from 

2003-2012); 5) The Next Billion, Priti Ambani, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder (UMD Alumnus); 

6) Xero  – Wellington, Siobhan Warren, Graduate Experience Manager; 7) New Zealand Rugby, Nigel Cass, 

Head of Strategy and Operations; 8) Creative HQ, Stefan Korn, Chief Executive Officer; 9) AJ Hackett, Mike 

Voyce, Sales & Marketing Manager 10) Qantas Airways, Alan Joyce, Chief Executive Officer; 11) Fishburners – 

Sydney, Murray Hurps, Chief Executive Officer; 12) Commonwealth Bank of Australia, George Robinson , 

General Manager for Group Strategy; 13) Google Australia, Stephanie Borgman, People Programs Lead; 

14) Atlassian, Carson Page, Learning & Development Manager; 15) Canva, Mahesh Mualidhar, Head of People 

Operations. 

No other study tour provides such a comprehensive exposure to high level senior executives 

3) People 

Kiwis and Aussies are some of the most amazing, loving, and welcoming people that you will ever meet. Even if 

you are a stranger, they are still going to treat you as they would a friend. They are used to meeting new people, 

first because they travel a lot themselves and also because New Zealand and Australia is a popular travel 

destination for a wide variety of people. The culture is quite laid back and easy going, as opposed to the tense 

feelings that sometimes come with large cities like London or Paris. New Zealand is considered one of the safest 

places to live in the world. For being such an isolated part of the world, the diversity is greater than you see in 

many European countries.  

4) Climate

You will visit New Zealand and Australia during the summer months of the southern hemisphere.

5) Program Options

There’s no reason to have to choose between Australia and New Zealand. Experience both! No other faculty led 

short term course offers the option.   

This trip puts together the best of both Australia and New Zealand, bringing you to the wonderful world of Middle 

Earth and the Land of Oz on a wonderful learning journey. English is spoken throughout both countries, so there 

is no need to worry about not being able to interact with the locals.  

Additional Details

The program fee is estimated at $4,400 and includes UM tuition (3 credits), fees, hotel accommodations, fees 

for all academic site visits, field trips, and other program-sponsored excursions, bus transportation to all visits, 

an average of one to two meals per day (lunches or dinner), and course reading materials.  The final fee will be 

determined at a later date. Airfare and personal expenses not included .Estimated airfare: $1,700-$2,200. Heading 

to New Zealand or Australia on your own will definitely cost a lot more, as this program provides the opportunity 

to capitalize on significant group discounts. Pending final approval, this course will meet the University General 

Education Global Competence requirement.

You may want to check out http://www.newzealand.com/us/ & http://www.australia.com/en-us to learn more about 

the countries included. 

Exact dates and applications details are at   

http://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/education-abroad/program/11098

Please note that while the final deadline date is October 1st, the spots on the last offering filled by July. 

The program departs the U.S. on January 8 or 9. The first meeting time in Australia will be the evening of 

January 11. The program will conclude January 25 with departure back to the U.S. January 26th. 

Please contact Professor Mark Wellman if you have any questions. 

Mark Wellman
Management & Organization Faculty
Robert H. Smith School of Business
4552 Van Munching Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-1815
301-405-0831 TEL
mwellman@rhsmith.umd.edu
http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu