In Summer of 2014 the Department of Information Technology and Administrative Management will lead a group of students on a life-changing experience through Central Europe! This faculty-led study abroad class is presented in English and offers students a chance to experience the information technology industry, retail management industry and administrative management areas of 4-5 Central European countries. This trip allows students to experience first hand the languages, cultures and business ideologies in post-Socialist Central Europe. For students majoring in our program, the 10 credits from this course can be used to fulfill the internship requirement!

A powerful experience:

Course objectives include:

• To study firsthand Central European international retail management, information technology management, and administrative management within the context of operating European businesses.
• To meet and learn from Central European managers within the context of their operational environment.
• To observe and compare international retail management strategies, information technology management systems, and administrative management areas.

The Teachers:

Dr. Robert Lupton is professor of Retail Management and Technology in the Information Technology and Administrative Management Department at Central Washington University.  He has been department chair since 2008. He recently returned from Slovakia where he completed his nine-month sabbatical research on mobile apps and marketing technology.   His international research has been published in the Journal of Allied Health Sciences, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Marketing Educators’ Association Proceedings, Journal of Education for Business, International Journal of Educational Management, Journal for Global Business Education, European Retail Digest among others.  Dr. Lupton has lived, worked, researched, and traveled in Europe and Central Europe since 1989.  His international research areas include applied marketing; retail social networking and digital download; IT ethics; and retail social marketing. 

He has taken faculty-led groups to Europe and Central Europe 11 times through Colorado State University, Central Washington University, and City University of Seattle, and has accompanied over a dozen CWU faculty and staff to Central Europe as well as faculty and directors from other universities.  He has taught undergraduate and graduate students in Central Europe and Western Europe at various locations and countries including MBA students working in industry.  As an educator, a researcher and a consultant in Central Europe, Dr. Lupton has been an important player in the transition of those countries to a market driven economy from a command economy.

Dr. Lori Braunstein is professor of Administrative Management in the Information Technology and Administrative Management Department at Central Washington University.   She has taken faculty-led groups to Europe and Central Europe 5 times through Central Washington University and City University of Seattle, and has accompanied over half a dozen CWU faculty and staff to Central Europe.