General Info

MPA students will earn 6 graduate level accounting credits at the University of Economics (VSE), the Czech Republic’s leading university in the field of management and economics. The program in Prague is supplemented with company visits and cultural excursions throughout the medieval city. Known for its history, beauty and culture, Prague is a destination you must Czech out yourself.

• Program Duration: 5 weeks, first summer session (June 4 - July 5, 2012)
• Eligibility: tMPA and iMPA students with a minimum UT and Accounting GPA of 3.0 . Please note, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
• Pre-reqs: Required completion of the following courses by summer of participation:
   tMPA: ACC381 required; 380K.11 recommended
   iMPA: ACC355M, ACC356M, ACC358CM and ACC359
• Classes take place Monday-Thursday (usually 9-1)

Academics

About the Courses

1. International Accounting Policies & Procedures– Taught by UT faculty
   ACC380K.19
   See the course syllabus
2. International & European Accounting Standards- Taught by VSE faculty
   ACC380K.20
   See the course syllabus when available

About the Partner School

 The University of Economics, Prague, (Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, abbreviated VŠE) is the a leading university in the field of management and economics in the Czech Republic. With almost 20,000 students, 3, 000 of which are international students mostly from the EU and post-Soviet countries, it is considered the largest university in the fields of economics, business and information technologies in the Czech Republic.  Officially founded as VSE in 1919, it received the second highest ranking in Post-Communist European countries. Visit the VSE website: http://www.vse.cz/index-en.php

About the Faculty

Kristina Zivinakis

Professor Zvinakis is a lecturer in the Department of Accounting and also the Assistant Department Chair.  She teaches graduate tax classes.  Professor Zvinakis has participated in the CIBER programs for the last five summers and has enjoyed the programs immensely.  The opportunity to live and learn in another country is an opportunity that she highly recommends all students try to experience.

J. Kamas

J. Kamas is an accomplished Adjunct Professor and Senior-Level Financial Director with over 20 years of diversified experience, steering and directing all aspects of Financial Planning, Accounting Operations, Marketing and delivering impressive lectures at The University of Texas.   He is an exceptional mentor and trainer and has developed programs that enrich and guide students as well as inspire team commitment to goals and high-quality performance standards.  He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Company Visits

Company visits provide students with a first-hand look of important local industries and local business practices. Company visits will vary on a yearly basis, and past company visits include:

• Škoda Auto
• Czech Invest
• Krušovice Brewery

Cultural Excursions

Cultural Excursions provide students with an opportunity to experience the local flavor. Weekly cultural outings are coordinated on behalf of the group, including admission fees. These events are built into the program, and participation is mandatory.  With this in mind, the excursions are designed to fit into the schedule and will usually take place Monday-Thursday in the early evenings, so as not to interfere with courses or weekend travel. Depending on the year, weather and availability, excursions will vary on a yearly basis. Past excursions have included:

• Jazz Boat Trip
• Classical Music Concert at Spanish Synagogue
• Tour of Jewish Quarters
• Museum of Communism
• Traditional Czech Feast

Weekend Excursion to South Bohemia, Czech Republic

VSE & CIBER are excited to be hosting the South Bohemia Tour again this summer!  Get ready to spend two days touring the beautiful countryside of the Czech Republic with your closest friends.  This is the 3rd year Prague students will have a chance to go on this tour and every year they tell us it was the most fun way to get to know one another since it takes place the first weekend of the program.

Where: 2-day tour through South Bohemia, CR
When: Friday, June 8 – Sunday, June 9, 2012
What: transportation, accommodations, English speaking tour guide and entrance fees
Cost: $100 USD
Deadline to sign-up and submit payment:  Monday, April 30, 2012

Detailed Itinerary

Have you ever heard of Plzn?  Check out the itinerary to learn more about this excursion!

Registration Information

Registration is simple! Bring $100 payment (cash, check, money order) and Release form to the CIBER office in CBA 3.204 and we'll take care of the rest. The deadline to register and submit payment is April 30, 2012.

Questions

Contact: Stephanie LaMarca
stephanie.lamarca@mccombs.utexas.edu
Office: CIBER - CBA 3.204

Accommodations

Participants reside in University of Economics student residences. All students will be able to request a roommate. The dormitories are equipped with internet access and are a twenty to thirty minute commute on public transportation from the University of Economics campus.

Fees and Tuition

• For information on payment, managing your budget abroad, and financial aid, please visit our Financial Resources page.
• For information on total program cost including Airfare, meals, etc, please follow this link.
  
  
  
  

Orientation, Support & Learning

Orientation Before and After the Program

As part of the CIBER experience, CIBER hosts a series of pre-departure sessions intended to prepare our students for their upcoming summer. The sessions are led by both the UT faculty and CIBER staff. Topics include useful logistical information about the city, school, courses, culture, language, and much more!  In addition, returning students will participate in a re-entry session where they will receive information on staying involved with international education and guidance on how to leverage their CIBER experience during recruiting.

On-site Support

Upon their arrival in Prague, participants will be greeted by an on-site McCombs staff (known as the cultural liaison) who will be available full-time throughout the duration of the program, and will coordinate group activities and cultural excursions. The liaison is usually a UT graduate student, and is knowledgeable on the language, city and culture of the host country. The liaison will live with the students on-site, and is available to assist the students with any questions or concerns. For convenience, the liaison carries a local cell phone at all times, and is easily reached for emergencies. In addition, the liaison serves as the main communication line between the CIBER office and the abroad program and stay in close communication with CIBER throughout the program.

Cultural Learning Abroad and Beyond 

CIBER strongly believes in the impact of international experience on future intercultural skills, important for today's increasingly interconnected world. To address these important skills, CIBER summer programs feature a component designed to help students make the most of the 5 week program, facilitating cultural investigation beyond the classes and cultural excursions.

Cultural Analysis Assignment

As part of the CIBER Program, participants will be responsible for completing a short cultural analysis of the local culture. They will receive instructions and guidance through the process. In addition, each student will receive a set of materials which they can use not only during this assignment, but in their future careers. The assignment is designed to be a short, fun and enriching group activity. Upon submission, students will receive valuable feedback from CIBER staff on their analysis, and all contributions will be compiled into the class' group observations of the culture. For more information on the Cultural Toolkit Materials and to view a sample student assignment, please visit the CIBER Cultural Analysis Toolkit page.

Guidance Upon Returning

During the re-entry session, students will receive feedback and guidance from the CIBER Assistant Director on how to leverage the cultural analysis project and skills they have developed during study abroad as a differentiator in recruiting and throughout their careers. For more information on study abroad and your future career, please visit Study Abroad and Your Career.

Why Prague?

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, has served as a political, economic, and cultural center of Europe for more than 1,000 years. The city of a hundred spires on the River Valta, is also home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th century Europe. Popular sites include: the Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, and the Lennon Wall. With a growing and diverse population of more than 2.3 million, an extensive and lively history, and relatively easy access to the rest of Europe, Prague is, without a doubt, a city to czech out.

“The CIBER programs in Prague offer students the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective,” says Kristina Zvinakis, Prague International Accounting professor. “In their courses, students have the chance to discuss topics that may be familiar to them with faculty whose cultural background and worldview often differs from their own. Living abroad in an unfamiliar environment affords countless opportunities to step outside everyday comfort zones, to think about core beliefs, and to gain an appreciation for differences that impact how we, as citizens of a global community, work and interact. I think participation in these “global classroom” experiences provide a learning experience that is difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom setting.”

For more information on the Czech Republic and Prague, visit the CIBER Destinations.