International Programs / Study Abroad

Brazil (CDM)

IT in Emerging Countries

The DePaul Study Abroad Program and CDM will once again be offering this unique opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students in CDM to investigate Information Technology in developing countries.

Participants will visit three very different cities while they are in Brazil. The first destination is famous Rio de Janeiro, home of the Sambadrome and capital of the country until the 1960’s. In addition to seeing some of the highlights of the city, the participants will conduct a number of site visits to businesses, government offices, non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher learning. Students will then travel to Curitiba, long known for its public planning, where they will continue visits to a variety of companies and organizations. The final stop for the group is Florianopolis, a rapidly growing city on the coast in southern Brazil.

COURSES     

The program will be led by Olayele Adelakun, Associate Professor in CDM. Dr. Adelakun has research interests in IT outsourcing and Global Information Systems, and has been leading groups of students to Brazil since 2004.

Students participating in the program must register for one course in the Fall quarter for a total of four credits. For undergraduate students, CSC399 may satisfy the Junior Year Experiential Learning requirement.

CSC399/ECT596/IS596/IT599
IT in Emerging Countries – The Case of Brazil

The objective of the course is to expose students to the reality of information technology (IT) in an emerging/developing country. Technology played a significant role in most of the emerging economies of the late 1990’s and 2000’s. Revenue from product and IT services to emerging countries is over $30 billion. Brazil is of high interest because it is an emerging economic country with extreme contrasts. While it is a country with tremendous resources, richness and IT capabilities, it is also a country with a very high level of poverty. This course will expose students to IT use, management, development, policy and strategic impact within the Brazilian economy and its impact internationally. Students will visit several companies and meet with various IT stakeholders in the organization (users, developers, managers, IT strategic and policy implementers etc.) who will explain their practices and strategies to the students. In addition to learning about the history and development of technology in Brazil, students will also learn about the culture of Brazil and the role of technology in the country’s economic development. The course will also examine the necessary success factors for US-based companies planning to setup an IT center in Brazil. Appropriate business attire will be required at corporate and government visits.

NOTE: To apply to this program and for more information, please contact Dr. Adelakun:

Dr. Olayele Adelakun
243 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604-2301
e-mail: yele(at)cs.depaul.edu

Circumstances, such as an unexpected event abroad or a curriculum change at a host institution, may require DePaul University to make changes to the program. DePaul University reserves the right to cancel or alter programs and courses without notice.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS   

During their stay, students are housed in comfortable hotels.

EXPENSES   

In addition to DePaul tuition for 4 credits, costs include a specific program fee. For updated information on specific programs expenses, click here:

 For this program, the fee covers round-trip airfare, breakfasts, some group meals, study abroad health insurance and hotel accomodations.

Participants must also plan their budgets to cover additional meals, passport and visa fees, textbooks and personal expenses.

Program fees are based on actual costs of the prior year and projections for the current year. Inflation and fluctuating exchange rates make it impossible to state a fixed cost. DePaul University reserves the right to adjust program fees without notice.

APPLICATION   

To participate in this program, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA.  Please submit your application to the DePaul University Study Abroad Program. If students have any specific questions, they should contact the program's professor directly:

Dr. Olayele Adelakun
243 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604-2301
e-mail: yele(at)cs.depaul.edu

This program has a special application, which can be downloaded here:

APPLICATION FORM for BRAZIL (CDM)

DePaul University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or handicap in admissions, employment or the provision of services. Inquiries regarding this policy should be addressed to the Director of Human Resources, 243 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604-2287.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 15