Doing Business in the Middle East: Onsi Sawiris School of Business Welcomes Students from UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business
Onsi Sawiris School of Business strives to be an international hub for business education, where global contexts meet with local intricacies. This is precisely what the Doing Business in the Middle East (DBiME) program aims to achieve.
Acting as an ambassador to the national and regional business landscape, Onsi Sawiris School of Business brings graduate and undergraduate students from all over the world to experience Egypt. This March, the school hosted another DBiME study tour, welcoming undergraduate students from UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business, Dublin, Ireland.
A Capsule of Knowledge
The study tour, which took place from March 9 - 14, provided students with an opportunity to connect with the Egyptian landscape both academically and professionally. Through lectures delivered by faculty members and key stakeholders in the business community, the visit encapsulated academic knowledge and real-life applications. Like all DBiME tours, the visit focused on enhancing students’ general regional knowledge - especially as most were visiting Egypt for the first time - while also delving into industry-specific cases to foster an in-depth understanding.
“We are not well-informed on Egypt and the Middle East and this is why we are here. Everyone is very patient and accommodating to help us learn and explore this new region,” said Caitlin Canavan O’Driscoll, a fourth-year student studying business and law.
A Multi-Industry Approach
As part of the tour, students participated in in-depth sessions on tourism, family business and sports management, which are key knowledge areas for understanding business in Egypt. Moreover, the visit featured culturally specific sessions aimed at understanding the cultural mindset of Egypt and the broader MENA region. These sessions also contextualized major issues such as sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance).
An Egyptian Experience with a Global Outlook
A highlight of the DBiME tours is their ability to meet global educational standards while preserving the uniqueness and approachability of Egyptian culture. Featuring multiple visits to offices of international businesses in Cairo such as PWC, as well as key local companies like Sekem, this balance allowed students to contextualize international business activity in Egypt, while highlighting the critical role of local industries that influence the international economy through exporting.
In addition to academic and professional sessions, the tour incorporated visits to Egyptian cultural landmarks such as the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum , enhancing the students' understanding of the intersection between business and culture.
“The people here are great and the professors are really welcoming. They have given us an overview of business in Egypt and its history to help us understand how the local labor market operates. The lectures were also very interactive and engaging,” said Diana Shustrova, a third-year student studying business and law.
To learn more about the Doing Business in the Middle East Program at Onsi Sawiris School of Business, click here.