In coordination with AMIDEAST the students and the two faculty members are spending one week in Oman as part of a course on business in the GCC countries.

During this week they visited the building of Occidental Oman where they were briefed about the oil and gas sector and its importance in strengthening the GDP of the country and how it affects the rate of development.

The guests were also briefed on Oxy Oman's operations and facilities in Mukhaizna and Safah oilfields and how the company contributes to the ICV Initiative as well as the SME Development Programme.

The visit of the students comes as part of their Global Discovery programme which is a course for full-time MBA students at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. It includes on-campus pre-departure classes and an on-site component in one of three international locations during winter of a student's second year.

It is designed to give students a deeper understanding about how multi-national enterprises trade agencies and small and medium-size enterprises work successfully in emerging-market economies. The programme to Oman and the UAE focuses on the similarities and differences between these neighbours and focuses on how culture has affected development in each area.