Past International Trips
Click here to learn about upcoming international trips.
Chile
The majestic Andean Mountain range can be seen from almost anywfhere in the city of Santiago. Due to its geographic location, Santiago is one of the few capital cities in the world which has easy access to both ski slopes and beaches. Most major multinational companies, whether European, North American or Japanese, have offices and/or representatives in Santiago. The result is an exciting economy and an amazing array of foreign and local businesses. The story of persistent economic success across significant political change provides a fascinating lesson. The warm people and perfect weather provide a gracious welcome to Chilean travelers.
India
The trip will focus on outsourcing and will visit either Hyderabad or Bangalore, the two prime cities in Southern India for outsourcing. We will visit with companies such as InfoSys, Tata, Wipro and hopefully GE's Jack Welch Center for Innovation (if we are in Bangalore). Additional corporate visits and cultural visits, depending on other cities visited, will be included.
Click here to read about students' visits to Chile and India.
Prague
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and the country's industrial, commercial and cultural heart. There is ample evidence that the site of the modern city was an important trading crossroads as early as Paleolithic times. Past corporate visits have included: Skoda-Volkswagen, Hewlett-Packard, Philip Morris, Pepsi Americas and Bohemia Glassworks. The trip also included` a visit to Terezin, a walled city originally established by Empress Maria Theresa. The Nazis used Terezin as a detention and concentration camp during WW II. The city is quite beautiful and somewhat deceptive of what really occurred behind the walls. Prague is a wonderful musical and artistic city. Prague is also a very international city with many young people from all over the world. Sidewalk bistros are plentiful.
Belgium
Visits to Brussels (home to the European Union) and Antwerp (the world's diamond trade capital) impressed on students the prosperity and economic vitality of Belgium. Visits to Ghent and Bruges brought to life the beauty and mystery of the middle ages. Belgium's contributions to the advancement of civilization have been far out of proportion to the size of the country. Paradoxically, this has, in part, been the result of the country's linguistic division and geographical location, which in other ways have caused so much difficulty.
KnowEurope - Belgium, Holland, France and Spain
Sponsored by Groupe ESC Normandie, Normandy Business SchoolVisit Belgium, Holland, France and Spain. For more specifics see the Know Europe website (http://www.know-europe.com/). This trip counts for 3 courses (MGT 6300, MGT 6350 and one elective). Your cost is the cost of tuition for each of these courses and airfare to and from Europe. Students are responsible for arranging their own flights. Anyone interested should contact Melissa for more details. Please note, this will prevent you from attending the summer semester, but does earn you credit for 3 courses (6 credits total).
Singapore
Singapore, a tiny island city-nation in the Pacific, once considered a third world country, is now a vital, global transportation hub. How could a third world county with multiple limitations, including land, seaspace and people, make such an evolution? In this course students studied the business approach that made this accomplishment possible, examining how, for over thirty years, the country invested in developing a sophisticated technology to leverage its limited resources and become a world leader in seaport operations. Visits to ports, shippers, and freightliners were planned to show business theories come to life. Cultural visits were also included.
France
For many centuries, France has been synonymous with civilization. For much of this time, it not only was the foremost political power in Europe, but also led the way in arts and in literature, in social manners, in fashion and in the refined enjoyment of living. It remains a remarkable land with a remarkable people, quick-witted and humorous, volatile and fastidious. Their notorious individualism is at once their strength and their weakness, as is their profound traditionalism. The fundamental plan for France's economic growth was drafted immediately after World War II by a team of experts under the leadership of a remarkable industrialist, Jean Monnet. Large industrial investments permitted the introduction of new techniques and the building of factories that were nearer the optimum size for low-cost production than the typically small shops and factories of pre-war France. French and foreign investors and entrepreneurs were encouraged to invest in industry because of the extensions of the market for French goods. EU membership has only accelerated the growth in outlets for French production. Company visits ranged from manufacturing to financial services organizations. Cultural outings included the beaches of Normandy and some of the world's most famous museums. Dr. Greg Faulk lead this trip.
Ireland
A few centuries before Christ, iron-working Celts from central Europe and the Iberian peninsula implanted a language and character that have never disappeared from the island outpost on the northwest edge of Europe. In the Middle Ages, Vikings raided and then settled parts of the Irish coast. Normans and English followed the Vikings, and many of them married into the already-mixed families of the earlier settlers. Descendents of all these peoples live in Ireland today. Starting with a visit to the Irish Development Agency (IDA) we examined the efforts of the Irish political leaders to cultivate a strong economy that has its base in technology. Then we evaluated the effectiveness of this strategy by visiting various companies that depend on technology. Past corporate visits have included: Irish Express, Dell Computers, Bank of Ireland, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals and Deloitte and Touche. Side trips includef historic and natural landmarks such as Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, Cork and the Ring of Kerry. Cultural events featured typical Irish folk music and dinner (among other things). Dr. Robert Lambert lead this trip.
Mexico
With some cyclical variation, the Mexican economy has grown at an average compounding rate of six percent per year since 1940, one of the most satisfactory rates in Latin America. The growth in the industrial sector, averaging 10 percent per year, has been a powerful economic stimulant. High rates of population growth and urbanization mean that substantial public investments must be made in expanding school systems, public health services, transportation services, housing facilities, utilities and, most significantly, employment. NAFTA insures that Mexico will continue to be one of America's most consistent trading partners. Mexico City is one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Company visits included manufacturing, petroleum, professional service and tourism-based companies. Cultural activities included the national historic ballet, the silver mines of Taxco, Oaxaca and San Miguel. Dr. Ian Stewart lead this trip.
China
This ten-day trip focused on selling and sourcing products and services in China. China opens the door to vast historical riches, art and architecture, natural and man-made wonders, and a rich cultural heritage. Students spent five days in the capital city of Beijing and three days in the territory of Hong Kong and came to understand what is meant by, 'One country, two economic systems.' They witnessed the phenomena involved in transitioning a centrally planned economy to one based on markets, learned about the challenges of such a transition, and attended lectures at leading business schools. The travel-study trip included company visits and meetings with business owners and government officials, provided an opportunity to immerse in China's culture by visiting such sites as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Chairman Mao Zedong's Mausoleum, experienced the bustling markets of Hong Kong, and discovered why it is known as the City of Life. The last evening was spent on a memorable dinner cruise of Hong Kong Harbor. Dr. Howard Cochran lead this trip.
London
The London trip exposed students to the international recording industry; London is the center of the international music business. Students visited major trade organizations, media, and music business offices. The trip included a visit to the International Federation of Phonograph Industries (IFPI) which is the international trade organization. Other company visits included the British Phonograph Industry (BPI) and the independent labels organization as well as offices of Curb Records, BMI, Sony Records and Acuff-Rose--which all have Nashville connections. We hosted members of management firms, booking agents and the trade press (Music Week is the major British trade publication). Visits to retail stores, a tour of the BBC, and cultural activities included a musical theater visit and a trip to Liverpool for a 'Beatles tour.' Dr. Wes Bulla lead this trip.
