Kansas State University

CIMBA study abroad program gives students an immersive international educational experience

Submitted by Brent Fritzemeier

A group of 13 Kansas State University students recently returned from a monthlong study abroad experience through the CIMBA consortium in the Italian town of Paderno del Grappa.

CIMBA partners with a consortium of 36 of some of the top universities in the United States to create a network of universities that actively encourage students to seek personal development and growth through international, cross-cultural academic experiences.

For the four-week summer program, students could choose two, three credit hour courses from a variety of options offered at the campus across all business disciplines, as well as courses in Italian and Italian culture. Classes typically included many local business visits as well as local excursions in addition to classroom lectures and class activities like case studies.

Kansas State University professor of marketing Swinder Janda, who serves as the Robert M. Edgerley chair in global business, led the group of K-State students and has been a part of the CIMBA program since 2002. He taught the three credit hour international marketing course that included students from across the consortium institutions, including some of the K-State students.

The program also included many other cultural activities open to all students on campus, including a pizza-making class and a formal five-course Italian dinner. All class activities occurred Monday through Thursday, giving students the weekends off to travel and enjoy immersive experiences of their own choosing. K-State students were able to travel to a variety of locations in their downtime, including Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, in addition to Budapest, Hungary; Pula, Croatia; and Innsbruck, Austria

"I feel a study abroad program like the CIMBA summer program is a great way for students to get an immersive experience abroad," Janda said. "I particularly like the fact that students can participate in business and cultural activities set up by the program but also partake in cultural experiences of their own choosing during ample free time on weekends."

The College of Business Administration offers several study abroad experiences throughout the year. For more information on CIMBA or other study abroad opportunities in the college, email Janda at swinder@k-state.edu or visit cba.k-state.edu/current-students/study-abroad/index.html.