December 6, 2016
Study abroad opportunity gives students in the College of Business Administration a global outlook on business
Submitted by Brent Fritzemeier
A faculty-led study abroad program over Thanksgiving break saw 21 students in the Kansas State University College of Business Administration traveling to Barcelona, Rome and Florence, Italy, to gain a better understanding of the international business world.
According to Swinder Janda, professor of marketing and the Robert M. Edgerley Chair in Global Business, study abroad opportunities give students a leg up on their peers in the current global business climate. It is a great way for students to get a sense for not only how international businesses work, but also how cultural and other differences between countries and the United States affect business decisions and opportunities.
"It is wonderful to see students gain a holistic perspective of international business concepts through observation and interactions with executives and others abroad," Janda said. "Study abroad provides students with insights into an essential aspect of contemporary business."
The 10-day program started in Barcelona, where the group took park in a guided bike tour, Torres Winery business visit and site visits to an open air market and retail clothing stores.
The group then continued on to Italy, where they received a guided walking tour of Florence, as well as some free time to explore the sites in small groups.
In Rome, the students took a walking tour of the city, an Italian cooking class, and business visits to the Mottura olive oil and wine farm and AS Roma Soccer Club. The group also was able to take in a professional soccer match between AS Roma and Pescara.
The College of Business Administration offers several study abroad experiences throughout the year, including another Thanksgiving break trip in 2017. For more information on study abroad programs, email Janda at swinder@k-state.edu or visit cba.k-state.edu/students/current/study-abroad/index.html.