Source: Swinder Janda, 785-532-5439, sjanda@k-state.edu
Editor's note: Adam Glendening is a graduate of Plainville High School, and Andrew Sellers is a graduate of Salina South High School.
News release prepared by: Katie Briscoe, 785-532-2753, kbriscoe@k-state.edu
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008
K-STATE MBA STUDENTS GET FIRSTHAND LOOK AT CHINESE BUSINESS PRACTICES
MANHATTAN -- Several Kansas State University graduate students have gotten an up-close look at the important emerging market of China.
Swinder Janda, a professor of marketing at K-State, led 11 graduate students through five different Chinese cities in a study abroad experience offered during the university's January 2008 intersession. The two-week trip was the first faculty-led study abroad trip designed specifically for graduate students in the K-State College of Business Administration.
After taking a group of K-State business students across Europe as part of an experiential marketing course during K-State's 2007 spring break, Janda wanted to expose business students to another vital emerging market environment. He designed a hands-on study abroad experience as a graduate-level marketing course focusing on the study of businesses in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. In addition to exposing students to Chinese business practice, he also wanted them to develop a greater appreciation and understanding of Chinese culture.
"China's emergence as an economic power and a marketing opportunity area implies that it is important for business students to gain an appreciation of the Chinese cultural, business and marketing environment," Janda said.
Janda planned a full agenda, with students spending half of their travel time visiting businesses and the other half participating in cultural activities. The group toured local companies including Shanghai Volkswagen, Beijing Yanjing Brewery, System Sensor Corporation and Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. Cultural activities included touring each city with local tour guides, an excursion to the Great Wall of China and visits to the Shaanxi Provincial and Terra-Cotta Army museums.
Participating students read a book about Chinese culture and business practices, which provided them with knowledge of key concepts prior to their trip.
During the trip, students were required to maintain a journal of activities, experiences and observations to assist them with their final project -- a paper relating experiences during their travel to the theoretical and managerial perspectives discussed in their text and during interactions with their instructor.
"With globalization, business success is largely dependent upon being able to capitalize on opportunities wherever those may be present worldwide," Janda said. "Recent economic growth trends in China and the resultant market opportunities make China a compelling market for U.S. businesses to focus on. By gaining an exposure to the Chinese culture and business environment, today's business students can begin to develop a firsthand appreciation of the available business opportunities in that part of the world and can thus be better prepared for success upon graduation."
Janda, who believes in giving K-State students international experiences without the limitations of a classroom, is continuing to develop new study abroad options for his students. During the January 2009 intersession, he plans to take students to India, and, in subsequent years, to other emerging business markets like Brazil and Russia.
K-State graduate students, all in business administration unless otherwise indicated, who went on the China trip include:
Brandon Hagman, Buhler; Stephen Adams, Humboldt.
From Manhattan: Kelly Chang; Nancy Clauss; Adam Glendening; Madoka Ito; Andrew Sellers; Li-Chun Wang; and Brian Yackley, accounting.
From out of state: Nathan Vallette, Rapid City, S.D.
From out of country: Chen-Hua Wu, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.