During July, myself and 19 other students accompanied by our lecturer, went to Singapore and Malaysia under the New Colombo Plan as part of the COMM335 – Business International Study Tour.
During this trip we attended numerous industry site tours, gaining insights into how the commercial operating environment is run in an international business setting. These site tours included the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore, Westports Malaysia and Takaful Malaysia. We had 5 jam packed days of classes, tours and presentations and in this time we all benefited immensely from the international leaders we met and the information we learned. The other days were free time spent exploring all the cities had to offer.
This trip was particularly beneficial in gaining real life experience in an international business setting. Actually putting theory into practice and linking all of the knowledge I have learnt in my commerce degree. Further, this subject also came with a research project in which we had to examine in depth a sector of the commercial operating environment and write a 3000 word research report.
This trip opened my eyes to not just the differences in culture, but to how culture plays such a big part in shaping so many aspects of an international business. It allowed me to gain experience in the industry, with like-minded people, in a very dynamic learning environment.
Madeleine Harmer
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