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K-State Today

December 15, 2015

Study abroad opportunity gives students in the College of Business Administration a global outlook on business

Submitted by Brent Fritzemeier

The study abroad group outside of the Torres Winery in Barcelona

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 to gain a better understanding of the international business world.

The group was led by Swinder Janda, professor of marketing and the Robert M. Edgerley chair in global business, and Bente Janda, assistant dean for student services. According to Swinder Janda, 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.

"I'm happy to see that student participation in study abroad activities is growing at K-State," Swinder Janda said. "Short faculty-led trips are a great way for students to enhance their college education at a relatively low cost. Study abroad helps students develop greater world-mindedness in an engaging way and also helps them develop a deeper understanding of global businesses."

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. They also attended a flamenco dance cultural event and toured several tapas restaurants to get a taste of the local cuisine.

The group then traveled to Florence for a day, where they participated in a walking tour of the city.

In Rome, the students took a walking tour of the city, an Italian cooking class, and business visits to Mottura Agriturismo and AS Roma Soccer Club. Thanks to the generosity of K-State alum Paul Edgerley, the group was also able to take in a professional soccer match between AS Roma and Atalanta.

The College of Business Administration offers several study abroad experiences throughout the year, including another Thanksgiving break trip in 2016. For more information on study abroad programs in the CBA, email Swinder Janda at swinder@k-state.edu or visit the website.