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K-State Today

December 7, 2017

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

Submitted by Brent Fritzemeier

The group during a business tour of Torres winery.

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 trip was co-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.

"It is wonderful to see students gain a holistic perspective of international business concepts through observation and interactions with executives and others abroad," said Swinder Janda. "Study abroad provides students with insights into an essential aspect of contemporary business."

The 10-day program started in Barcelona, where the group took part in a guided bike tour of the city, a tapas tour and a business visit to Torres Winery. The students also conducted a field study at the Barcelona open air market.

The group then continued on to Rome, where they took a walking tour of the city, and made business visits to the Agriturismo olive oil and wine farm and a separate olive oil producer. They also conducted a series of field studies related to Italian clothing stores.

While in Italy, the group took a day trip to Florence, to explore the leather markets there among the other sites.

This marked the fifth faculty-led trip organized by Swinder Janda to Spain and Italy, and his 24th overall. During his time at K-State, he has taken more than 500 students to a variety of destinations, mostly in Europe, South America and Asia.

The College of Business Administration offers several study abroad experiences throughout the year, including another Thanksgiving break trip in 2018. For more information on study abroad programs in the college, email swinder@k-state.edu or visit cba.k-state.edu/students/current/study-abroad/index.html