Each year, UNE Business School offers students exciting opportunities to participate in one of UNE Business School International Study Tours in Trimester 3 2016-2017.

A Study Tour is an “immersion experience”, introducing students to the cultural and business environment of a nation which plays a key role in the global economy and in particular for Australia. Students who take these tours as part of either OSSE300 or OSSE500 (Overseas Study Experience) are able to experience first-hand important aspects of cultural diversity, business networking and development opportunities in the dynamic and rapidly developing economies of Australia’s biggest trading partners.

This year, study tours held in November saw our postgraduate students visiting both South Korea and China between 30 October and 12 November, with visits to large corporates involved in disruptive technology and contrasted to work occurring in technology incubators. Students were able to enjoy cultural events, as well as meet and hear from business leaders across a range of sectors.

It is difficult to identify the best parts of the Study Tour themed ‘Driving Change and Innovation’ to South Korea and China, as it was 14 days of action packed, invaluable insights into two of Asia’s most dynamic and changing economies. Students gain from speaking directly to those who lead organisations such as Macquarie Group’s John Walker in Seoul, or Amanda Hodges the Austrade’s Commissioner for Korea and Mongolia; John Boyce at NAB in Shanghai, Commissioner for Victoria, Tim Dillon; Dr Zhengrong Shi who founded Suntech; Danny Kilis of FNZ; or Harry Wang owner of Ningbo Dairy to name a few.

The ten students awarded scholarships to join the tour study either a Master of Business Administration or a Master of Strategic Organisational Development and Human Resource Management.  The tour began with a meeting with Professor Kim Tongsuk, the Dean of the KAIST College of Business in Seoul who described the new paradigms driving South Korean management education.  The Graduate School at KAIST is proud to be developing people who will become the leaders in planning and executing green policies and green management.  The two days spent with undergraduate students at Shandong Technology and Business University learning about their hopes and aspirations for their working lives in China meant that friendships and professional networks were extended and insights gained into the next generation of industry leaders in China.

Dr Lou Conway who developed the study program for postgraduate students said students have taken every opportunity to learn both personal and professional lessons.

“The opportunity to meet with those who are leading businesses, some of whom are Alumni of UNE who are eager to share their knowledge, and to witness the technological and social developments driving innovation, meant that students gained the best kind of learning possible”.

Our undergraduate group traveled from 13 to 27 November and spent their time in China with a particular focus on food: production, retail and the finance sector. The student group visited a large number of key businesses and sites, as well as taking time to soak up cultural experiences. Dr Tony Ramsay, lead of the undergraduate tour with Dr George Chen.

“The tour is fun, formative and foundational. It provides students with an understanding of China’s relationship with the wider world (including Australia) and its role in the Asian 21st century. Given the importance of globalisation and internationalisation of the world economy, I wholeheartedly believe that tours like this very much “value add” to a students overall learning experience.”

These tours are key not only as a way to broaden students’ understanding of the world in which we live, but to observe business from a multinational scale right down to start-up companies. Students have an opportunity to build their own networks; with each other and UNE staff, with our friends at different universities throughout the country, with key businesses owners and with leaders in industry. One of the great parts of these tours are the amazing photos our staff are able to share with us – visit our Facebook page to see the full albums, from our undergraduate students visiting the Macquarie Bank in Hong Kong to our postgraduate students performing a little Gangnam Style in South Korea!