Business students open doors to network of worldwide contacts

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Spring 9-9-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle Campus

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

Business students from The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus recently ‘stepped out’ of the classroom and into Singapore as part of their unit Business in Asia.

31 students, who are currently studying on the Campus as part of the Universities Study Abroad (SA) Program, travelled to Singapore with School of Business staff and students. The SA students are United States based but come from a variety of countries such as Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Each year Notre Dame hosts students who have chosen to study abroad in Australia. Studying abroad provides students with an opportunity to experience and appreciate another culture. For this group not only did they have the opportunity to further their academic studies and work towards their degrees while in Australia but also to travel to Singapore as part of their business study.

The purpose of the unit Business in Asia is to examine the importance of the Asia-Pacific region in the context of the global economy. The field trip was designed to provide students with the opportunity to participate and develop their professional skills within the context of an international environment.

“It’s also to obtain a business and cultural understanding of Singapore and to translate and adapt that into answering the field trip project,” said Business Lecturer, Gary Marchioro, who took the students to Singapore.

A requirement of the unit was that students were required to write a business proposal.

“The project involves a fictional import/export company operating in Fremantle Western Australia who are looking towards moving some of its operations to Singapore. Local cultural and political considerations are part of the basis for the fictional company’s decision making,” explained Mr Marchioro.

The field trip included meetings with businesses and agencies which are operating in Singapore and could advise them of the potential viability of such a move. Deloittes & Touche, the United States Embassy, Port of Singapore Authority, National University of Singapore, National Museum of Singapore, National Library of Singapore and Asia Pacific Breweries were just some of the organisations that they consulted.

“Singapore is a unique and well known success story in our region,” said Mr Marchioro.

“To see our US students become totally immersed into the Singapore experience was a great tribute to their openness, cultural understanding and enthusiasm for what was for many their first ever trip to Singapore and Asia.”

Study Aboard student, Katie Teitgen, said the trip was an invaluable experience. “I gained a greater understanding for the importance of Singapore to the international business community, along with a grasp of the diverse cultures that make up the city-state.”

Mr Marchioro said the students were tremendous ambassadors for both the University and their countries. “We may have unintentionally created an insatiable travel bug to learn and experience different work and life cultures.”

Media contact:

Rebecca Cassidy 08 9433 0611, 0408 959 138

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