Posted on June 6, 2012 by Wendy Frost
Malaysia Immersion
Seventy UTSA College of Business students will be traveling internationally this summer in seven international immersion programs funded by the College of Business.
These 10-day intensive immersion programs, led by faculty members, include academic presentations, visits to local corporations and cultural experiences. Prior to the immersion experience, students study the history, culture and socioeconomic conditions of each country. Following the experience the students complete a final project.
“We’ve lined up some exciting international opportunities for our students this summer,” said Lisa Gomez , director of international engagement in the college. “Through each immersion program the students will be visiting businesses from the most prominent industries in their respective countries. Entering the Middle East, the students explored the energy, shipping and transportation industries. In Malaysia the students studied Islamic finance and toured Groupon.”
This year’s trips featured new excursions to the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Immersion locales include Abu Dhabi/Dubai, Argentina/Chile, Australia/New Zealand, Canary Islands, Finland, Malaysia/Singapore and Spain.
As part of the Canary Islands immersion which took place at the end of May, UTSA business students were paired with technology students from the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Fundación Universitaria de Las Palmas to compete in a one-week business plan competition that culminated in a venture pitch.
“This was a fantastic learning experience,” said Margaret Mayfield , a senior majoring in entrepreneurship. “As the owner of a small business, this has motivated me to look at my company from a more global perspective and seek out new business opportunities.”
The Canary Islands program culminated with the students leading a high tech start-up strategic planning session for the Office of the President of the island of Fuerteventura. The island was looking for insight into how to grow a technology-based economy.
“This program gives UTSA students a broader global perspective on high tech start-ups,” said Cory Hallam , director of the Center for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship. “They now see entrepreneurship as a serious option for their future.”
Please send your comments to: wendy.frost@utsa.edu
— Wendy Frost
