Posted on December 10, 2013 by College of Business
This January, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) College of Business will send a group of students and faculty to India as part of an Immersion Study Program for the first time. It is also the first time UTSA will offer a study-abroad opportunity during the winter break. Led by Lalatendu Misra, professor and chair of the UTSA Department of Finance, “Business Success in India” is a course designed to help students learn how business is conducted in India.
Pedestrian street in India with colorful banners overhead.
“No matter what aspect of business an individual pursues, having a global perspective is critical to success,” said UTSA professor Misra. “This course will introduce our students to different ways of doing business which will open their minds and hopefully expand their outlook and career opportunities.”
Offered for course credit through the UTSA College of Business Office of International Business Programs, 14 business students will travel to India from January 1-14 to visit companies, meet industry experts, experience the culture and customs and ultimately develop a business idea based on what they have learned.
To prepare for the trip, the students met several times during the fall semester to research and present reports about different elements of Indian culture, including politics, economics, weather, ecology, technology and the legal system.
This will be senior accounting student Rene Magana’s first experience traveling abroad.
“Almost everything about Indian culture is in stark contrast to our own. I’m excited about seeing the subtleties in professional behavior,” he said. “I am hoping this experience will help give me a clearer picture of what steps I need to take personally and professionally to become the person I’m destined to be.”
Accompanied by UTSA professors Misra, Chino Rao and Dennis López, the students will first visit the southern city of Hyderabad, where they will hold classes at the University of Hyderabad and the Indian Business School and meet with IT, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry leaders. Next, they will travel to New Delhi, the capital of India and the center for politics and government, for company visits. Then they will travel to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Finally, they will travel to Jaipur in northern India, where they will be introduced to many aspects of the local culture.
India is home to around 158 large global companies with annual revenues of more than $1 billion, making the country one of the most desirable locations for setting up multinational corporations. Some of the world’s largest IT companies are headquartered in India, including Tata Consultancy Services and InfoSys.
The Office of International Business Programs in the UTSA College of Business supports international business degree programs, study abroad and exchange opportunities as well as specialized international events at UTSA.
— College of Business
