The students of the Eastern Carolina Business College (COB) spent the spring holidays in Peru and France as part of two immersive trips led by the teachers. Each trip is the culmination of a semester price where 30% of the note is based on the activities, assignments and behavior of citizenship during the study trip abroad.
“Travel experiences are an extension of the classroom and help our students better understand all the elements of the business world,” said Cob Dean Mike Harris. “These trips offer precious professional development opportunities that widen the networks of our students and improve their global educational experience.”
Adventures in Peru
A mixture of 10 undergraduate students and upper cycles went to Peru with the DRS. Leah Grubb and Tope Bello and focused on international business practices. The group began the trip on the wild side, venturing into paracas to observe fauna, including sea lions and penguins. Later in the day in the ICA, the students drove dune strollers in the desert and spent time at the Huacachina oasis.
In Lima, the students met representatives of the American Embassy of the American Commercial Service, which gave an overview of Peru-Us relations through the public and private sectors. A visit to the city followed the meeting.
The group has spent time at Universidad Esan Where students networked with Peruvian students and learned about regional development projects and campus resources. They also learned of the military history of Peru by visiting the real fortress Felipe.
On the last day, students visited Maria AlmenaraA local bakery and a coffee. The owners have shared their operational model, partnership strategies with other cafes and their vision of growth.
ECU business students met representatives of the United States Embassy in Lima, Peru. (Contributed photo)
Jaliyah Armstrong, a graduate student who was continuing her MBA, was one of the participating students. Armstrong had made previous trips from Spring Break to Chile and Italy.
“I have a deep appreciation for Latin American cultures and aspires to travel throughout South America,” she said. “When I saw the opportunity to visit Peru, it immediately aligned my interests. In addition, I work to improve my Spanish, and this trip has provided an excellent opportunity to immerse myself in the language. ”
Armstrong said Buggy Dune’s trip was an unexpected adventure that was one of the highlights of the trip. She was able to practice her Spanish and returned to the United States with additional confidence.
“I realized that my Spanish skills were stronger than I thought initially, which strengthened my confidence in the use of the language in real contexts,” she said. “This experience also strengthens my trust in international travel, which aligns my long -term goal to work in a global trade environment.”
Train French connections
The students who visited France spent time in two very different places: historical architecture and the vineyards of visits as well as the lively lights and the modern sensation of Paris.
During his visits for two days, the students of the ECU interacted with University of tours business students. They made a visit to the city, visited the St. Gatien cathedral, then went to a cellar which offered an overview of the management and production of French wine.
ECU business students visited the St. Gatien cathedral during tours, in France. (Contributed photo)
Sarah Ayala, a student graduated in her last half of MBA, was attracted by the journey due to an interest in French culture which began in her French high school club. She said that she liked to see the beauty of Paris and establish personal connections in tours.
“I really liked to socialize with students of the University of Tours,” she said. “Travel has strengthened the importance of cultural consciousness which will be essential in my future career. Understanding different perspectives and adapting to new environments are essential skills in human resources. ”
After their arrival in Paris, they visited fashion entrepreneurs, especially those that mix fashion and technology such as artificial intelligence. The students had time to explore the two cities by themselves and visited monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
For Kate Upshaw, the trip was her third after having studied before in Prague, the Czech Republic and the British Islands. Upshaw is in her last half of pursuing her MBA with a concentration in health care management and said that she had been attracted by travel because of her interest in global affairs and health care and her love for travel.
“The opportunity to visit a fashion technology startup and meet CEOs in Paris has made this experience particularly unique,” she said. “This experience has widened my understanding of international affairs, innovation and leadership while allowing me to network with global professionals.”
Ayala noted a great difference in culture between France and the United States.
“I was surprised by the difference in the daily rhythm of life in France,” she said. “We were able to meet French students and compare cultures. One thing they mentioned is that the French take more time to enjoy meals and socialize. They take time to really appreciate their environment. ”