Nirma MBA students catch flight to global trade

The dragon country beckons once more for 23 students of Institute of Management, Nirma University, who are all set to make a business opportunity trip to China, Hong Kong and South Korea.

The trip is part of the institute's initiative to combine international exposure with global business opportunities.

The global opportunity trip initiative came into force last year when 34 students of the MBA in family business and entrepreneurship programme in the institute had visited China, Taiwan and South Korea.

At the end of the trip, several students had forged major trade collaborations with Chinese and Taiwanese firms to aid their family business. The institute is expecting similar response for this year.

"The main objective of the trip was to give international exposure to the students, which would enable them to learn about fast growing economies and understand international business culture. But since all the students have their own family business and look forward to expand their wings globally, the purpose of the programme becomes an integrated one ie comprising both study and business/marketing in one go, " said Pawan Kumar Chugan, a professor of the international business programme, who is leading the group the second time this year.

In Hong Kong, the group would visit the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and meet the members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce. Meetings and visits at Seoul have been arranged by the Hanyang University, with which Nirma University has an MOU of co-operation.

Appointments at Shanghai in China, the last destination for the group has been lined up with assistance from Donghua University, which also has a collaboration with the institute.

In addition to the lectures by the professors from Hanyang University and Donghua University, students will be visiting industries and local chambers of commerce and industries and industry associations.

Further, the Consulate General of India, at Shanghai, and Secretary General of Shanghai Chambers of Commerce and Industry would be addressing the students in China, said Chugan.

"Based on the feedback received last year, we realised a visit where students are encouraged to establish global contacts and prepare feasible case studies for their own business model would give them the kind of exposure that no academic visit or lecture can, "opined Chugan, adding that international universitites and trade bodies were equally keen to collaborate with the students.