International Study Tours

Study tour to China in 2007

In May 2007, Dr. Hung-Gay Fung led a group of 8 students to China for a two-week study tour. Their mission: learn as much as they could about one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the fascinating country and culture that support it. The Asian experience started in the capitol of China where the group had the chance to visit not only such famous sights as the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, but were also granted visits to the Chinese Bank and the Chinese Academy of Social Science where lectures enriched their visit.

At the city of Nanjing, where UMSL's established partner university is located, the group spent another 5 days exploring some of the regions most well known companies such as Nanjing Phoenix Contact & Co., Ltd., A.O. Smith Company, and YCP-BASF Company. To round out the tour the group visited the Presidential Palace, the Confucius Temple, and the splendid Old City of Nanjing.

To learn more about typical Chinese ancient buildings and commercial settings with shops and restaurants that are over 100 years of age, the group spent two additional days in Guangzhou at the beautiful Pearl River Delta.

As the trip went from north to south, the two last stops of the study tour were Shenzhen and Hong Kong, two cities that actually share the Chinese border. As Shenzhen is one of the fastest growing cities in China the group visited a Joint venture business of local and foreign capital and took an interesting tour through the largest painting factory in Southern China. At Hong Kong they had another day of fun at the breathtaking Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as well as one of the most famous Chinese temples. Everyone enjoyed the two weeks in China and learned that cultural experiences enrich and enlighten ones personal and professional life.

Study tour to Japan in 2006

In May 2006 the Center for International Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis offered a unique opportunity to both students and the wider community to participate in its JAPAN Study Tour 2006. Experince Fascinating blend of the traditional and the modern- cultural exploration combined with a study of a vibrant economy. The trip included lectures, language study, company visits and government briefings, nightly cultural experiences and breathtaking trips to sites of major interest on weekends.

Study tour to Thailand in 2005

Last May Allan Bird (International Business) and Elizabeth Eckelkamp (Foreign Langauges & Literature) led a group of 26 participants on a three-week study tour to Thailand. As one of the annual short-term study abroad programs, the 2005 Thailand Study Tour, was an overwhelming success. In addition to on-site lectures by Bird and Eckelkamp, participants received a briefing at the US Embassy in Bangkok and visited foreign and domestic companies in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Students took time off from their studies to visit important cultural and historical sites in Thailand, including the Grand Palace, Ayuthaya and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Po and Wat Po. They also explored the modern side of Thailand by visiting the World Trade Center and Mah Boon Krang as well as riding on the Skytrain and the newly opened Bangkok subway.

With temperatures in Bangkok averaging 97 degrees, students welcomed an overnight train ride complete with sleeper cars and their arrival in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where the temperature was a balmy 90 degrees. Studies were put aside for a few days while students went trekking for a full day which included visiting a hill tribe, riding elephants and taking bamboo rafts down the Ping River.

The final destination was Krabi, located in southern Thailand on the narrow peninsula that stretches down to Malaysia. Known for its beaches, limestone rock formations and caves, and extensive mangrove forests, Krabi was an ideal place to relax and see yet another side of Thailand’s vibrant and diverse economy. Perhaps the highlight of the time in Krabi was a visit to Khao Lak, the area of Thailand most devastated by the tsunami that struck in December, 2004. In preparation for this day, the professors had contacted a day care and orphanage in advance, so that students could collect donations. Students delivered a sizeable cash donation and eight very large and heavy bags of toys to children at two different locations. At the second orphanage they were able to spend time with the children playing games and sharing in the spirit of optimism that accompanied the signs of recovery in the surrounding village.

Study tour to Japan in 2004

In May, Profs. Allan Bird and Elizabeth Eckelkamp led a group of 25 students to Tokyo, Japan for a two-week study tour. Their mission: learn as much as they could about the second largest economy in the world and the country and culture that support it. The group included 20 undergraduate and 2 graduate students along with a member of the Chancellor's International Advisory Council. The trip was fast-paced, accomplishing more than many thought was possible and generating a non-stop flow of learning experiences.

The group stayed at the former Olympic Village in Tokyo, which was close to many of the major business centers in the city. The tour will involve visits to both Japanese and US companies, as well as meetings with Japanese ministries officials and United States government agencies. The tour exposed participants to a wide range of business and cultural experiences, in turn leading to a greater understanding of business practices in Japan, as well as the social and cultural factors that impact how Japanese corporations operate. Students received economic briefings on Japan from US Dept. of Commerce officers, and presentations on business opportunities in Japan from representatives of the Missouri Trade Development Office and the Japan External Trade Organization. Company visits included Nissan, Canon, Sony and Nippon Express.

On the cultural side, the group enjoyed participating in a traditional tea ceremony, followed by a kaiseki bento (traditional boxed supper) with UM-St. Louis alumni living and working in Japan. The weekends were filled with visits to the Asakusa district and Sosenji temple for the annual Sanja Maturi festival as well as day trips to Kamakura and Nikko, both UN World Cultural Heritage sites. In between all of this, the faculty found time to carry out lectures on Japanese business and society and the students found time to complete written assignments and to make new friends -- in Japan and among themselves.

Study tour to Austria in 2002

One of the International Business (IB) program's major goals is to expose students to different cultures and ways of life. Because the best way to understand other cultures is to experience them firsthand, the Business and Art History Departments at University of Missouri - St. Louis co-organized a study tour in Austria for a group of undergraduate students. This trip was the first of many IB study tours that will continue to take place annually.

In July 2002, Dr. David Ricks of IB and Gertraud Wild of Art History led 34 students (16 from International Business and 18 from Art History) through a whirlwind tour that began in Vienna. The tour officially lasted two weeks, but many students turned it into a month-long trip to take advantage of the opportunities offered in the beautiful country!

The travel group stayed at the House Dobling, which is a student dorm in Vienna. However, the activities were certainly not limited to this picturesque city. The group also visited museums and companies in Krems and Melk, absorbing the local culture and practices of each town. The IB students visited a variety of companies in Austria, and met with managers to discuss local business policies. The students were also introduced to Austrian government officials and United States Embassy officials, which provided the group with an orientation to business conditions from both the Austrian and American points of view.

These types of experiences are critical to preparation for a future in international business, but also bring students closer together as a group. The IB and Art History students participated in joint cultural events and soaked up the scenery of the gorgeous cities. According to student Amy Puchta, one of the greatest benefits of the trip was that "I had the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone, and travel to five different countries and thirteen cities in Europe!" The travel group had several reunions throughout the following semester to relive their experiences and catch up with one another. After the success of the Austria trip, the IB faculty members are planning a study tour to Hong Kong for the summer of 2003.