Nothing compares to the real-world business situations that an international experience presents. Especially when you get to travel to the largest economy of the world and visit places such as Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
Studying abroad enables Whittier students to immerse themselves in a different culture, develop a global perspective, and experience stimulating new surroundings, all while analyzing case studies, and visiting companies overseas. This was the case for students of Professor of Business Administration Lana Nino’s “Doing Business in China” Jan Term course.
While abroad, students met with senior executives of multinational firms such as Google, Lenovo, Walmart, Tsingshan Steel, Intex, and Esquel gaining a distinctive perspective on the issues global managers face and how they are addressed. Poets reviewed case studies for each company prior to their visit and later on debriefed and discussed their learnings.
Trustee Edwin Keh `79, CEO of The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textile and Apparel, was instrumental in securing visits with these multinational companies in China. Keh accompanied group on site visits and was able to share his own business experience in China. He splits his time between Hong Kong and the U.S.
Vishal Kolar ’16, one of the students who participated in the course shared his thoughts on the group’s visit to Esquel, one of the leading producers of cotton shirts. “Esquel is widely recognized for their unique vertical integration model and production of premium cotton shirts. In the last 10 years, Esquel has been able to make strides in social responsibility by reducing their water consumption by 60% and their energy consumption by 40%, thus benefiting the local environment and increasing the brand value of the company,” said Kolar.
“All in all, Esquel is realizing that the labor supply in China is shrinking and that there is a need for capital labor substitution, which comes from being technologically innovate and socially responsible in the long-term,” added Kolar.
Every professor adds their special focus as points of discussion to the course based on their own research interests. Nino added aspects related to the influence of business on society visiting non-profit organizations focusing on China's environment.
This is the third year that this trip has been offered through Jan Term and for the past two years, Professor Jeff Decker has traveled to China with the students.
