The world is growing in its demand for global employees, and one of the best ways to achieve this is through travel and exploration. Participation in an international study tour enables students to build their personal and social competence and inter-cultural understanding, including language skills. With this objective in mind, GHS-IMR has been providing opportunities to its students to gain international exposure through foreign educational and industrial trips. This year, students of PGDM Year 1 (Batch 2015-17) experienced a 10 days study tour to China from February 28, 2016 to March 8, 2016. Dr. Bhagwan Jagwani, Professor (Finance) and Placement Chair, accompanied the students during the tour.
The international tour was split up in two parts. The first part witnessed a 6 days visit to Shanghai, the largest Chinese city by population and a global financial center. The second part of the tour involved a 3 days visit to Beijing, the capital city of China.
During the tour to Shanghai, students got an opportunity to visit the factories of reputed organizations like Shanghai Electric Company, Bao Steel, Lenovo, Volkswagen and Coca Cola. On one hand, students understood the manufacturing process of turbines at Shanghai Electric Company and on the other hand, they witnessed the assembly line process at Bao Steel, Lenovo and Volkswagen. Students also enriched their knowledge by visiting the factory of Coca Cola and the showroom of IKEA, the Swedish furniture giant. Many students cleared their doubts by raising questions to the company representatives.
Students also visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and the Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC). The exhibition center displays a large scale model of the entirety of urban Shanghai, showing existing buildings and approved future buildings. The SWFC, on the other hand, is a mixed-use skyscraper lauded for its design and consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls. Students visited the 100th floor of the SWFC (474 metres) and enjoyed a full view of the colourful night of Shanghai. Students also enjoyed a ride aboard the Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train of China and enjoyed travelling at a speed of 431 Kms per hour (or 268 miles per hour) during the ride. Not only this, students were also enthralled by experiencing a ride aboard the Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise. While cruising on the river in the night, students experienced its silence and beauty under the moonlight and the glittery neon lights on its banks. Students enjoyed shopping at outlets like the AP Plaza, Taobao Market and the Nanjing Street.
Talking of cuisine, the group enjoyed the best of Indian food served at restaurants like the Indian Kitchen, Tandoor, G Water front and Kebabs on the Grille. Stay hospitality was extended by the Days Hotel Shanghai Fortune, a 4-star property.
Seizing the opportunity, Dr. Bhagwan Jagwani visited the Shanghai Mandarin Garden Language and Culture School, Shanghai, to meet Ms. Diana, Global Alliance Program Director and Ms. Nancy, Manager of Business Department. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss about sourcing a visiting faculty to GHS-IMR for teaching Mandarin to management students and, in turn, to increase their employability in the international job market. The scope of the prospective academic alliance also includes setting up of a Mandarin teaching center at GHS-IMR in the imminent future, under the guidance of the Shanghai Mandarin Garden Language and Culture School, Shanghai.
The group departed from Shanghai to Beijing by enjoying the ride of a bullet train traversing at a speed of around 300 Kms per hour. Visit to Beijing encompassed a journey through the rich cultural heritage of China. Places visited include the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Palace of Heaven, Summer Palace, Pearl factory, Jade center, Olympic City (Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube) and the Great Wall of China (juyong pass), one of the greatest wonders of the world.
In Beijing, students enjoyed sumptuous Indian cuisine served at restaurants like the Ganges, Tandoor, etc. One of the menu items also included delicious Indian masala ginger tea. Chinese cuisine was also enjoyed by the group during the tour. Stay hospitality in Beijing was extended by the Holiday Inn Chang An West, a 4-star property.
Quoting one of the students on her feedback after the international tour – “You’re more about others than you, when you come back home … You’re more of a leader because of the skills you gain from the experience.” Overall, the international tour was an experiential learning and allowed students to explore new territories, cultures and people.
