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UW-Platteville Students Visit China’s Emerging Markets
During the spring 2007 semester, 18 UW-Platteville students visited several emerging markets in China as part of a two-week study tour of that country. Led by Louis Nzegwu, executive director of the International Business Resource Center (IBRC), the students learned about the business practices and culture of China. Stops included Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing.
“The short study offered the students real-life experience to understand the development taking place in China,” said Nzegwu, a business professor at UW-Platteville. Since 2004, a total of 66 students have participated in this program, many with support from CIBER.
The group met with students and business professors at several Chinese universities. At South Central University for Nationalities (SCUN) in Wuhan, UW-Platteville’s sister school, Platteville student ambassadors participated in Chinese games and dances. “If you’re looking for something to completely change your perspective on the world, China will do that,” said 2007 participant Heather McClary.” There are so many things to learn there that we aren’t exposed to here in the U.S.”
The tour included visits to Wisconsin companies who operate in China, including Husco International of Waukesha, PRENT of Janesville, and A.O. Smith of Milwaukee. They also met with a U.S. consul in Guangzhou and with Paul Swenson, director of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s China office, and visited Nu Skin Enterprises, John Deere, and Hong Kong International Container Terminals. “Going to China and learning about the Chinese economy and seeing it first hand was the most eye-opening experience, said 2006 participant Sarah Thrams. “Hearing from the community was something you cannot read out of a book, and it was the most amazing educational experience.”
Cultural sites visited included Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Army, the Pearl TV Tower and Jade Buddha Temple.