Ilitch School students gain international insights and experiences on study abroad trip to Central Europe
A group of Ilitch School students gained insights into European industries, markets and business practices while traveling to the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland as a part of the Global Business Experience program.
Students flew to Wroclaw on May 19 and spent 17 days traveling in Central Europe, learning about the culture and customs and gaining experience dealing with language issues in a business context.
“Studying abroad in Central Europe was a transformative experience that broadened my academic and cultural horizons,” said Fahmida Khanom, a recent graduate of the Ilitch School. “Immersing myself in the rich history and diverse culture of cities like Prague and Amsterdam provided invaluable insights that complemented my studies. The opportunity to engage with local communities and fellow international students fostered a deeper understanding of global perspectives and enhanced my personal growth.”
The group toured a Mercedes Manufacturing plant, visited the International University of Logistics and Transport in Wroclaw, Poland, toured Lear's headquarters in Oberding-Schwaig and PicNic Distribution Center, to name a few stops on the trip. Students made friendships and developed their networks all while learning about supply chain management, marketing and analytics from a global perspective.
Students were accompanied with Kevin Ketels, Associate Professor of Teaching in Global Supply Chain Management, to better understand how management, leadership, marketing and supply chain management is practiced in a given country and industry, and how individual companies achieve general management, marketing and supply chain goals in the areas of customer choice, customer service, risk management, supplier relations, development and logistics.
“Our students were able to experience four very different countries - that have different languages, customs, and history. We traveled together by train everywhere we went, visited a wide variety of companies, explored cities, tried new foods, made new friends and shared a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Kevin Ketels.
The Global Business Experiences Programs, offered through the Mike Ilitch School of Business, aim to provide students with perspectives on how business is conducted in a global context, and offer programs in England, Central Europe and Italy. Faculty accompany students on tours of international companies and facilities, museums and cultural institutions.
If you are interested in applying for one of these programs next year, head to the program page to learn more about these exciting immersive education opportunities.
The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers, advances the boundaries of scholarly and practitioner knowledge, and enhances the economic vitality of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and beyond through its programs, research and community engagement. Established in 1946, the business school was renamed in 2015 in recognition of a $40 million gift from Mike and Marian Ilitch. Thanks to this lead investment, the school moved to a new state-of-the-art building in the heart of the District Detroit in 2018, and academic programming and collaboration with city businesses are expanding. For more information, visit ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu.
