Tuck students pursue international experience over spring break
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—April 24, 2009
CONTACT: Kim Keating,
603-646-2733
HANOVER, N.H.—Given the current state of the economy, many students at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth opted for business experience over recreation and relaxation during spring break this year. Three groups of first- and second-year students spent their vacations exploring the business perspectives and cultures of countries that may well figure in their future careers.
One group of 17 Tuck students ventured to China on a 10-day learning expedition organized by Tuck's Center for International Business. The students visited four cities and eight organizations to learn about how business is currently conducted in the world's most populated country. Beginning in Beijing, the students explored China's capital city before embarking on visits to companies located in Beijing, Hangzhou, Hohot, and Shanghai under the guidance of a Tuck professor. The group also took time to sightsee and discover China's culture.
The China excursion was the first of many that the Center for International Business plans to offer. "Tuck students are forward-looking and strategic with regards to their careers," said Lisa Miller, the center's associate director. "They realize China will factor into their work lives in the future, and that they need a comfort level and familiarity with the country."
Tuck's Africa Initiative organized a second student trip with support from the Center for International Business. Nine students spent the break discovering business opportunities and the culture of Kenya. For most of the students, it was their first visit to the African continent and their schedules were full. With the help of a Dartmouth alumnus, the group arranged six company visits and a meeting at the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Many of the students said they expect to put the firsthand knowledge they gained from the trip to use after they graduate. "The lessons I learned through speaking with businesspeople in Kenya have helped me hone a framework for evaluating opportunities in frontier and emerging markets," said Grace-Anne Wood, a second-year student who has a job as an equity research analyst after graduation.
The trip wasn't all business though. It also incorporated a safari in the Masai Mara and exploration of the Indian Ocean near Mombasa. As with the China learning excursion, a Tuck professor oversaw the Kenya visit. This hybrid trip—organized by students with the school's assistance—was the first of its kind offered by the Tuck Africa Initiative. Papa Sekyiamah, a second year and co-chair of the Tuck Africa Initiative, said he hopes to make a student trip to an African country a yearly tradition.
Japan was the destination of the final group of students who traveled over spring break. This country visit was entirely organized and executed by first- and second-year Japanese Tuck students, who were excited to bring 35 of their fellow classmates to their home country to be immersed in Japanese culture. The trip kicked off in Tokyo, where students toured historical and religious sites and hosted a cocktail reception for Tuck alumni. Later they visited Toyota, where students met with a vice president and toured the manufacturing plant. T'09 Ezra Gordon called the Toyota visit especially interesting, explaining that he had studied a case on Toyota's assembly line in operations class and that seeing it in person was an incredible opportunity.
The students also visited NTT Docomo, the predominant mobile phone carrier in Japan, to learn about the telecommunications industry in Asia. The group even found time to visit a Japanese middle school, where they learned about Japanese education and, in turn, gave a presentation about Tuck and Dartmouth. The final days of the Japan trip were spent in Kyoto and Osaka, where the group toured an ancient castle and took in a Sumo tournament. The trip to Japan was "not your stereotypical spring break," said Cathleen Enriquez T'10. "It was a chance for us to expand our knowledge about another culture and be shown around by the people who know it best—our Japanese classmates. The knowledge I gained on this trek was both personally as well as professionally enriching."
All of the students are now back at Tuck and ready to apply their new perspectives to course work and job searches. Each group has presented trip reports to classmates and demonstrated an enthusiasm that will surely carry over to influence students for next year's spring break.
Founded in 1900, Tuck is the first graduate school of management in the country and consistently ranks among the top business schools worldwide. Tuck remains distinctive among the world's great business schools by combining human scale with global reach, rigorous coursework with experiences requiring teamwork, and valued traditions with innovation.
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