Students jet off to China for international exchange

A cohort of Cardiff Business School undergraduates has embarked on a four-week international exchange placement with Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL) in Wuhan, China.

The international mix of students flew from London, Bulgaria and Mumbai, before meeting up in Wuhan. They are accompanied by Dr Jane Lynch, Director of Enhancing Student Experience for the first part of the trip, with Ms Charlotte Lisle, Student Experience Coordinator joining them for the second part. The students arrived in China on 22 July 2017 and will return to the UK on 17 August.

ZUEL is one of Cardiff Business School’s strategic partners and the institutions recently extended their working relationship which promotes global higher education cooperation. This was to ensure that students and staff were afforded enhanced academic and personal development opportunities.

Cardiff Business School has welcomed many students from ZUEL but this is the first time a student delegation from Cardiff has made its way to the ZUEL campus in Hubei Province.

During the trip, the Cardiff students will attend a three-week summer school and take classes on the Chinese economy, society and culture. The third week will see Cardiff staff lead classes and group work and discussion. All classes will take place in the morning while afternoons will be free for sporting activities and local sightseeing.

The exchange opportunity has been organised by Cardiff Business School’s Mrs Rosemary Smith, Director of International Exchange, in order to provide students with an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the Chinese educational system and approach to business and management studies. It also provides them with the opportunity to develop their understanding of Chinese culture, business and society.

Dr Jane Lynch said: “I am very pleased to accompany our students to ZUEL and am in no doubt that this will be an invaluable and unforgettable experience for them. Cardiff Business School is a truly international community of staff and students and cross-cultural respect and collegiality are hugely important to us. This will be an opportunity for personal and educational development which will broaden our students’ horizons and further their understanding of the global business and management sector.

“Credit must be given to Rosemary Smith who has worked with her ZUEL counterparts for many months to develop a programme that is educationally stimulating and culturally enlightening.”

The subsidised exchange trip is part-funded by a grant from the Cardiff University Global Opportunity Centre. Students were invited to apply for this opportunity and the competitive selection process took place in February 2017. They had to provide a letter of motivation outlining what they felt they would gain from the experience and what they would bring to it, alongside a short essay on China/UK business relations. Students who were successful in the first stage were invited for an interview with a panel of academic and professional services staff.