Eighteen KU students recently engaged in a study abroad course on “Business in India” that took place in Hyderabad and Delhi over winter break. The course focused on family-owned business in India, from small, entrepreneurial start-ups to the largest private company in India. Organized by the School of Business and KU CIBER, the program allowed students to study at one of India’s most prestigious business schools and to meet with business leaders to learn first-hand about the factors driving India’s economic boom.
“I recommend this trip to anyone, business major or not,” said Ken Chang, a KU Business student who participated. “This was an opportunity to see, taste, hear, feel and smell one of the most, if not the most intriguing and diverse cultures in the world.”
KU School of Business MBA and Master of Accounting students were joined by KU Law and undergraduate students on the program. Students earned two credit hours of KU credit while having classes at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad, an emerging hub for IT and biotechnology, and visiting companies in Delhi.
KU Marketing Professor Sanjay Mishra designed this course, teaching and traveling with the students in India. He said the program provided first-hand knowledge of a dynamic international economy, teaching them much more than they could learn in a classroom. Professor Melissa Birch, Director of the KU CIBER, also accompanied the students.
Financial support for design and delivery of this course came from the KU CIBER and many students received financial support from the KU Horner Study Abroad Scholarship Fund.
Due to the growing importance of India’s economy, the KU School of Business continues to look for new opportunities to expose students to this important region. Professor Cathy Shenoy has already organized two finance internships for KU Business students in India.
“The trip allowed me to see what "Made in India" truly means,” Chang said. “India allows you to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and opens your eyes to things that Wikipedia only wishes it could put into words.”
