A vibrant study program in Europe delivers immersive, fast-track learning for Deakin Business School’s (DBS) cloud and on-campus students.

A two-week study tour across France and Hungary has given DBS students on-the-ground learning and a practical understanding about contemporary European issues such as Brexit and the EU economy.

The program also provided a unique opportunity for Cloud (online) and on-campus students to build connections and interpersonal skills while fast-tracking the study unit – Understanding European Business Environment – with Deakin’s university partner Ecole Superieure de Commerce d'Angers (ESSCA).

ESSCA specialises in a wide portfolio of commerce programs and degrees and is based in eight different locations that include four campuses for non-French-speaking students in Angers, Paris, Budapest and Shanghai.

The DBS students attended lectures and seminars delivered by ESSCA academic staff that covered topics such as European Economics, Brexit, French Culture, Fiscal Policy and Fiscal Politics, and Intercultural Communication.

During their first week in Paris, the students visited Les Vins Nicolas and Le Nouveau Musee du Parfum before travelling to Hungary’s capital Budapest to learn about intercultural communication with industry visits to IBM Shared Services Hungary, NCR Manufacturing plant and Knorr-Bremse Research and Development.

For Claudia Sheers and Porsha Papas, who are both studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning) via Deakin’s Cloud Campus while holding full-time jobs, it was a rare opportunity to connect with their Deakin peers while exploring the European business environment.

Claudia says it was ‘really important’ to participate in the tour because, as a cloud student, she has little opportunity to meet and network face-to-face with other students.

‘It was really great to meet other like-minded students who are working full time while studying via Deakin’s Cloud Campus,’ she says.

She also believes the study tour has helped enhance her employability and career skills.

‘I think it shows great adaptability by being able to participate and succeed in a completely new environment, with new people and different ways of doing completing tasks.’

Porsha Papas describes the two-week unit in Paris and Budapest as an ‘incredible experience’ which has given her significant insight into learning, teaching and life in other countries.

While coursework was ‘intense’, and involved group presentations alongside the application of unit content, she says being able to see first-hand how business management operated in Hungary was highly valuable.

‘The industry visits, such as the IBM Global Finance Headquarters in Hungary, enabled us to hear from multiple industry professionals and gain their perspective of working abroad immersing themselves within an unfamiliar culture,’ she says.

Porsha believes the study tour has also helped her develop key personal and professional skills.

‘It consisted of shorter deadlines and working with new people with different majors; I believe this is a vital skill – the ability to cooperate with, and learn from others who are completely different to you. For cloud students, it is a valuable experience to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I learnt a lot about myself and what I am capable of – not just academically, but professionally and personally. It’s an amazing way to build upon your professional network.’