From May 4 to June 3, 2015, Langara students participated in Langara’s first China Field Study Program and first program to promote inter-disciplinary studies through offering two courses from different departments (Langara School of Management’s International Business’ Management Issues & Asian Studies’ Contemporary China.
Below is a brief summary, view the full China Field Study 2015 Report for more details and the full photo gallery showcasing the students’ experiences.
After two weeks of class at the Langara campus, 22 Langara students, led by instructors Kenneth Wong from the School of Management (LSM) and Li Yu of the Department of Asian Studies, departed on May 15, 2015, for City of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. On this 18-day trip, students gained valuable first-hand experience on the business and historical cultures of China through an extensive program custom-designed for Langara by Shenzhen Polytechnic. Lectures on business and culture, along with language lessons, were complemented by a variety of activities including technical visits, city tours, trade fair, and meetings with local students”
One of the main goals of the China Field Study Program was to turn the City of Shenzhen into a classroom, meaning, instead of limiting classes to those held on campus at Shenzhen Polytechnic, students were encouraged to take full advantage of the technical visits and local tours, outings with local students, and free time allotted on weekends and evenings.
Business Components
While business lectures provided the foundation and background on the Chinese economy, visits to Huawei Technologies, the Port of Qian Hai, China Merchants Bonded Logistics, and Mindray Medical brought together the classroom and applied learning, where students had the opportunity to interact directly with staff members of these businesses.
Cultural Components
While the business components of the program, including the lectures and site visits, were the drivers of the field study program, the cultural experiences proved to be a “hit” among the students. They included dumpling making, martial arts, and tea ceremony. In addition, the language lessons prompted much participation from all the students.
Submitted by Kenneth Wong, Langara School of Management
