Students from ESEG College participate in an exchange program in China.

A ESEG College, part of the Etapa Group, carried out, in May, another stage of Global Business Experience, a program conceived by the sector ESEG International. Focused on the personal and professional development of students, the Global program offered an incredible opportunity for cultural exchange, where graduates participated in an immersive program in the global business environment in China.

Prior to the trip, the program conducted several integration activities. For three months, ESEG students met online with other students from partner universities: PXL University College – Belgium, Washburn University, USA, and Wuhan University of Science & Technology, China. As part of the activity, a case study of a local company from the host country was presented, and working groups were formed by students from the various universities, aiming to ensure that different ideas and perspectives were addressed in the business proposals for the companies.

During this period, the students conducted research on the market and the exchange destination country, China. At each meeting, the groups further developed their professional skills and critical thinking, leading to more discussions and seeking solutions for the case study. The research served as the foundation for the much-anticipated two-week trip.

Professor Vanessa Martins, mentor of Global Business and head of ESEG International, internationalization area From the Faculdade do Grupo Etapa, speaks about the opportunity. “Our students had a chance for innovative learning, which adds essential skills to the 21st-century professional, such as understanding the globalized and interconnected world, critical and analytical thinking, creativity, and flexibility to work in different cultures. That is why it is so important to participate in projects like this even during undergraduate studies,” he emphasizes.

Pedro Miyanojara Serra, a Business Administration student at ESEG, talks about the opportunity he had to add an exchange program to his professional life. “Before participating in the program, I was satisfied with the idea of building a solid career in Brazil. However, this international experience significantly broadened my perspective. Living with colleagues of different nationalities, understanding other organizational cultures, and actively participating in a project with real impact in a Chinese company made me realize how much I can, and want to, expand my professional horizons,” the student recounts.

Ellen Cubas da Silva, a Production Engineering student, also felt that the exchange program opened up a new professional perspective by being in another country. “I participated in the Global Business Experience last year in Brazil, and this year I participated in the China edition. It was an incredible experience to be able to participate in a logistics startup alongside students from Belgium, the USA, and China.”.

For two weeks, the exchange students participated in in-person activities in China, learned about the culture of the host country, and completed an intensive internship at the companies they studied. The students visited the cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Wuhan (where the company immersion took place), and also had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong and Macau as part of their cultural experience. 

According to the Administration coordinator, José Guilherme Campos, the experience was transformative for the students: “Having the opportunity to learn about a new culture, interact with different people, and put what they learned into practice, in addition to being able to share with other cultures, is transformative and unique for their professional future,” he explains.

During their time in China, the student teams were able to participate in technical visits, workshops, and meetings with representatives from partner companies. The intense schedule of activities provided students with a deep understanding of the companies and their organizational context. The experience allowed them to practically experience the dynamics of a Chinese organization, enabling direct observation of aspects such as rigid hierarchy, formal communication, and the role of collective decision-making. 

Giovana Paes de Arruda Nunes, a Business Administration student, also spoke about the opportunity. “The cultures are completely different, and there’s the language barrier. The cultural immersion is very impactful because it’s a reality very different from what we experience here. I visited many tourist attractions, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Wuhan, and Hong Kong, and with that, you witness history firsthand. This trip provided technical knowledge that adds value professionally, because you have to bring proposals, make presentations, have action plans, resulting in a great experience. It’s totally worth it, and ESEG provided this incredible and wonderful experience for us, giving us all the support and assistance. It was unforgettable,” says the student.

“Participating in the program was a transformative experience and, without a doubt, one of the most memorable of my life. I had the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world, each with values, habits, and worldviews completely different from my own. In addition to all the cultural and professional learning, the exchange rekindled my desire to explore the world. I returned with renewed motivation to seek career opportunities abroad, because I realized how much I want to travel and experience new realities,” highlights Pedro Miyanojara.

With a focus on the complete development of the student, ESEG sees internationalization as one of its main differentiators. The college has international mobility programs, partnerships with institutions abroad, and projects developed especially for its students. If you would like to know more, please contact us by email. internacional@eseg.edu.br or access the website.