PVCC Puma Press: December 2006

Joining the PVCC Business Club not only means that you obtain hands-on business experience and network with business people, but you also have the opportunity to travel the world and study international business.

Faculty Adviser Dina Preston-Ortiz says that the purpose of the club is to expose students to activities that they don’t normally perform in their jobs and to give them hands-on business experience. Students participate in writing grants to acquire funds for their trips as well as planning and performing fund raising events such as a golf tournament and silent auction dinner. They may also acquire sponsors through organizations.

“Teaching them to write grants not only helps in raising funds for club projects, but also is useful in getting funds for their education,” says Ortiz.

Greg Smith, chair of the Business Club and a business major, said, “A friend referred me to the club.” He explained that the trip to China was a benefit of joining the club, and it was nice to know that work during the semester went toward the trip.

Student Noel Becht, a new club member this semester and associate chair, says, “The Business Club is open to anyone interested in business, not only business majors.”

Becht joined the club because he likes to travel. He also thinks that he will have an opportunity to have a school-oriented professional activity that may help him to decide his major.

Ortiz, Gary Smith, computer information systems faculty, and nine students from the Business Club and PVCC spent two weeks in four major Chinese cities this past May. Ortiz says that the trip was offered as the hands-on field study portion of a five-week, two-credit hour course, IBS154 International Business Environment Pacific Rim Countries. The trip was included in the course fee of $3,600. She says that the course was structured to meet credit requirements so that it could transfer to ASU, NAU or U of A as an elective general business course.

Students in four groups studied cultural, economic, import-export and legal political international business areas. According to Ortiz, part of their assignment was to keep a journal during their travels.

Smith said that the course allowed students to research statistics and cite sources from textbooks while in the classroom and take pictures while in China for their groups. Students got to do what they wanted in free time on the trip.

The group traveled to Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Hong Kong. They visited such places as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. They toured a Cloisonné Factory, Shougang Steel Factory, Silk Factory, JJ Jade Factory and Sun Microsystems.

Ortiz said that while touring the steel factory they noticed that there were no safeguards. All of the factories they visited were state owned.

“In a presentation given during our visit to Sun Microsystems in Beijing, we were told that China is starting to focus on creating innovations as opposed to just manufacturing. They gave an example of moving or outsourcing some manufacturing into places like Vietnam. This was Sun Microsystems perspective,” says Ortiz.

The Chinese are interested in investing in innovation and ideas, but there are political and legal hurdles associated with doing business in China. For example, Ortiz says that China does not honor copyrights.

While in China, Smith purchased a handmade suit and shirts. For him, the experience was unique because he chose the items he wanted, and they were handmade and delivered the same day to his hotel room.

Both Ortiz and Smith agree that they had preconceived ideas about China before they traveled there, but their ideas soon changed . They said that the Chinese were glad that the Americans were there, and the Chinese did not have a problem with the American flag that the club displayed during their travels.

Ortiz says, “China is fast becoming a leader in the world economy. I’m amazed at how quickly they are moving. One surprise was how westernized Beijing appeared.”

Smith found that China is still based on tradition. He also said that schools are very competitive.

The Business Club documented their field study on their Web site at http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/clubs/BizClub, which also contains a pictorial tour of their China trip.

What’s next on the club’s agenda? “Project Prague” is slated for the spring of 2007. Smith and Becht are already working on grants to bring funds to the club to cover the $3,200 cost for each person to travel to Prague, Czech Republic. Smith says that since membership in the club is small this semester, members will work on three grants focusing on business, school and study abroad.

While working with grants, Becht says he is learning to find grants through research. He is also learning what to expect when writing grants and what qualifications and experiences are required to obtain future grants. He believes building a reputation for successfully acquiring grants looks good on a resume.

Business Club members have posted messages to Prague students on a specific Web site in order to establish friendships before their trip. This communication process is still in its early stages and to date they have had no response.

Becht says, “I regard Prague as the jewel of Central Europe due to its beautiful architecture, history and statues. Prague was inaccessible while it was under the Iron Curtain. By being exposed to the environment and physical experience, the trip allows you an understanding of cultural, legal, political and economic aspects along with the country’s overall business environment.”