In pursuit of a globally oriented, practice-based education, students from the School of Business and Governance (SBG) of Ateneo de Davao University embarked on a series of international educational tours across Asia in early 2025. With destinations including South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand, these tours provided students from the Entrepreneurship, Business Management, and Marketing Departments with firsthand exposure to international business environments, innovative practices, and cross-cultural dynamics that complement and enrich classroom learning.
The tours, which form part of the university’s commitment to experiential education, allowed students to analyze global business models, develop a deeper appreciation of diverse economies, and explore how successful international strategies can be contextualized for the Philippine setting—particularly for the evolving economic landscape of Mindanao.
In South Korea, students from the Entrepreneurship Department traveled from 9 to 16 March 2025 for an intensive learning experience centered on technopreneurship, innovation, and entrepreneurial leadership. The itinerary featured visits to globally renowned companies such as Samsung and Hyundai, with students touring the Samsung Innovation Museum and the Hyundai Motorshow Museum. These visits enabled students to observe how large-scale technology-based enterprises operate in a global context. Discussions on business scalability, leadership in innovation, and sustainable growth were situated in real-world examples that extended beyond textbooks.
The tour also included a significant academic stop at Sogang University, a Jesuit institution in Seoul. Here, faculty and students from Ateneo de Davao initiated conversations around potential collaborations and partnerships, including student exchanges and joint research initiatives. This Jesuit-to-Jesuit engagement reinforced shared values and underscored the importance of global academic solidarity.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, two distinct educational programs offered students unique perspectives on business and agriculture. From 5 to 11 February, fifty third-year Business Management students enrolled in the course International Business and Trade (MGT 3257) visited Hanoi, Sapa, and Halong. The tour enabled the students to examine the application of theories discussed in class by engaging directly with local enterprises and witnessing the growth of Vietnam’s dynamic economy. Equally important was the cultural immersion component, as students gained insight into the country’s history, social context, and business etiquette.
Later in the month, from 23 February to 1 March, forty-five students from the BS Entrepreneurship program majoring in Agribusiness undertook a specialized tour titled Rice & Grind: A Vietnam AGREEventure, which took place in Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City. Organized by the Ateneo Green-Agripreneurs for Renewable and Eco-Friendly Enterprises Society (AGREES), the trip explored Vietnam’s leading role in the global rice and coffee industries. As the Philippines’ top rice exporter and one of the world’s leading coffee producers, Vietnam offered students valuable insights into how agricultural value chains operate at scale. From field visits to discussions with local producers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, students were able to contextualize these models for potential replication and innovation in Mindanao. The program emphasized the role of agribusiness in achieving food security, sustainable farming practices, and inclusive rural development.
Simultaneously, students taking the Global Marketing (MKTG 3250) course traveled to Bangkok, Thailand from 24 February to 2 March. This trip focused on the intersection of marketing, culture, and professional development. Students explored educational institutions, local enterprises, and global brands operating in Thailand’s vibrant capital. The tour also provided opportunities to interact with international students and marketing professionals, strengthening their global awareness and intercultural communication skills. For many participants, it was a chance to examine how marketing strategies are tailored across cultures and consumer segments and how such approaches might be adapted for businesses based in the Philippines.
Across all destinations, students engaged in active learning by interacting with business leaders, exploring new technologies, and reflecting on best practices in entrepreneurship and management. Faculty members who led the tours noted that the international trips were not only an academic requirement but also a transformative personal experience that encouraged leadership, adaptability, and critical thinking.
The international educational tours represent SBG’s broader vision of nurturing globally competent, socially grounded, and community-oriented leaders. As the students return, they bring with them fresh insights, renewed perspectives, and the confidence to develop businesses and solutions rooted in both global excellence and local relevance.
Photos by School of Business and Governance
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