Eight Charles Sturt University (CSU) undergraduate business students and an academic have returned from an inspiring study tour to Plymouth University in the United Kingdom (UK).

Associate Professor PK Basu, lecturer in economics/finance at the CSU School of Accounting and Finance, said, "Plymouth University  in Devon, is one of the top-ranked universities in the UK, and offers very high quality summer programs that suit our students' requirements very well.

"The CSU Faculty of Business has had academic exchange programs with Plymouth University in the past, and academics from both universities are involved in joint research projects. This program strengthens and expands the scope of collaboration further."

Professor Basu said one of CSU's aims is to increase undergraduate student international experience, and this short-term international mobility program provides an opportunity for students to experience the dominant international business management practices.

"Under this program the undergraduate Business discipline students will learn international business management within the context of the culture of the UK," Professor Basu said. "The UK is one of the best locations to study and experience the activities of international business organizations of all types.

"Furthermore, the university is in a regional location about three hours drive from London, so our students expected to feel at home in a regional university in another country, and they did."

The study tour to Plymouth University ('The enterprise university') was facilitated by CSU Global, and the students didn't all know each other before the trip because they are studying different courses; mostly the Bachelor of Business (Management), but also the Bachelor of Business (Human Resources Management), Bachelor of Business Studies, and Bachelor of Accounting.

Student Mr Angus Mcdowell described the study tour as an amazing experience. "I met some really fun and interesting people from our host university and from our group who really made the experience memorable," he said. "The course was really engaging and useful. Being able to learn the content in class and then go out to see businesses dealing with the issues considered in the content was really valuable."

Fellow student Ms Phillipa Fuller said, "The Plymouth Summer School was brilliant. Though only a short exchange, I learnt a lot and made some great new friends here and there. I would highly recommend it to everyone."

Her colleague Ms Susan Stephens agreed. "The entire trip - the program, the people, the country and the experience - exceeded all expectations for me. We created memories that will last forever."

Professor Basu said that while CSU undergraduate students study different business disciplines and experience business practices in Australia, they have limited exposure to the dominant global operations.

"This exposure is invaluable, but not always affordable while living and studying in Australia," he said. "This program makes it affordable, and students who undertake it will be more comfortable with international experiences, and will hopefully move on to longer term mobility options, such as International Student Exchange programs, as they move through their degrees."