Study Trip to Portugal and Spain with the 31st Generation: A Comprehensive Academic and Business Experience
At the end of September, students from the 31st generation embarked on their final study trip, a week-long academic journey through Portugal and Spain designed to enrich their understanding of industry, innovation, and cross-cultural business practices. This trip, which played a pivotal role in supporting the students’ ongoing project for the Portorož Business Conference (PKP), offered a combination of company visits, lectures, and research opportunities, all of which provided essential insights for the development of their research.
The itinerary of the trip encompassed a range of educational and industry-focused experiences. In Lisbon, the students visited Belém Urban Winery, which offered insights into how traditional winemaking methods are integrated with modern innovation, demonstrating the evolving nature of Portugal’s wine industry. As part of our long-standing partnership within the double degree program, a lecture at ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa by Dr. Govindraj Dempo on communication skills further enhanced their ability to apply theoretical concepts to their PKP research.
Key themes of innovation and sustainability were highlighted throughout the trip. Visits to Delta Cafés, a leader in the coffee industry, and Skizo, a startup known for transforming ocean plastics into eco-friendly footwear, exemplified how sustainable practices can be embedded in various sectors. Additionally, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners provided a unique perspective on global operations and environmental strategies, offering students concrete case studies to incorporate into their ongoing projects.
The group’s visit to the Leonardo Da Vinci Business Center (iParque) in Coimbra, where Dr Ricardo Lopes outlined the centre’s collaborative efforts between academia and industry, served to bridge, theoretical knowledge with practical application. This connection between business theory and real-world innovation was central to the student’s research focus.
In Porto, discussions on technological innovation and international business management were further explored through visits to Natixis and the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEP). The session at FEP began with an opening address by the Vice-Dean, Ana Paula Africano, PhD. She is an Assistant Professor at FEP, a member of the Executive Board (since 2023), and a member of the Scientific Board at the Center of Economics and Finance of UPorto. Furthermore, Professor Pedro Vieira’s insights into global business practices aligned closely with the students’ research on international operations and cross-cultural dynamics.
The final leg of the trip took the students to Five9’s European Research and Development Hub in Porto, as well as Mondragon University’s Bilbao Berrikuntza Faktoria in Spain where they explored the concept of democratic enterprises, learning about both the advantages and the challenges associated with this model.
This study trip seamlessly integrated academic learning with industry exposure, significantly enriching the students’ research and preparation for the Portorož Business Conference. The experience has equipped them with valuable insights that will support their research work in the ongoing project they are developing for the Portorož Business Conference and later for their master thesis.
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