Going Global- Business Students Get the Prague Perspective

Why visit Prague?

The trip introduced students to a range of different businesses where they gained insight into global industry with the backdrop of the major Czech economic and cultural centre, the city of Prague, based in the heart of Europe.

The students very much enjoyed the visit and felt that it helped them gain a unique perspective on a different cultural environment. It also provided them with the invaluable opportunity to examine aspects of international business with visits to companies in Prague.

How did students gain a global insight?

The first company on the itinerary was Skoda, a business who exports around the world. An introductory talk on the history of Skoda was followed by a fascinating visit around different areas of the assembly plant. The group were incredibly impressed by the machines stamping the metal bodies of the cars. Robotic, automated construction contrasted with the slow moving production line, where teams of workers did the more intricate fitting out of the vehicles. Students also got to see a test run outside which definitely made them want to get in the driver’s seat!

There was then a contrast when they visited the Rückl Glassworks factory. This business is a long-established, centuries-old workshop where high-quality crystal glass ornaments and decorative items are handblown by the workers. Going to the factory was a fascinating experience and the visit established that the processes were very different between the hand-crafted glass and the highly automated car assembly line.

What else did you get up to?

We went on a walking tour to take in the main historical sights, and this was followed by a riverboat cruise to see the beautiful city of Prague at night.

There was another chance to explore the city on our final day and we visited the Staropramen brewery, one of the oldest breweries in Prague. It was great to see how a longstanding business had been modernised and students could sample the beer, which is famous for its purity. 

Josh’s highlights

The international trip to Prague was a good way to apply our learning from the classroom to real-life organisation settings, along with gaining an international perspective to compliment the material on the undergraduate course. Some of the highlights for me included visiting the Skoda factory, and also the Staropramen brewery. We also did a walking tour of the city, along with walking around Prague castle, giving me the chance to pursue my hobby of photography while exploring the city!

Peter’s highlights

The trip to Prague was such an unbelievable experience from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the factory tours and experiencing the city's culture was such an invaluable experience. The hotel was fantastic, and the facilities were more than adequate. I felt like the university staff put a lot of effort into ensuring we had a good time.

Feel like joining our students to experience business on a world stage? Find out more about the course and how to apply for the International Business Management degree at Chester. Make sure to also check out our International Business Management with French and with Spanish.