By GIRISH SWAMINATH

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

During spring break, 35 sophomores and juniors who are part of the Global Business Honors Program (GBHP) travelled to Santiago, Chile, on a business-oriented study tour.

This trip is one of three study tours, in which GBHP students participate, the others being London and Beijing.

Students interact and network with professionals from various companies in the region, while attending lectures contextualizing the companies’ business practices relative to their culture.

“Being a part of GBHP study tours has allowed students like me to receive first-hand experience of business practices in different countries, such as the United Kingdom, China and Chile,” Drew Rapp, GSB ’14 and Business Director of The Fordham Ram, said.

GBHP students attended three lectures at the Jesuit university in Santiago, Alberto Hurtado University, which provided insight into the economics of Chile and focused on the relationships between history and culture and politics and geography.

“The lectures were an incredibly valuable learning experience,” Rapp said. “We also had the opportunity to have lunch in the university cafeteria with English-speaking students. This was one of the highlights of the trip, as it gave us the chance to share experiences and perspectives with students our own age.”

The students also visited three businesses and the Central Bank of Chile while on their trip. They travelled to Sewell, a copper mining town located in the Andes Mountains, which is one of several copper mining facilities owned by Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (CODELCO).

CODELCO, one of the largest copper producers in the world, is a state-owned copper company. The GBHP students subsequently met with CODELCO representatives at their corporate headquarters in Santiago.

“[GBHP students] gained knowledge about new mining initiatives striving to improve safety, efficiency, environmental responsibility and innovative applications of copper,” Rapp said. “Copper is Chile’s largest export and the country is the world’s largest producer of copper.”

The students also traveled to Valparaiso, Chile and visited Terminal Pacífico Sue Valparaíso (TPS), one of the largest ports in South America. They also toured Vina Quebrada de Macul, a vineyard on the outskirts of Santiago and spoke with the owner, Ricardo Pena. Pena explained the rising significance of agriculture, with special emphasis on grapes and wine, to Chile’s economy.

“As Chile looks to the future, many believe demand for copper will fall as substitute products such as plastics and fiberoptic cables grow,” Rapp said. “Therefore, the government and local businesses are looking to agriculture to become another driving force in their economy. Currently, Chile is the world’s third-largest producer of wine, after the United States and France.”

Three university faculty members went on the trip along with the GBHP students: Fr. Philip Florio, director of Campus Ministry, Greer Jason, assistant dean in the Gabelli School of Business and Meghann Drury, professor of business communications in the Gabelli School of Business.

The students felt that their trip to Chile was a phenomenal learning experience and truly enjoyed it.

“We learned a lot about Chile and had fun!” Rapp said. “In our free time, we explored Santiago, climbed to the highest point of the city, San Cristóbal Hill, and visited old monasteries and markets. The city is beautiful!”