As in previous years, GLOBE students were given a golden opportunity to experience the dynamic business world on an orientation trip abroad. In 2010, they visited Osaka, one of the command centres for the Japanese economy. During the week in Japan, they paid visits to the following corporations and organizations, and gained insights of Japanese business environment.
Panasonic is well-known as one of the largest electronics companies in the world. With its brand promise of ‘generates ideas for life … today and tomorrow’, the corporation has enriched the lives of many families. The GLOBE students were arranged to have a visit to the Panasonic Center Osaka. There, they learnt that the future trend of home media belongs to more advanced and broader networking between different equipment. They also declared their own eco-actions in the Environmental Showcase after they learnt the working principles of Panasonic’s energy-efficient products.
To many, Cathay Pacific is the best airline in the world. With excellent services and a huge crew, the corporation expands its business to the whole world, including Japan. The GLOBE students visited the Osaka office of Cathay Pacific Airways to learn more about the firm’s sales strategy. They were impressed by the marketing campaign of the Osaka office, which effectively boosted tickets sales of flights between Osaka and Hong Kong! The visit could be called as the first marketing lesson of our GLOBE students.
Nissin Foods, Nomura Securities… What do these corporations have in common? Answer: their founders were from Osaka. Historically the commercial capital of Japan, Osaka was the birthplace of many great entrepreneurs. The GLOBE students visited the Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation, which introduced 105 Japanese entrepreneurs who had had great impact on Japan’s industrial development. With the interactive models and diagrammatic illustrations, it was as if our students lived in Japan a hundred years ago, witnessing the dramatic change in the country’s economy and corporate culture.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory organization that promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business in China and throughout Asia. The director of HKTDC Osaka office, Mr. Benjamin Yau, gave an informative presentation to the GLOBE students about the opportunities in international trade between Japan and Hong Kong, and how to seize Hong Kong’s advantages to maintain her competitiveness. They also had an interactive Q&A session, in which Mr. Yau shared his thoughts about how Hong Kong should position itself in China to face challenges from Shanghai and the future path of Hong Kong’s trade and exhibition industry. The students all benefited greatly from Mr. Yau’s words.
In addition to the above visits, the GLOBE students also attended a trial lesson on Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.
