Travel through Texas-Mexico border region gives students eye-opening experience

United States-Mexico border traffic
(Photo: Commission for Environmental Cooperation)

By KC Scharnberg
Public Affairs Specialist

(May 14, 2013) -- Since 2008, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) have partnered to offer a joint three-week course in May that is designed to offer students a view of the business practices along the Texas-Mexico border corridor, one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world.

Led by distinguished UTSA marketing professor Daniel Tablada and UTPA management professor John Sargent, students from both universities will travel between San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley to meet and learn from established business leaders and top-level management.

Former UTSA business student Jimmy Martinez '11 took the course in 2011.

"As a direct result of this class, my perceptions of South Texas and Mexico have been completely altered," said Martinez. "I always pictured this region as rather empty and a place where not much goes on. Now I see an economic region that is bubbling with many, many things to offer our state, country and the world of international trade. Many opportunities exist in South Texas for entrepreneurial-minded people."

The students will learn about the challenges and opportunities facing multinational businesses operating on the Texas-Mexico border. They also will gain insight into the culture and reality of doing business in the border region and will learn how to make good international management, marketing and entrepreneurial decisions.

"Students can only learn so much from reading about international trade and business in books," said Tablada. "This experiential-based course allows our students to learn first-hand how international business relations work in this region and see how they might fit into this world once they graduate."

Highlights from this year's Strategies for the Texas Border Corridor course include tours of Port San Antonio and the H-E-B Seasonal Warehouse Mexico Export Department, with accompanying presentations by company executives. Additionally, students will hear from regional leaders in three panel discussions about international marketing, cultural sensitivity, and economic development and entrepreneurship.

The Border Corridor course is offered through the UTSA Office of International Business Programs, which supports international business degree programs, study abroad and exchange opportunities as well as specialized international programs, activities and research for the UTSA College of Business.

This summer, Tablada also will take 15 UTSA students to Peru for 10 days to learn about the kind of business and trade opportunities available in and with Latin America. This is one of six international summer immersion courses offered by the UTSA College of Business.

Nationally ranked and recognized, the UTSA College of Business is accredited by AACSB International and enrolls 5,700 students. The college is dedicated to raising its academic profile to become one of the best business schools recognized for developing "Knowledge for a New World."

>> Learn more at the UTSA International Business Programs website.