ECU students explore India's economy

Edith Cowan University Business and Law students are currently on a study tour in India as part of their Bachelors and Masters degree programs, the only one of its kind run from Australia.

Run in conjunction with the Queensland University of Technology, the tour explores India's economy and business environment, business and marketing practices, and challenges faced by foreign firms.

Lectures and seminars are being run for ECU and QUT students by the Management Development Institute, Gurgaon in Delhi, ranked among India's top five business schools.

Additional lectures are being given by Austrade staff in New Delhi. Students are also visiting Indian companies and cultural and tourist sites such as The Taj Mahal.

ECU Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Gary Chittick, says the 19 day study tour is a leading example of university best practice.

"It's a vital component of the university's real world approach to business, and indicative of our growing ties with India," he adds.

Professor Chittick says India is one of the largest emerging markets in the world, with an estimated 160 million people enjoying a standard of living comparable to many western countries.

Enormous needs for infrastructure and consumer goods have seen two-way Australia-India trade grow from $1.8 billion in 1996 to over $6.5 billion in 2004.

India's move in the 1990s to quickly liberalise its domestic economy, privatise and deregulate government-owned enterprises, encourage foreign investments, develop its own multinationals and engage in wider regional trade arrangements has created many new international business opportunities for Australian and other companies, adds Professor Chittick.

He says the study tour offers benefits to both students and Indian businesses requiring Australian partners and investment.