In a first for Tsinghua SEM, a delegation comprising of MBA students went “Tsinghua MBA On-The-Road” and made its maiden study trip to India from April 28 to May 4, 2009. Hosted graciously by the Kolkata Institute of Management, a new B-School in India, the delegation was introduced to various industries and cultures of India.

Amidst the most hotly contested elections in history, India also experienced its hottest heat wave. With temperatures up to 46 degrees Celsius, the warmth was not only palpable from our hosts but also from the weather!

The delegation landed to balmy tropical weather just a little past-midnight in the morning of April 29. After travelling for 8 hours with a transit stop in between, leaving the confines of aircrafts and airports was a welcome.Flowers and itinerary pads were presented on arrival, giving the delegation a clear idea of what to expect in the days ahead – a packed schedule consisting of much travelling and company visits.

Amongst others, PricewaterhouseCoopers was one of the host companies. In a presentation on the banking sector, it generated much discussion and reflection on how far the Chinese system has come and how much more needs to be done for both countries. At the electric power, steel and pharmaceutical factories that the delegation visited, it was clear that while ISO accreditations were achieved, that more had to be done before further expansion or internationalization can take place.

To a suggestion that she pursues an internship with the electric power company to implement 6-Sigma and other operational techniques, Ms Jiao Fangxin, 2008 IMBA from China, was circumspect, “While an MBA equips one with the theories and techniques to solve almost any problem, the reality is that practical experience is equally important in synergizing theory and practice.”

At a press conference, Ms Judie You Hong, Professor George Jiao Jie and Ms Kathleen Li Siqi represented Tsinghua SEM and fielded questions from the Indian press. Prominent figures in the Kolkata business scene attended the post-conference dinner and provided an excellent opportunity for the delegation to network with them.

On the way to Durgapur, a town 5-hour drive away from Kolkata, the students passed by the abandoned factory of Tata Motors, the original site of the factory that was to build the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car. Friction between politicians, farmers and the company had derailed the project, and the car is now being built into another state. Whereas it would have created employment for 2,000 people (more if one considers the additional resources required along the value chain), the place is now a quiet piece of land.

Mr Nikolas Polizos, 2008 IMBA from Greece, said, “The scourge of any developing nation is the interference of politics in the natural course of business. Business should stay in the domain of businessmen, and politics should stay the domain of politicians. Crossing the two makes a volatile mix which not many countries have been able to resolve peacefully.”

The delegation subsequently made its way on down to New Delhi where the Taj Mahal was the highlight of this segment of the trip.After all, what is a trip to India without a visit to its representative in the Seven Wonders of the World?

Incredible India indeed.

（Special Thanks to MBA Center）