A CLOSE-UP VIEW OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: POLICY, DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE

Jan 2 - Jan 14, 2007

The Indian economy has been growing rapidly over the last decade, with this growth having been fuelled initially by the services sector. However, in the last few years the manufacturing sector has also picked up significantly leading to a further acceleration in Indian growth rate to 9-10 percent annually. This growth and consequent rise in disposable incomes of Indian consumers has attracted significant interest by US and other foreign businesses. Unlike many other developing economies India stands out as having well managed domestically grown businesses. It also has a high quality, relatively low cost English speaking workforce. These attributes are in turn further fuelling foreign interest in the country.

Sixteen enthusiastic students from the George Mason School of Public Policy undertook an intensive study abroad program in India between January 1-15, 2007. The students had a chance to get a first-hand and close-up view of the major transformations ongoing in this complicated but exciting country.

The students undertook a whirlwind tour to four cities in India in different states (Mumbai, Trivandrum, Bangalore and Delhi). They were able to learn first-hand from various guest lecturers the changes underway in India's economy and society. More specifically, topics explored included the Philosophical basis of Indian Business, Minorities, Women and Modern India, the Dabbawallas of Mumbai (if you don't know what this is, ask the students who went on the trip!), Indian Economic Reforms, Urban Infrastructure and Governance, the Agricultural and Plantation sector in India, the growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector and Outsourcing, and India's Emerging Role as a Global Technology Hub.

The students also had a chance to visit an ancient Ashram and a state-of-the-art Technopark in Kerala, a global company, Honeywell Technologies in Bangalore, as well as interact with business school students in Delhi. Despite the intense schedule the students also had a chance to go sightseeing (including visiting the grand Taj Mahal in Agra), go shopping, and meet other Indians their age at a more informal/social level.

As the students on this Study Abroad trip learnt, India has arrived on the world stage in more ways than one and its future is bright but it is very much a work-in-progress.