Valdosta State University students outside of Tiryaki, agri-food company, with Dr. Zulal Denaux; from left, back, Kelly Meinken (MBA), Chuquandra Farley (MBA), Blake Butler; middle, Shana Gregoire, Carmen Saras (MBA), Sezin Harmandaroglu, Shyla Brister, Neasa Hapiak (MBA); front, Rebecca Falks, Felina Duncan, Dr. Zulal Denaux.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Neasa Hapiak was among a group of Valdosta State University students who recently traveled to Turkey. She shared these insights along with a Q&A.

Valdosta State University professor of economics at the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business, Dr. Zulal Denaux, traveled with six VSU business majors and four MBA students to Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey, from May 20 through June 14.  

This VSU Study Abroad Program is aligned with the business school’s objective to produce graduates that are ready for a world market, and with VSU’s major strategic initiatives in its five-year strategic plan.

As well as the instruction in the classroom, the students met with five companies, in different industrial sectors that gave an insight into both Turkish-run and foreign-owned companies operating in Turkey.

These businesses include:

Aygaz: Serves customers in 81 provinces with 2,086 cylinder gas dealers and 1,226 auto gas stations.

Cavagna: Manufacturer of equipment and fittings for compressed gases, gas storage and control; present in 110 countries worldwide.

Koska: Food manufacturers with more than 100 years of experience — world-famous Halva, Sesame Paste, Grape Molasses, Preserves, Turkish Delight   

Tiryaki: An agri-business and food company that operates in more than 80 countries around the globe — grain, pulses, dried nuts, oil seeds, feed and cotton.

Turkish Stock Exchange: Ensuring that securities are traded in a secure and stable environment, has contributed to the development of Turkish capital markets and Turkish economy.

A recently published survey by the Institute for the International Education of Students shows the long-term positive impact of study abroad on a student’s personal, professional and academic life.

“This experience has made me more open, aware, and much more cross culturally sensitive,” said VSU student Chuquandra Farley, MBA.

“I think interacting with businesses was the most valuable experience and worth the trip in itself,” Blake Butler, a VSU student pursuing a double major in economics and accounting.

“I learned that I need to know about different cultures to be prepared to work with them in the future,” said VSU student Carmen Saras, MBA.

The following is an interview with Dr. Zulal Denaux. She is one of several Turkish professors at VSU and holds an MBA from New Hampshire College, an M.E. and a Ph.D. in economics with a minor in statistics from North Carolina State University.

Why is Study Abroad an important element of a student’s learning experience?

Denaux: “Nearly every medium-sized business in America today must consider going global to remain competitive and to find new markets. Young professionals are more likely to be successful when navigating new markets if they have already experienced cultural awareness in school and companies need employees already prepared, not employees with steep learning curves which could cost them time and even contracts.

“The goal of study abroad educators is to train future global leaders to be more effective, more knowledgeable of other cultures, more understanding of different economic and political systems and more aware of the world around them. It combines a mixture of business with culture, too.”

What is the most valuable experience for the students from this Study Abroad participation?  

Denaux: “The study-abroad program brings together two types of experiences: a business and classroom involvement with the professor as well as with industry flourishing in the country. It also brings the students in touch and engaged with the country’s people and culture which is also a part of the experience.

“We brought the students, a mix of undergraduates and MBA students, to meet with five companies in different sectors that ranged from a highly innovative gas company, the world renowned makers of Turkish Delight, a leader in agri-food as well as the stock exchange.

“Most of the companies we visited are international players with a long history of global success and trade, some of them being an important part of the Turkish business environment since the beginning of the last century. The students were impressed with what they saw and learned. The companies were more than happy to take some time off to spend with the students and to explain their business to them. I think the students, and I, were struck by how accommodating these business professionals were from the high-level executive right down to the CEO’s driver.

“At the weekends, we took care to visit the historical and cultural sites in Turkey and to have some free time in the Mediterranean region where the students could relax and enjoy some sunshine. The Monday to Friday schedule was very intense from early in the morning until late in the evening so the excursions at the weekend were well deserved and most welcome.”

Were there some companies in Valdosta that played a role in making the experience happen?

Denaux: Yes, we had great support from the Georgia Gulf Sulfur Corporation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank in particular its corporate CEO, Mr. Jerry Jennett, and its corporate president, Mr. Jesse Maranville, for providing a grant for this year’s study-abroad program in Turkey.

“Mr. Jennett and Mr. Maranville also gave several presentations to my undergraduate and MBA level international economics classes throughout the years which brings community involvement and Valdosta business professionals’ experiences into the classroom. These presentations also encouraged the importance of the elements of a study-abroad program for the future business career of the student. It is also vital to thank the Turkish companies and the professionals who took time off from their busy days to meet with us and share their knowledge and best practices with the students. We are very grateful.”

Why Turkey?

Denaux: “Turkey is an important trading partner of both the USA and the European Union. As a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), it is also a strong strategic ally of the USA. The reason for this is its unique geographical position. It has been a strategic crossroads for centuries being situated right in the middle of Europe and Asia. The country has been called a ‘cradle of civilizations’ because of the many ancient sites and ruins scattered throughout the country that gives witness to each and every different civilization. Besides connecting the West to the East, Istanbul is the former capital of three successive empires: Roman, Byzantium, and Ottoman. Turkey has once again become an important economic player both globally and regionally.”

What type of a university is Yeditepe?

Denaux: “The Dean of the Law School, Dr. Haluk Kabaalioglu, was the key instigator of this program.

“He gave me a tour of this beautiful campus located on the Asian side of Istanbul with many state-of-the-art facilities, on-campus medical center providing 24-hour care, a knowledge center that offers highest quality library services, sporting facilities including a swimming pool and much more. I knew this campus was perfect for VSU students. The director of the University’s International Office, Dr. Vehbi Baysan, has also been an essential part of the team that set up a mutual agreement for both universities. This 2012 study abroad in Turkey was undertaken in the spirit of this partnership.

“It came about in 2008 when I attended an economics conference in Istanbul on behalf of VSU to present a paper and also to network with Turkish universities in the hope of setting up a faculty and student-exchange program. VSU has been an international partner with Yeditepe University, a foundation–run university, since then in the areas of student and faculty exchanges, and mutual research collaborations which is the major strategic initiatives in VSU’s five-year plan.”

International Education of Students (IES) results of study abroad programs in the USA:

— 98 percent of respondents said that studying abroad helped them understand their own cultural values.

— More than 80 percent said it enhanced their way of looking at the world.

— 65 percent said it impacted positively on their decision to go ahead and study at graduate level.

— 75 percent stated that they acquired skill sets abroad that influenced their career decisions.