Andres
Parra
Why do you think UF business students should
international business because of your study
study abroad?
abroad experience?
Andres Parra is a 4th year
management major who spent last
spring studying abroad in the UK at
the prestigious University of
Manchester Business School, one
of the international exchange
partners of the Warrington College
Study abroad will really complete their full experi-
Yes, I do. Not only because of the classes I have
ence as a student. The education they will receive will
taken, which were all about global issues or global
open their mind to new ideologies and realities. They
business in general, but from having the luxury to
will get a different perspective from their professors
discuss business with students from all over the world.
abroad. Also, they will make great friends from all over
They explained to me how business is conducted in
the world. They will travel with them and learn cultural
their countries and how it is influenced by culture,
differences from each other. They will gain awareness
ideologies, and politics.
of how others see the world, which for me is always a
great conversation topic at social gatherings. They will
of Business Administration. Below
Did you incur many more expenses by studying
are comments from Andres on his
become, as I call it, “globalized.”
in England for a semester?
study abroad experience.
Why did you select Manchester Business School
Do you feel the experience of studying at
as the place where you would study abroad?
Manchester Business School was personally
and professionally beneficial?
Do you think you have a better perspective on
The university is ranked 48th in the world and 11th in
Europe, so I knew the MBS courses would further my
education, and it would look really good on my resume.
standing of international business and diverse cultures
I saw they even had a few Nobel Prize recipients
as a result of my interactions with students from all
working at the school. Lastly, it is a research university
over the world. Only students that have had this experi-
which made it the best option for me.
ence can witness the amazing changes in personality,
I will bring to a multinational company an under-
thinking, and beliefs students experience after
What were the advantages of studying at
Housing and food are a non-issue since students
pay these expenses when studying in Gainesville.
Manchester is a small city where you can walk everywhere or buy a bus pass for the whole semester for
approximately 70 pounds. The University of Manchester has a really affordable traveling group that organizes trips on the weekends. Once you start making
European friends, they help you find cheap ways to
travel. I did not need to buy text books for my classes,
so that was a substantial saving as well.
studying abroad.
Manchester Business School?
What was your favorite class at Manchester
It is a university that promotes self-development.
Business School?
There is not much interaction with the professors
unless it is necessary. Students are given work and
expected to find the answers on their own. The
great deal of new knowledge. But if I had to choose, I
advantages are that I have learned to apply my own
would pick BMAN 31212 Investment Economics and
critical thinking on many subjects. I have learned many
Innovation. In this class there is a project worth 100%
ways to present ideas and support those ideas with real
of the grade. I was challenged to create a company
facts. Not having specific books (in my classes) but
from beginning to end and I had to use real numbers
research essays, allowed me to develop my
and data. I needed to create a financial model to cover
own concepts.
12 years that took into account changes in cost, prices,
It is hard to choose one. All the classes offered a
units sold, etc. I learned the basics one needs to create
a company. I learned how to conduct the research to
make business decision and how to create financial
models to understand and forecast changes.
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•Heavener School of Business
•2011 - 2012 Annual Report
•Warrington College of Business Administration
•warrington.ufl.edu/heavener
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