If you’re thinking of a school business trip to Europe, look no further than Italy. With the 3rd largest economy in the Eurozone, Italy is a fascinating destination for a business adventure; from fashion to food to Ferrari, the ‘bel paese’ (beautiful country’) prides itself on its entrepreneurial spirit.
ROME
All roads lead to Rome, and Italy’s capital is a thriving city for business. As well as learning about the rich history of Ancient Romans, who had impressively advanced business methods and currency exchange, students can benefit from a thriving city, full of start-ups, brands, and multi-national headquarters.
Tour and talk with LUISS Business University
Rome is home to LUISS, Italy’s leading business university and students will be able to tour the premises and hear a talk by one of the lecturers. Having lunch with some of the current students will also allow them to ask no-holds-barred questions about what it’s like to study business at university.
Receive a talk from a publishing company
Whilst most publishing companies are struggling to keep afloat, there is one niche where customers are still willing to meet high-end prices: photography books. Hear an exclusive educational talk from Drago Lab on producing and marketing street art and photography books for an international market in the digital age, whilst learning about the rise of street art in Italy and the increasingly sophisticated methods used by artists such as Estevan Oriol and Faith XLVII.
BOLOGNA
Italy has a thriving train network (while we’re talking business, the privatised company ‘Italo’ has extended over the past decades, competitively raising standards for the nationalised option ‘Trenitalia’) so from Rome, students can also reach the north of the country in only a couple of hours. Traditionally, the ‘industrial North’ has driven Italian business. During the Italian economic boom (1950s to late 60s) the factories of the North thrived, producing cars, coffee, and clothes. Over 1 million Italians moved from the South of the country to the North, mostly to work in the industry. Business students will replicate this journey with a short trip to Bologna to continue their educational tour.
Discover the international success of Eataly
Business students can continue their educational adventure in Bologna with a visit to FICO Eataly World. Opened in 2017, this is the world’s largest agri-food park. With onsite classrooms and even some live farm animals, Eataly is the perfect educational location for students to learn about agricultural business and production. From supply chains to marketing, Eataly is a fascinating case study of modern Italian business; the building of the park itself was a huge benefit to the economy, creating over 3,000 jobs. As a mix of consumer culture and authentic Italian gastronomy, it has become an international brand with locations from New York to Tokyo. Plus, it’s the ideal place for lunch!
Visit the Ferrari Museum
Just a 30-minute train from Bologna is Modena (fans of Netflix might recognise it from ‘Master of None’). To Italians, it’s better known as the home of Ferrari. A visit to the Ferrari museum will teach students the amazing history of one of the most recognisable international brands in the world. The history of Enzo Ferrari (who sold his own family’s house to afford his first car) is an amazing tale of entrepreneurial adventure and risk-taking. Schools can enjoy guided tours and even workshops at the Ferrari building in Modena or Maranello, where you can also peek at the Formula 1 racetrack.
These are just some of the suggestions for your learning adventure in Rome and Bologna. Find out more here!
Interested in booking our Rome & Bologna Business trip, or browsing our other subject-focused Italy school trips? Our itineraries are all customizable and can be tailored to meet your specific educational requirements. Want to find out more? Email us at [email protected], or speaking to a member of our specialist team through the chat box!
