In partnership with the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management, the Tacoma Transportation Club is excited to offer a $2,500 sponsorship for students that would like to travel to Vietnam and take part in the Supply Chain Study Abroad program.
Each year the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management, in partnership with five community colleges—Tacoma Community College, Wenatchee Valley College, Lake Washington Technical College, Highline College and North Seattle College–organize a Follow the Supply Chain Study Abroad program to Vietnam. This program brings15 students from the five colleges to follow products in the supply chain to and from Washington state and Vietnam. It provides the students an up-close, hands-on look at how supply chains work and learn about Vietnam, one of the key hubs for global supply chains.
Usually, the only students who are able to participate on study abroad programs come from upper income families. In order to get a broad representation of students, the program only charges $600 to participate, raising the rest of the funds privately with some contributions from the colleges as well. Because of this, the most diverse group of students you can imagine participates in the program.
The program began in 2019 and another group of students will travel to Vietnam, Wenatchee and the Seattle area this August/September, 2024. Students also participate in a series of virtual programs in the spring featuring speakers from the logistics and supply chain industry, as well as experts on Vietnam, including a former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.
Two of the products students follow in the supply chain are Brooks Sports shoes and Washington apples. During the trip to Vietnam, students tour ports, factories and wholesale markets. They meet with the U.S. Consulate and interact with peer students at Vietnam universities. They see up-close how apples pass through the ports and are sold in the wholesale markets of Vietnam. They tour and are briefed at a factory where Brooks Sports shoes are assembled.
In Washington State, students visit the companies selling to and importing from Vietnam. They visit Brooks Sports where they learn how shoes are designed and tested using capture motion and other high technology methods. They also learn about Brooks’ supply chain, trade compliance and logistics.
The students also travel to Wenatchee, where they tour a packaging facility which uses high technology to sort and grade the apples. And, the students see the orchards and learn how apples are grown using a variety of high technology methods. At the end of the trip, one of our students commented, “I had no idea how complicated it was for a Honey Crisp apple to arrive on my table.”
A Few Words from Participating Students
“This was a life changing experience for me.”–Heidi Major, Highline College
“As I reflect on my experiences I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. My world view has grown tremendously.”—Melissa Littleton, Tacoma Community College
“Despite the long flight, this trip has definitely been a life experience! I had the opportunity to network with the other end of our supply chain, experience another culture and meet new and great friends.”—Junior Ramirez, Wenatchee Valley College
Follow Supply Chain Study Abroad
Sponsorship of Follow Supply Chain Study Abroad Student Info