Enhancing international trade competencies through local field trips: a study of Colombian undergraduate students

This study examines the effectiveness of field trips in developing international trade competencies among undergraduate students in Colombia. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research evaluates the impact of visits to a bottling plant and port facility on 32 International Relations students’ Global Trade Analysis and Cross-Cultural Business Communication skills. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA, revealed significant improvements in both competencies (p < 0.001) with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 1.28 for Global Trade Analysis; d = 1.22 for Cross-Cultural Communication). Multiple regression analysis identified student engagement (β = 0.392, p < 0.001), prior international experience (β = 0.216, p = 0.048), and academic performance (β = 0.284, p = 0.021) as significant predictors of competency development. The port visit showed greater impact on cross-cultural communication skills, while the bottling plant visit more effectively enhanced trade analysis capabilities. While limited by sample size and short-term focus, the study demonstrates that carefully designed local field trips can serve as effective alternatives to costly international experiences in developing crucial global career skills, particularly in resource-constrained educational settings. These findings contribute to understanding experiential learning’s role in the international business education within developing nation contexts, especially in Latin America.