Sharing Works
In a first-of-its-kind effort, teams of students from San Diego and Baja California, Mexico, will take part this spring in a Regional International Economic Summit, an all-day conference that simulates world trade among nations.
Like a mini-United Nations, dozens of student teams will each represent a different country. They will have spent weeks getting ready for the event, researching their assigned country's economy, political structure, imports and exports, natural resources, infrastructure needs, and other strengths and weaknesses. These "economic advisers" will come to the event with specific strategies in mind, prepared to negotiate and trade their way toward improving the standard of living within "their country."
Learning and fun
"The International Economic Summit is an exciting opportunity for students to explore basic economic concepts and globalization issues in a way that combines learning and fun," says Mark Ballam, director of the San Diego State University (SDSU) Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), which is hosting the event. "This kind of program has been conducted successfully elsewhere in the United States, but this will be the first time it has been done with students from more than one country taking part."
There are about two dozen teams that will include students from Ensenada, Mexico, and from San Diego. To get ready, they'll rely on e-mail, instant messaging and other electronic communication before meeting face to face at the event.
Having students from two countries take part will make the event, itself, all the more worthwhile, but more complex. While teaching materials have been translated into Spanish, even those taking part from Baja California will use an English-language workbook. The event, itself, will take place in English, as will most interaction of team members before the conference.
Sempra Energy support
The summit will take place on Monday, April 24, at SDSU's CIBER center. CIBER is a co-sponsor of the event, along with the International Economic Summit, the California Council for International Trade, the California Trade Education Center and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Sempra Energy is providing financial support for the summit.
"Community leaders in Baja California have encouraged our support for programs that will help in the development of their future community, business and political leaders," says Cathy Lavin, community relations manager at Sempra Energy. "With so much of our San Diego-Baja California region's fast growth tied to international trade, this educational program is really targeted to their needs."
Along with financial support, Sempra Energy employees will donate their time as volunteers at the event, including playing the role of "world bankers" who will provide development loans, administer tariffs and advise student teams.
Sempra Energy in Mexico
Sempra Energy companies are very involved in Baja California, building
the first West Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipt terminal near Ensenada, operating
a major
power plant near Mexicali, and operating natural gas transmission pipelines and distribution systems.
