As part of a global partnership between Nashville and cities across the world, Belmont hosted four Argentinean students during an exchange program this month.
The students from Universidad de Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina immersed in campus life for almost three weeks by attending classes on entrepreneurship, economics and Spanish as well as several convocation lectures, the Country Music Showcase and a Bruins basketball game. They also visited several local companies like Nissan, Bridgestone Firestone, Cat Financial, Tennessee Bun Company, Bongo Java and met with Metro Councilman Fabian Bedne, an Argentine himself, and Mayor Karl Dean.
“The overall goal of their visit is for them to understand the business and entrepreneurial environment in Nashville. All the companies they visited are recognized as successful, active corporate citizens in the city,” said Entrepreneurship and Management Instructor José D. González. “It is a great benefit to our students to have the opportunity to interact and make friendships with people from other countries. Programs like this directly links to our mission to help students develop into global citizens. It would not surprise me if business relationships develop from this program.”
The exchange program is part of a growing relationship between Belmont and Universidad de Cuyo as part of Sister Cities Nashville, an organization that connects Nashvillians with friends around the world through exchanges, cultural programs and partnerships. Nashville’s other Sister Cities include Edmonton, Alberta; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Caen, France; Magdeburg, Germany; and Tiyuan, China.
“Because these relationships are in place already, there are good opportunities for Belmont to tap into them. People in Nashville already have connections and interests in those cities, so Belmont can use those connections to leverage its programs,” González said.
