Students from University College of Northern Denmark (UCN) pose at Cal State Fullerton’s College Park on June 28. From left to right: Mark Kleis, Jakob Hansen, Mads Bønnelykke and Kristian Bach. At far right is UCN faculty member Anders Bønnelykke Jensen.

Mihaylo College not only provides study abroad opportunities to its students, it also hosts international exchange students, who visit campus to get a firsthand look at the U.S. business climate from the perspective of the West Coast’s largest accredited business school. This summer, the college hosted students from University College of Northern Denmark (UCN).

“It is exciting to see everything we’ve read about,” said Mark Kleis, a UCN finance major who was among a group of Danish business exchange students visiting Cal State Fullerton earlier this summer. “You see California in movies, but in reality, it is different. My biggest surprise is the great distances in the Los Angeles area.”

Southern California and Denmark seem to be worlds apart. Denmark’s entire population of 5.6 million is nearly equal to the combined population of Orange and Riverside counties. The country is a leader in democratic socialism, providing its citizens with tax-supported college, health care, child care, medical leave and retirement pensions. A member of the European Union (EU), Denmark still uses its own currency – the krone. While less than the size of Southern California in land area, Greenland, the world’s largest island, is also part of the Danish Realm.

During their stay from June 19 to July 2, the exchange students heard from Mihaylo faculty with lectures on entrepreneurship, the American economy, financial management, entertainment management and marketing.  They got a firsthand look at the local economy with tours of the Kimberly-Clark Corp. in Fullerton, the Anaheim Packing District, Northgate Gonzalez Markets in Anaheim and Sonder LLC  in El Monte. They also visited top tourist attractions, including Santa Monica, Universal Studios, Griffith Park, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Downtown Disney. They experienced a taste of home during their visit to a cultural fair at the Danish Lutheran Church and Cultural Center in Yorba Linda. Some students planned excursions of their own after the study tour ended, including trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

The students were impressed by the opportunities afforded by the diversity of Cal State Fullerton. “I believe you can gain from the variety of cultures here, as there are a lot of students from all over the world,” said Jakob Hansen (finance).

For more on CSU Fullerton exchange programs, visit International Programs and Global Engagement online or at UH 244. For more on international business programs for Mihaylo students, contact the Center for International Business by calling 657-278-8264 or visit SGMH 3357A.