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Our Business Studies options enable students to observe
businesses at first hand within a dynamic, exciting and rapidly changing
Mediterranean environment. Students learn the relevance of their coursework,
develop new ideas, experience the application of business and economic
principles and practice data collection and analysis.
| Travel time:
1½ hours |
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| Zona Franca |
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| Logistics Park |
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| 22@ district: Torre Agbar |
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| University Department of Artificial
Intelligence Research |
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| This study day examines a variety of ways in
which Barcelona is recovering its leading role as a magnet for foreign direct
investment and as Spain's industrial powerhouse.
Visits can be made to Zona Franca, Logistics Park, Parc
Tecnològic del Vallès (Science Park of El Vallès), the Autonomous University
of Barcelona and the inner city 22@ district.
Contrasts are made between these different industrial zones,
and their importance to the Catalan and Spanish economy analysed.
The day may be combined with a factory visit, e.g. the SEAT car
plant at Martorell, near Barcelona.
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Zona Franca is
the largest and most active industrial estate in Spain and one of the most
dynamic in Europe. The industrial estate is undergoing major transformation with
various new infrastructure projects being developed.
Parc Tecnològic del Vallès caters for, and 'incubates'
businesses and institutions that work in the field of the new technologies. The
nearby Autonomous University of Barcelona specialises in turning out students
with applied science skills and the government has invested heavily in support
infrastructure. The university is the site of southern Europe's new generation
synchrotron.
 High-Tech
cluster
The 22@ project involves the conversion of an old inner
city manufacturing zone into a district specialising in new technologies. |
This fieldwork study is supported with secondary data and takes a full day.
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Two
of the possible visits below may be combined to make a full day:
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| Barcelona Stock
Exchange |
| Visit time: 3 hours |
| The Electronic Trading
Floor of the Barcelona Stock Exchange receives over 700,000 visitors a year. The
latest technology provides real time information on market movements. This visit
will help GCSE students understand the nature of financial control, whereas
students of Accountancy and Finance at 'A' level will develop an understanding
of strategic decision-making. |
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| Cobega SA |
| Visit time: 3 hours |
| Coca-Cola is the world's
leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages. Here
students can gain an insight into how the drinks are made, bottled and
distributed. |
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| La Vanguardia |
| Visit time: 3 hours |
| As Catalonia's
best-selling newspaper, a visit here can be related to the Business Environment.
Two tours are on offer here and you can choose the most relevant to your
students. Choose between an editorial visit, which will outline how the stories
are put together and a printing visit, which details the production and
distribution process. |
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| SEAT Car Plant |
| Visit time: 3 hours |
Seat was first
established in 1953 with assistance of Fiat with whom it worked until 1980. It
is now owned by VW/Audi/Lamborghini. Its new factory at Martorell, opened in
1993, is the most modern in Europe, with just-in-time and flexible 'to order'
production. Engines are imported from Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and South
Africa. The factory employs 12,700 and produces 6 models, 68% for export to 70
countries.
SEAT has invested heavily in research and development, and around 1,250 staff
work at the Martorell Technical Centre. This provides the brand with a unique
position among all car-makers established in Spain in being the only company
with the capacity to design, develop and produce its own vehicles in the
country. |
| Torres Bodega |
| Visit time: 3 hours |
| Torres is a well-known
family name and a successful local, national and international wine business.
Students will gain an understanding of the ways in which production is organised
with a full guided tour beginning at the visitor centre and taking in the entire
production process. |
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Port
Aventura Theme Park
Port Aventura is located in the between the coastal towns
of Salou and La Pineda. It consists of two parks: the Port Aventura theme park
and the Caribe Aquatic Park, and three themed hotels: Hotel Port Aventura, Hotel
El Paso and Hotel Caribe. The theme park features five distinctly themed areas:
Mediterranea, Far West, Mexico, China and Polynesia. In total, the theme park
features more than 30 attractions, 100 daily live performances, 75 restaurants
and food outlets, 20 shops and 10 game areas.
The complex employs around 4,000 people. Many come from the surrounding
areas, but some also come from as far a field as Zaire and Jordan.
Port Aventura offers educational workbooks in Business Studies and Tourism and
Spanish Language Studies. Each workbook focuses on key areas relevant to the
National Curriculum and encourages students to expand their learning in a fun
and exciting environment. The workbooks are free of charge and differentiated
for GCSE and AS/A2 students. |
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