Itineraries include educational voyages to Japan and Korea, Costa Rica, Vietnam, Spain and a two-month international training cruise through the Panama Canal

(Vallejo, CA – April 5, 2012) – Cadets from The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), a campus of The California State University, will have a lot to write home about this summer – literally! For the first time in the history of the university, five different international voyages are planned for students this summer.

In addition to the university's traditional annual two-month training cruise onboard the Training Ship Golden Bear, on which students studying marine transportation and engineering will participate, four faculty-led educational tours are planned for students majoring in international business and logistics, and global studies and maritime affairs programs.

The summer training cruise and international study tours are part of Cal Maritime's specialized, experiential-based curriculum that requires all students travel abroad while taking courses and gaining experiences important to each major. The voyages play an important role in ensuring each of the university's graduates obtain an international perspective that prepares them for success in today's global economy.

Those interested in following along as students embark on the summer training cruise and four international study tours may do so by visiting www.csum.edu/voyages.

TRAINING CRUISE
Approximately 300 freshmen and junior cadets studying marine transportation and engineering will embark on a two-month international training cruise onboard the university's 500-foot Training Ship Golden Bear. The vessel, which departs the Cal Maritime campus on Sunday, April 29, will log approximately 8,500 nautical miles, and visit ports that include: Sacramento; Los Angeles; Punta Arenas, Costa Rica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and La Union, El Salvador. One of the highlights of this summer's training cruise will be a transit through the Panama Canal. For the duration the cruise, cadets – who are supervised by Cal Maritime faculty, the ship’s captain and chief engineer, and a team of experienced mariners – will be responsible for running the ship, including navigating and driving the ship, repairing and overseeing the engines, and maintaining the vessel.

INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOURS
Nearly 70 cadets in the School of ABS Maritime Policy and Management, which includes Cal Maritime's business administration-international business and logistics, and global studies and maritime affairs majors – will travel on one of four campus-sponsored international study tours to Japan and Korea, Costa Rica, Vietnam, or Spain.

"The uniqueness of our programs requires that our students become more globally aware of a wide range of international issues and cultural perspectives that impact the greater maritime and transportation industries," said Dr. Gerald Jakubowski, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Cal Maritime. "It’s one thing to step foot on foreign soil, but it’s another thing to immerse oneself into the business environment, culture and traditions of that country. And that is exactly what is intended with these international study tours.”

Jakubowski added that at the completion of their three-week study tours, which depart in early May, students will be required to develop detailed reports about the development of international business from a broad transportation perspective focusing on the particular region their group visited.

• Costa Rica Study Tour – Assistant Professor Dr. Ryan Dudley will lead the 17 students taking part in the Costa Rica Study Tour. The group will fly into San Jose, Costa Rica and, while there, will visit the U.S. Embassy, Costa Rica-United States Chamber of Commerce, the Costa Rica legislature, Presidential Palace, Supreme Court, and the University of Costa Rica. They will also visit several multinational corporations and tour the many museums and theaters the capital city has to offer. From there, they will begin their journey into the Costa Rica's world-famous rainforests, where they will tour a coffee plantation, hike the renowned Arenal volcano, and enjoy a number of guided tours and lectures. Their final stop will be on the Pacific Coast at Puntarenas, where they will meet with port and cruise line operators, as well as other coastal business entities. Their visit to Puntarenas coincides with the Training Ship Golden Bear's port of call, so cadets will also have a chance to visit with their colleagues who are on liberty from the ship.

• Korea and Japan Study Tour – Led by faculty member Robert Neumann, the 17 students participating in the Korean and Japan Study Tour will fly into Seoul, where they will spend four days and take side trips to Inchon and the Demilitarized Zone, one of the last relics of the Cold War. After visiting Busan, Korea, they will take the overnight ferry to Shimonoseki, Japan, the home port of the Japanese whaling fleet, where they hope to have a chance to meet with organizations on both sides of the whaling issue. From there, they will proceed to Hiroshima, where they will visit the Peace Memorial and the Atomic Bomb Museum. Another highlight of this study tour will be the opportunity to attend Aoi Matsuri, a festival of 10th century Heian culture that will coincide with the groups visit to. The last five days of the tour will be spent in Tokyo, where the group will tour the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo Stock Market, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, the National Diet (Congress), Tokyo Maritime Museum and port, and numerous other sites.

• Spain Study Tour – Lecturer Robert Manheimer will lead 16 cadets on the tour to Spain, which will be hosted by the Nautical University of Barcelona. Students will take two classes each weekday, one focusing on Spanish language and culture, and the other on economics and politics of the European Community. They will also take four hours of classes focusing on European maritime law. In addition to their courses, students will visit the maritime museum, a variety of maritime-focused businesses, the Port of Barcelona, a Spanish champagne producer, museums, and the Montserrat, Parque Güell and Sagrada Familia (Gaudi buildings). They will also tour the 1992 Olympic facilities, enjoy a traditional tapas dinner, and visit the Futbol Club Barcelona museum. Students will also have an opportunity to travel to Madrid, the Balearic Islands, and cross the border into France.

• Vietnam Study Tour – Associate Professor Dr. Nipoli Kamdar will lead 17 students on the study tour of Vietnam. After flying into Hanoi, Vietnam, they will be met by Vietnam Maritime University staff and faculty for the short trip to Haiphong, Vietnam, which will serve as home base for the first and major part of the group's study tour. The group will tour ports, shipping terminals, government agencies, shipping companies, and shipyards, and will also take an extended cruise through Ha Long Bay, one of the most scenic and unusual marine environments in the world. The group will also travel to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, as well as Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the rapidly developing commercial center, where highlights will include visits to temples, historical sites, and the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. The U.S. Embassy will give briefings to the group on inter-governmental relations, regional issues, and economic development initiatives.

ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, The California Maritime Academy, a campus of The California State University, is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. Cal Maritime was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as #18 in the “Top 20 Best Value Colleges” in the nation – and the #1 Best Value in California for providing students with the highest quality education for their academic dollar. Located in Vallejo, Calif., the campus serves approximately 900 students and offers undergraduate degrees preparing students for careers in engineering, transportation, international relations, business, and global logistics. It also offers a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number of extended learning programs and courses.