Katherine Lee Traveled to China on Educational Tour

2012 May 22

Katherine Lee of Wausau, Wis., went on a guided 10-day educational tour in China with four other students. Lee is majoring in retail merchandising and management.

In addition to walking atop the Great Wall and through Tiananmen Square, the students went to mills and saw fabric such as denim, cashmere and silk being made. They visited factories and saw sweaters and other garments come together. They learned about the many quality checks involved in manufacturing clothing and the complex international supply chain.

The trip was funded by Kohl's, the Menomonee Falls-based retailer. Nancy Murray, professor in the retail merchandising and management program, was offered by Kohl's to join the UW-Madison Kohl's Center for Retail Excellence trip to China along with five of her students. UW-Madison sent 25 students and four faculty, and Kohl's had two representatives. Murray and another UW-Madison faculty member led the academic portions of the trip, with the director of the center handling trip logistics.

The five students were selected after they applied and were evaluated by Murray and Kohl's.

Each student received two credits for experiential learning. They participated in preparation classes, which included Kohl's senior leadership presenters, and also presented to Kohl's executives at corporate headquarters after returning.

In China the trip was hosted by Li and Fung, a company that coordinates product development and the factories used by Kohl's. Li and Fung employees are in contact with Kohl's 24 hours a day.

Students said the experience reaffirmed their choice of majors and broadened their views of the industry.

UW-Stout, Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, is a special mission university in the UW System. The university has a long-standing reputation of serving business, industry, education and the helping professions through its specialized educational programs.