SINGAPORE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- In an encouraging sign of growing interest in the Middle East markets, the Singapore Management University (SMU) will be sending its largest ever group of undergraduates to the Middle East on the bi-annual Business Study Mission (BSM) to the Middle East, which is in its fifth year.

The delegation of 68 students will travel from May 7 to May 20, shuttling between United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. At the close of the study mission, 28 students will embark on their 11- week internships in Middle Eastern companies as well as Singapore companies with business interests in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, according to SMU's press release on Saturday.

The large size of the student delegation indicates a growing interest to explore emerging markets, such as the Middle East, for business opportunities. The fervent passion towards the GCC region was underscored by the fact that the entire BSM was a student-run initiative. Interestingly, the logistical demands that come with a ground-breaking delegation size of 68 did not deter the undergraduates every single one of them took ownership of the planning and execution of the programme.

Sofia Moiz Tyebally, a second year business student said: "With the Middle East becoming increasingly significant on the global stage, it is no surprise that my classmates and I relish this opportunity to understand the intricacies of Arabian culture and more significantly, the importance of building relationships through our networking sessions with executives based in the Middle East."

During this overseas field trip, the 68 SMU student participants from various degree programs will be studying the rapidly changing business structures in the member-nations of the GCC. As the concluding component of the 14-week "Business Study Mission", the trip to the Middle East comes after an intensive curriculum of company case studies, student projects and guest lectures.

Additionally, the 14-day itinerary, initiated by the SMU undergraduates themselves with facilitation from industry players and government agencies, includes meetings and networking dinners with government officials, diplomats, and the movers and shakers of the Middle Eastern business world.

Feeling glad for the exposure BSM has given him, second year business student Pierre Peh finds the forthcoming BSM an excellent conclusion to a semester of fruitful learning. "BSM Middle East has been an enriching experience overall due to the multiple facets of learning opportunities provided. It is definitely a stepping stone in my pursuit to work in an oil company in the GCC region," he said.

Official site visits include trips to established institutions such as the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and commercial sites such as Lusail City and Capitala. Beyond the plethora of onsite activities planned, the SMU students will also be given the opportunity to interact with Singaporean entrepreneurs and business executives based in the member-nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

At the same time, this BSM is also visiting some of the universities in the Middle East such as Sultan Qaboos University and Dubai Women College to foster ties with their counterparts.