Going Global – Cameron Style!
By Becky Porterfield
The UNCW Cameron School of Business (CSB) continues to be an innovative,
focused business school dedicated to ensuring that its students, faculty
and programs add value to the business community it serves. In no program
is this better reflected than the international activities embraced in
the CSB.
CSB was an early leader domestically in offering a dual undergraduate degree
program. Beginning in 1998, partner institutions in France, Germany and
Spain helped launch the TransAtlantic
Business School Alliance (TABSA) program.
Supported originally by the federal Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary
Education (FIPSE), this unique program gives students the opportunity to
complete their bachelor’s degrees at their home institution and receive
a bachelor’s degree or equivalent at the international host institution.
Students take courses in the language of the host institution, improving
their fluency in a second language.
This year the CSB has 31 dual degree-seeking students attending UNCW from
France, Spain and Germany. Students graduating from this program find exceptional
job opportunities around the world with companies like FedEx, Merck, GE
and others.
The TABSA program was the gangplank to increased globalization.
Summer programs, semester and year-long programs were developed with TABSA
partners resulting in approximately 400 CSB business students taking
part in some study abroad opportunity over the past five years. In fact,
this summer almost 100 students will be traveling to Germany, Spain,
France, Australia and China.
The program’s success provided the
compass for another FIPSE grant received in 2004 with three Brazilian
universities. In three short years 15 Brazilian students have come to
CSB and four CSB students have studied in Brazil.
Another offspring of TABSA
is the new and growing relationship with Marmara University in Istanbul,
Turkey. Five Turkish students have studied at CSB during the past two years.
Next year CSB will host a summer program to Turkey with a dual degree program
anticipated within the next few years.
CSB’s global strategy is well defined – strategically
focused moderate growth annually. It begins with a quality partner, growing
the partnership through multiple programs and leveraging the partnership
for the students, faculty and region. Geographically target and move to another
geographic region and work closely to identify and develop a trusted new
partner relationship. By this approach we can assure that our students
will have an exceptional international experience and receive a top notch
education.
Improving global education only begins with study abroad opportunities.
Faculty must be committed and engaged in the ever-changing global business
environment in which graduates will work and businesses operate.
During
2006-07 more than 22 (or almost one third) of Cameron faculty participated
in both short- and long-term international faculty exchange, leading summer
programs or interacting with core teaching teams across the world.
In addition,
CSB began its Global Visiting Scholar Program to identify a teaching and
research scholar who is invited to CSB for one semester to teach and work
with faculty on research topics.
This year’s visiting scholar is
Peter Schmidt, an economic statistician from the University of Applied
Sciences, Hochschule Bremen, Germany. Schmidt’s
research is on social and cultural economics, i.e. the economic impact
of such cultural venues as Wilmington’s convention center or the
proposed regional concert hall.
In addition to Schmidt, CSB has hosted
six international scholars for short-term teaching and research activities
this past year.
Service learning and outreach are also key components of
CSB on the move.
Whether through classroom projects, student internships, MBA Learning Alliances
or MBA practicums, the CSB’s value proposition is supporting and
helping the business community.
All international students in the TABSA
program are required to complete four- to six-month internships or work
practices as a part of their degree programs. These students frequently
are fluent in two or more languages and are well prepared to complete
projects for a firm.
Graduate program projects frequently involve an international
expansion, analysis of harmonization methods or supply chain activities.
This past year an MBA team completed a project for its first international
request – a
growing olive oil company in Turkey was seeking market expansion in the
U.S.
The word is out – Cameron students can put global knowledge
to use to support corporations.
In March 2007, CSB launched yet another
global initiative – an international
MBA program. The 15-month program requires students study in two
countries.
All entering students participate in the business core; classes
are developed jointly by faculty from the six countries participating
in the program: Russia, England, France, Germany, Spain and the United
States (CSB).
Students then chose a specialization unique to each university
and complete their coursework and thesis at that institution. They receive
a master’s
degree from both institutions.
With little recruiting time for the first
group, interest spread. Nine students began at CSB this fall. Nine students
went abroad intending to return for the CSB specialization – international
finance. Two CSB graduates will attend the second institution abroad. This
spring 18 students will attend the finance specialization at UNCW (nine
U.S. graduates and nine others representing seven countries).
Based on early
applications and information requests this program will rapidly fill to
the 25 students set for the course size.
As the Cameron School of Business
global outreach continues, it mirrors a small pebble in a large pond. Unlike
the large stones that enter the water hard and fast and provide a big splash,
CSB creates ripples that engage other ripples that spread and spread creating
a sustained and enduring effect.
Such ripples beyond CSB programs this past
year included a visitation from 15 Russians involved in the insurance industry
co-sponsored with a local Rotary club, a personal request to participate
in a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) pilot program that resulted
in four one-year scholarships for CSB students in Germany and, due to our
students’ success an
ongoing Germany program for 49 students across the U.S., five unsolicited
requests from other international institutions to work with CSB, several
unsolicited requests to participate in grant activities with other universities,
two recognized honorary fellows at international institutions, more 134
international business majors, and most importantly a global culture in
the halls of Cameron School of Business.
Is the CSB moving globally? Ask our students.
Becky Porterfield is director
of international business at the Cameron School of Business and an associate
professor of management.