(College Station)—Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School will receive $1.4 million in federal funding for its Center for International Business Education and Research over the next four years.
The grant, awarded through a competitive process with the federal Department of Education’s Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) program, allows the Mays CIBER to continue its mission of international education outreach. To prepare Mays students for global business, the CIBER advances international awareness with courses in international business, study abroad and reciprocal exchange opportunities, and through educational enrichment initiatives such as a new “global learning community” set to debut in spring 2007.
International business faculty will also spearhead development of special topics courses in such areas as emerging markets and the impact of geopolitical events on business.
“These funds help us internationalize our students, our faculty and our programs and advance innovative educational and research initiatives,” said Kerry Cooper, executive director for international business programs at Mays and holder of the Cullen Trust Chair in Business. “Our philosophy is that all business today is international—you really can’t separate the global aspects of business from the teaching of business itself. Mays students should be prepared to do business anywhere in the world with anyone from any part of the world.”
At Mays, awareness of global issues is just as important as awareness of accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing or supply chain issues, Cooper said. Mays’ international business program works with the disciplines in each department to encourage education in international business practices, cross-cultural communication and international affairs at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
The international business program awards more than 100 certificates a
year signaling completion of specified student study programs in international
business, European Union business and Latin American business. An international
certificate in Asian business is also being developed. More than 220 Mays
students each year study abroad or participate in international exchange
programs and internships. 