September, 1996
Volume 7, Number 1
First, the full-time MBA curriculum has been completely overhauled in order to reflect ongoing fundamental changes that shape management practice. Our faculty has designed a more integrated curriculum that relies on team teaching. Most importantly, the core courses in the new MBA all reflect an international dimension. The core starts out with the course “The Global Organization and the Firm's Strategic Position,” and ends with “Integrative Case Experience and Future Global Strategies.” In between, all students will be studying international, comparative, and cross-cultural dimensions of business. The new program will be launched next fall. Second, we are developing a new course on Export Marketing to be offered on the Internet. This will be one of several electronic courses offered by MSU. This course is designed for a broad audience of students and practitioners in Michigan and elsewhere. We are excited about the potentially far-reaching impact of this venture.
Third, we are now developing a Windows application of our well-accepted decision support tool, CORE (COmpany Readiness to Export). CORE V will also feature other enhancements which should improve its attractiveness for business and educational users.
Fourth, as you note elsewhere in this issue, overseas study initiatives have taken a new turn in the Broad College with the addition of a major program to take place annually at Merida, Mexico. Student response to this program has been very enthusiastic.
This is just a sample of the many international activities. We look forward to reporting on more of them in the future!
S. Tamer Cavusgil
The program was designed to create a shared learning community that would feature small classes, as well as interaction with MSU faculty members and guest lecturers from UADY. Classroom learning will be supplemented by field study and field trips exploring the business and culture of our southern NAFTA partner.
Participating students will enroll in a minimum of 12 credits, including at least four credits of Spanish language instruction. The remaining credits can consist of classes taken from the arts and letters, business and social science fields.
Business College offerings will include regular and honors sections of “Law, Public Policy, and Business” (GBL 395) and a special topics class titled “Doing Business in Mexico” (GBL 490). GBL 395 will highlight a series of nine lectures regarding Mexican law by UADY faculty members. GBL 490 will also be based on UADY faculty lectures and include five to seven field trips to various business enterprises operating in the area. The course will allow juniors and seniors to fulfill their international business requirement within the College of Business.
According to The Broad College’s faculty coordinator for the program, Professor Paulette Stenzel, student response to the program has been tremendous. Although there is only space for 36 students in the program, many more people have applied. 42 percent of the Spring 1997 applicants were from the College of Business, with the College of Social Science and College of Arts and Letters making up 30 percent and 6 percent of the applicants, respectively. Stenzel, a professor of business law, will be teaching the GBL 395 courses and coordinating GBL 490.
MSU CIBER is sponsoring this event, along with CIBERs at the University of Chicago, University of Connecticut, Ohio State University and Purdue University, and the MSU Vice Provost for University Outreach and the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE). Leading international business faculty members from sponsoring institutions will provide a comprehensive overview of the field of international business. The institute will feature area briefings about important trade regions such as South America, Central Europe, the European Union, and the Asian-Pacific Rim. The program will also include small group sessions facilitated by community college faculty.
Enrollment for the institute is limited and will be decided on a competitive basis. Total costs for tuition and all materials, five nights lodging and most meals amount to $500 per participant. The total cost per person would have been $1470 without the financial contributions of the sponsors. For more information regarding the institute or its application process, please contact MSU CIBER at (517) 432-4320.
Beginning in 1997, Great Exportations will become an official Executive Development Program (EDP) of Michigan State University. This will allow the Academy to award EDP certificates to its participants. The Academy will also offer participants an option to attend executive training seminars with executives from Mexico at a reduced cost. The seminars will be held in both Michigan and Mexico in late 1997.
Finally, drawing on feedback from prior program participants, the program will be providing additional case studies and incorporating more role-playing exercises into its curriculum. Current enrollment fees for the 12-month program are $6,500. Space is still available in the class beginning in February. For more information, contact the International Business Center at (517) 353-4336.
Conference on Languages and Communication for World Business and the Professions April 3-5, 1997, at Eastern Michigan University. For more information, contact EMU at (313) 487-2414.
International Business Institute for Community College Faculty May 18-23, 1997, at Michigan State University. For more information, contact MSU CIBER at (517) 432-4320.
Do you have news, information, or activities you would like to publicize in CIBER NEWS? Please contact Neal Lao at (517) 353-4336 or e-mail laonealj@pilot.msu.edu.