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ABSTRACTThe Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) in the Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, was established January 1, 1990. CIBER is administratively housed in the Moore School, formerly known as the College of Business Administration. Programs supported by CIBER involve faculty from other university departments and Colleges, as well. These include the College of Liberal Arts (French and Classics; Geography; Germanic, Slavic and Oriental Languages and Literatures; Government and International Studies; Latin American Studies; Spanish, Italian and Portuguese), the College of Science and Mathematics, the School of the Environment, the School of Law, and the College of Engineering. Historically CIBER has facilitated the creation and development of the Moore School’s major programs of graduate international business education, including programs such as the Masters of International Business Studies and the International MBA program. During the upcoming grant period these programs will be combined and expanded into a new International MBA program, designed to serve as the training ground for future global business leaders of the region and nation. CIBER provides support for an innovative agenda of research in International Business; in terms of research productivity in the discipline of International Business, the Moore School at the University of South Carolina is arguably one of the top two academic research institutions in the United States. CIBER serves as an international resource and focal point for governmental, academic and professional communities needing, or being interested in, international business education and research. The Center has served to facilitate the development and support of a wide range of new programs in international business and related areas at the University of South Carolina. Funding in the period 2002-2006 will enable CIBER to develop new initiatives to enhance our nation’s competitiveness, as well as to build on the foundation of activities undertaken with previous CIBER support. Although funding support is requested only for components of the Center's activities initiated since its establishment, all Center programs contribute to the wider goal of providing comprehensive educational programs in international business and completing research projects designed to understand and develop U.S. competitiveness in external markets. Within the grant proposal the entire range of international activities of the Moore School of Business is discussed. Specifically, if Federal funding is forthcoming in the amounts requested, CIBER shall support and facilitate the following activities during the period October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2006. Activity 1, Graduate Business Education and the Development of the International MBA Program - For more than a quarter of a century the Moore School University of South Carolina has been a leader in graduate professional education in International Business. Over 4,000 participants have graduated from the School’s Masters in International Business Studies (MIBS) degree program since it was founded in 1974. In 1994 the University began offering, in collaboration with the Economics University of Vienna (WU-Wien), an International MBA (IMBA) degree, featuring six months of study at WU-Wien and eight months of study at the University of South Carolina. Beginning with the class admitted in 2002, the University will begin offering a new International MBA program, modeled on the successful MIBS and IMBA programs. The new IMBA will offer foreign language training, a strong international business core program, overseas study for all U.S. nationals, and a required overseas internship for all U.S. nationals except those who study in the Vienna track, the successor to our existing IMBA program. As part of these programs, the following ten activities are undertaken: Activity 1.1.1, Summer Intensive Language Programs for International Business Students - Summer intensive language programs at the University of South Carolina in Chinese, French, German, elementary Japanese, intermediate Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish; the Italian program has typically been offered offshore at a partner institution. Activity 1.1.2, Business Language Programs - Business language programs with seventy hours of instruction are offered in seven languages during the first year of the program. Activity 1.1.3, Offshore Intensive Language Programs - Final offshore intensive language programs are offered at cooperating institutions in the five western languages. One year in- country programs in Chinese and Japanese are required for participants in these languages. Activity 1.2.1, Globalization Course in the Global Track in the IMBA Program - In the new IMBA program a limited number of students will elect to participate in the global track, a track for those who already have substantial second language skills or who do not elect to develop regional specialization. As part of this curriculum, global track students take a continuing course on the conduct of global business in particular world regions. CIBER will support the development of the Latin American component of this course, to be taught via the Internet. Activity 1.2.2, Offshore Study for Global Track Students - All global track students are required to study offshore as part of their curriculum. CIBER will support the development of these offshore study programs and their initial offering, beginning in February 2003. Activity 1.3, Overseas Internship Program - An internship in the new IMBA program is an essential and required part of the course of study. All US nationals are required to complete a twenty-week work assignment at a firm at a non-U.S. location. For the majority of students, the internship will be located in a country whose language the student has studied. Each year some 140-160 internships are arranged for US nationals to develop their capacity to do business in specific regions of the world. Foreign nationals in the program may intern overseas or in the United States. Activity 1.4, The Vienna Track of the International MBA Program - The existing joint venture International MBA program with the Economics University of Vienna will be incorporated into the new IMBA program as the Vienna track, with the first cohort of students entering in February 2003 for graduation in 2004. This program is designed for more mature and experienced participants who have substantial work experience and do not benefit as significantly from the internship. They will spend the first six months of the program (February-July) at the WU campus in Vienna. Activity 1.5, Second Offshore Track for the International MBA Program - With CIBER support the Moore School will review potential locations for a second offshore track in the new IMBA program, and, if feasible, initiate the new offshore track in February 2005. At present our primary view is that a Latin American location would be selected. Activity 1.6, Areas of Concentration in the New International MBA Program - CIBER is currently supporting the development of six areas of concentration in the new International MBA program, in (1) The Multinational Corporation, (2) Global Finance, (3) Global Marketing, (4) Business Economics and Forecasting for the Global Firm, (5) International Accounting and Auditing, and (6) Global Information Technology. These areas of concentration will be available to the first IMBA class who graduates in 2004. Activity 1.7, New Elective Courses - The Moore School will develop and offer additional international content electives to support each of the areas of concentration in the previous activity. Some sixteen new courses will be developed or redesigned with international content over the period of the grant. Activity 2, Undergraduate Business Education Programs in International Business - The Moore School existing undergraduate certificate program in International Business has already received high national recognition. During the upcoming grant period, CIBER will support the development of an innovative undergraduate business major in International Business while continuing the School’s internationalization requirement for all students. The following five activities will be included in this area: Activity 2.1, Undergraduate International Business Major - The design of the International Business major program will be completed by the initiation of the next CIBER grant period, and the first majors will be accepted in the academic year 2002-2003. The major will consist of a core course, Globalization and Business, one international functional course (e.g., International Marketing), one to three thematic courses, and one to three regional courses, for a total of six international business courses. Graduates will be prepared for entry-level positions in the highly international South Carolina and Southeast region economy. All majors will be required to study abroad during their program and to reach a high level of competence in at least one foreign language. CIBER support will be given to the development of new undergraduate international business courses. Activity 2.2, Dual Degree Opportunities in International Business - The Moore School will work with the language departments of the University to create the opportunity for International Business majors in the Moore School to pursue a degree in the College of Liberal Arts with a major in language simultaneously with pursuing the degree in International Business. Activity 2.3, Offshore Undergraduate Study Program - The Moore School will develop substantial additional offshore study opportunities for undergraduate business school students and International Business majors. Study abroad opportunities will include intensive foreign language programs, exchange programs with overseas business schools, and the offering of Moore School courses for the International Business major at offshore sites. Activity 2.4, Business Language Courses - As part of the undergraduate business majors, students will be asked to take courses in business language. Currently courses are available in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. Activity 2.5, Undergraduate Internationalization Requirement - All 2,700 undergraduate business majors in the Moore School are required to fulfill an internationalization requirement, which consists of either two extra language courses, or two international business courses, or two area studies courses, or participation in an approved overseas study program. The additional courses and offshore programs developed for the major will facilitate students in satisfying this requirement. Activity 3, Doctoral Business Education - The University of South Carolina will offer the Ph.D. in Business Administration program with two concentrations, International Business and International Finance. There will be approximately nine majors enrolled at any time over the life of the grant. Activity 4, Global Executive MBA Program - The Moore School has under active review the development of a Global Executive MBA program for senior business leaders. This review will be completed during the grant period and recommendations adopted. International business faculty will provide expertise during the development process and teaching support if the program is implemented. Activity 5, Outreach Faculty Development Programs: Functional Programs in International Business - Each year during the grant period the Moore School of Business will offer its annual Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB) Program. This program offers faculty from business schools the opportunity to develop their ability to teach a specific undergraduate or graduate course in International Business. There are six courses now available. CIBER plans to provide substantial fellowship support to faculty from other business schools to attend. Activity 6.1, Workshop on Teaching Spanish for International Business for Professors of Spanish - In the period 2003-2006 the Moore School of Business will offer its workshop to train assist Spanish language faculty in integrating international business concepts into business Spanish curricula. CIBER funding underwrites instruction in this program, and in addition provides scholarships for 14 participants each year. Activity 6.2, Co-Sponsorship of International Business and Foreign Language Conference - Each year CIBER co-sponsors with the University of Memphis a three-day workshop for foreign language educators in French, German and Spanish designed to develop understanding of how International Business relates to the teaching of business language. Activity 6.3, Co-Sponsorship of CIBER Conference on Language, Communications and Global Management - Each year the Moore School CIBER supports this major conference on the interface between language and business. Activity 7.1, the annual Faculty Development Program for South America - During the grant period the CIBER at the University of South Carolina and other Southeastern CIBERs will continue to offer a faculty development program for South America. Activity 7.2, the Co-operative Faculty Development Program for India - CIBER will work with the University of Connecticut and other CIBERs to offer a faculty development program for India. Activity 7.3, the Co-operative Faculty Development Program for Central Europe - CIBER will work with the University of Pittsburgh and other CIBERs to offer a faculty development program for Eastern Europe. Activity 8.1, Customized Executive Education in International Business - The Daniel Management Center, the executive education center of the Moore School, is called upon to do contractual programs in International Business for firms that are customized for the client. Knowledge generated through CIBER research projects often forms the basis for these programs. Activity 8.2, Open Enrollment Executive Education in International Business - During the proposed grant period, 2002-2006, the Daniel Management Center will develop and offer public enrollment programs in International Business. CIBER will joint venture two such public programs annually with the Daniel Management Center. Activity 8.3, Distinguished Speaker Series for Local Executives - CIBER will support the new IMBA program and the local business community by inviting speakers to participate in the Wednesday guest speaker sessions and making those speakers available to the local business community. Activities 9.1-9.3, Programs of Outreach to the Business Community - CIBER will work with the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance, the Columbia World Affairs Council, and other local development agencies by providing graduate business students on assistantship to these agencies. These students provide support in programs designed to develop trade opportunities for local firms and to attract investment to the region, including investment from foreign sources. Activity 10, Sponsored Faculty Research in International Business - The CIBER at the University of South Carolina has made research one of its major themes. With nine tenure track faculty in the International Business Department and twenty other tenure track faculty who have conducted research on international topics (almost all with past CIBER support), CIBER has at its disposal a substantial group of research active faculty who are advancing the frontiers of International Business knowledge. Activity 10.1, Major Research Projects - CIBER will make major research grants to faculty or groups of faculty to pursue significant research projects. Most grants are in the range of $4,000 - $10,000 per annum, with some grants extending over more than one year. These research projects arise as the result of discussions between the CIBER Director and Research Director and the faculty members proposing them. At any one point in time at least eight of these larger research projects will be funded by CIBER during the grant period 2002-2006. Activity 10.2, Competitive Research Projects - During the grant period CIBER plans to institute a program of small competitive grants ($1,000-$2,000) for faculty in the Moore School of Business and in the College of Liberal Arts to cover research expenses for more moderate projects. Five such grants are contemplated per annum. Activity 10.3, Special Research Initiative in Career Outcomes of CIBER Activities - Beginning in 2002 and continuing through the grant period, CIBER will make research grants to develop an understanding of the impact of CIBER educational activities on the careers of graduates of CIBER institutions. During this grant period the emphasis will be placed on careers of professional masters programs. Research proposals will be solicited from other CIBER schools, who will be asked to participate in documenting the career pattern of graduates from their institutions who have participated in the types of educational activities typically sponsored by CIBERs, such as study abroad, offshore internships, foreign language training and specialized international business academic courses. Activity 10.4, the CIBER Working Paper Series - The South Carolina CIBER has produced approximately twenty papers per annum since its inception, and will increase output during the grant period. Activity 11, Major Research Conferences - CIBER plans to institute a series of annual research conferences beginning in the year 2002, with the first conference covered by the current grant. These research conferences will include papers commissioned by scholars at other schools. Faculty of the Moore School will provide leadership and direction to each conference. Activity 11.1, 2004 Conference on US-Africa Business Activities: Integrating Africa into a Global Economy - This conference will focus on US trade and investment activity in Africa. The Moore School has developed substantial expertise on African economic and business issues during the past grant period and seeks to generate further understanding of business issues in this neglected region of the world. Activity 11.2, 2006 Conference on International Business Education and Careers - This conference will be a natural outgrowth of the special research initiative outlined in Activity 10.3, focusing on the impact of CIBER related international business education activities on the careers of graduates. U  NIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Abstract 1. IntroductionOne hundred and ten professors have been the leaders of 134 CIBER-supported teaching, research, and outreach projects since the Center was established at the University of Southern California on October 2, 1990. Over 700 experts from academia, business, and government have participated in CIBER-sponsored events at USC as speakers, panelists, and authors. Another 4,600 business mangers and non-USC academics have attended CIBER-supported annual conferences on Pacific Rim business issues—about 40 percent of the participants have been from California and 60 percent from other states. I Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBEAR) n its first eleven years, USC's CIBER has supported three themes of activities: (1) internationalizing the educational experience of USC students by creating new international courses, bringing international experts to campus, and by sending students abroad for internships, research, and field-study visits; (2) developing professional relationships with international associations and universities, as well as with academic, business, and government experts via conferences, visiting expert seminars, and consulting projects; and (3) supporting the internationally-oriented teaching and research activities of individual USC faculty. By helping to develop increased faculty expertise in international business issues and by creating faculty allies for internationalization, CIBER stimulated major institutional changes within the Marshall School of Business and throughout the entire University of Southern California. USC's CIBER has also had noticeable effects on the internationalization of American firms in California and throughout the United States. Strong letters of support from regional and national leaders (Appendix D) provide tangible evidence of CIBER’s effectiveness:
2. CIBER's Stimulus to Strategic Change at USC: FY 1990-2001CIBER activities have had a substantial effect on shaping and accelerating the internationalization of USC's Marshall School of Business as well as upon the internationalization initiatives of the entire University of Southern California. In 1997, the Marshall School adopted a Pacific Rim/Latin America MBA initiative which included three interrelated components: a new course titled "Pacific Rim Education (PRIME)" which is required for all 300 day-time MBA students, optional Pacific Rim language programs, and optional internships and semester abroad opportunities (Appendix E.1 and E.2). In the last three years, this program has been expanded and now all the students who are enrolled in the Marshall School’s four MBA programs are required to have an international field-study experience during their MBA program. In the 2000/01 academic year, the Marshall School sent over 650 MBA students abroad, accompanied by their 30 professors. The University adopted a strategic plan in June 1994, which includes, as one of its four primary initiatives, the further internationalization of USC with a focus on the Pacific Rim and Latin America, as summarized below: Build upon USC's strong international base of alumni, students, and established relationships and Southern California's position as an international center to enhance future global opportunities for education, research, and career development. Because of the characteristics of Southern California and of our students and alumni, focus efforts on the countries of the Pacific Rim and of Central and South America. In 1994, the University appointed CIBER Director Richard Drobnick to the newly-created position of Vice Provost for International Affairs (a half-time appointment) in order to stimulate university-wide efforts to expand teaching and research activities on Asia and Latin America. Drobnick utilized CIBER networks of academic, business, and government partners in Asia and Latin American to assist the deans of some of USC's 18 professional schools initiate new Pacific Rim-oriented teaching and research activities. CIBER networks have also been utilized to support the Provost's Distinguished Visitors Program, which brings about seven Asia and Latin America experts per year to USC for ten-day visits with students, faculty, and Southern California executives (Appendix A.2). USC's strategic focus on Asia and Latin America enables the University to provide some research and policy advice to APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), the consortium of government officials from 21 Asia-Pacific economies. This occurs because Drobnick, as vice chairman of the U.S. National Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (US-PECC), is able to facilitate connections between CIBER projects (F.1, F.2, & F.3) and three PECC research/policy advisory task forces, which are titled, "Pacific Economic Outlook," "Pacific Economic Structural Project," and "Financial Markets Development." In turn, these PECC task forces provide research/policy advice to APEC task forces. (See Appendix A.3 for a description of PECC task forces, networks, and interaction with APEC.) 3. CIBER's Themes for the Period Ahead: FY 2003-2006In the next four years, CIBER will focus on four themes, which are described below:
The principal activities are to help consolidate and improve the international teaching and research activities in the Marshall School's "PRIME" course, which is required of all 300 day-time MBA students (Project A.1); to help consolidate and improve the international teaching and research activities in the Marshall School’s PM.Globe course, which is required of all 250 part-time MBA students (Project A.2); and to expand the new Freeman Fellows Program (A.6), which is an eight to ten week long internship program in Asia for American undergraduate students.
The principal activities are to participate in the research work of three PECC task forces: “Pacific Economic Outlook,” “Pacific Economic Structural Project,” and the “Financial Markets Development Project (F.1, F.2 & F.3).” This theme also supports an international finance visiting experts series (F.12) and the development of case studies on business opportunities in Pacific Rim cities (F.5). An additional research project on the possible slowing and reversal of economic integration around the Pacific Rim as a result of the American-led war on terrorism will be initiated (F.4).
The principal activities are to assist in the organization of an annual conference of distance learning leaders from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities’ (APRU) 34 member universities (D.3), to support an annual conference of information technology researchers and practitioners which will be hosted by USC’s Center for Telecommunications Management (CTM) (F.11), to support a major research project on subcontracting practices in the IT industry between the U.S., Taiwan, China, and India (F.10), and to support and develop distance learning certificate courses for the international business community, which in-part, would be based on web-casted and archived portions of CIBER-sponsored conferences (D.11). These materials would also be used to develop international business and teaching materials for undergraduate and graduate classes, and for pre-departure training for undergraduates who will become interns in Asia (A.6).
The principal activities are to assist USC representative offices in Asia to do collaborative trade promotion and research projects with the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency offices in Asia and with the U.S. Department of Commerce offices in Asia (D.1), and to build collaborative teaching and research relationships with 34 prominent Pacific Rim universities, which are members of the APRU (D.2). USC President Steven Sample serves as APRU’s chairman and CIBER Director Richard Drobnick serves as APRU’s secretary. (See Appendix A.4 for information about APRU’s membership, endorsements from APEC Leaders, and projects.) CIBER will continue to support new internationalization activities in some of USC's other professional schools. Examples include the School of Architecture's "Asian Special Topics Studio," course for advanced undergraduate students, which spends eight weeks in Japan, China and Malaysia (A.4); the School of Policy, Planning, and Development’s “International Real Estate Development Opportunities Field Studies Course” (A.5), which spends two weeks working with urban planners and real estate developers in a different Asian city each spring; and the School of Fine Arts’ new “Art in Motion” (AIM) Program, which will reproduce parts of its international festival of “time-based” media with partner institutions in Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore (D.9). 4. CIBER's Organizational StructureCo-directors Richard Drobnick and David Stewart and associate director John Windler, with the support of program manager, Sabine Lehmann, manage CIBER in a decentralized manner that distributes responsibility to the project leaders, 15 of whom are CIBER Advisory Council members (see Figure 7, p. 4a for a list of council members). The current Advisory Council was formed in Summer 2001 and met on September 26, 2001 to discuss CIBER's plan for FY 2003-2006. During the summer, many members of the Council developed proposals for FY 2003-2006. All members of the Advisory Council received copies of CIBER's “Request for Project Proposals: 2003-2006,” as did over 200 USC faculty in March 2001 (Appendix B.1). The fact that Lloyd Armstrong, USC's Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, serves on the Advisory Council enables perspectives from CIBER project leaders to be considered at the highest levels of decision making at the University. The intellectual resources, advice, and university-wide connections provided by these Advisory Council members ensure that CIBER teaching and research activities are able to utilize USC's diverse faculty resources and that CIBER activities include non-Marshall School students and faculty. A schematic view of CIBER's organizational chart, which highlights the extensive faculty involvement in CIBER as project leaders, is presented as Figure 1 (p. Va). The active role of CIBER's Advisory Council in leading CIBER projects is presented in Figure 2 (p. Vb-d). In terms of the relevance of CIBER programs for the business community and government agencies, the Center is guided and assisted by its numerous non-academic Advisory Council members: Lon Hatamiya, Secretary of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency (appointed by Governor Davis); Mark Borthwick, Executive Director of the U.S. National Committee for the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (US-PECC); Jack Kyser, Chief Economist of the LA Economic Development Corporation; Gary Larsen, Vice President of the Asia Society and Executive Director of its Southern California Center; and Gladys Moreau, Director of the Export Small Business Development Center. A schematic view of CIBER's internal and external partners is provided as Figures 3 (p.Ve) and 4 (p. Vf). The strong commitment of the Marshall School of Business and USC to CIBER is demonstrated by the allocation of substantial funds, as well as senior administrative and faculty personnel, to support CIBER activities. In the Center's past three years, USC invested substantially more than the mandated requirement of 50 percent of the Center's budget. On average, USC annually invested $1,495,000 in FY 2000-2002 (80%). USC’s projected commitments for FY 2003-2006 are $1,700,000 (80%) per year. USC's CIBER responds to the Congressional mandate to make American companies and students more internationally competitive by supporting the development of internationally-oriented executive education programs (C.3 & D.11) and by supporting the creation of new knowledge about the realities of today's global competition through a variety of business research projects (F.1-F.13). USC's CIBER is supporting the development of numerous international internship and study abroad opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students (A.6, A.8, B.4); graduate courses on international business (A.1, A.2, A.3, A.5); training programs in languages (C.1 & C.2); new collaborative projects with business, government, and academic institutions (D.1-D.10); new research to strengthen international teaching (E.1-E.3); and new research on international business issues of (F.1-F.13). These teaching programs and research results are widely disseminated through training programs for business members of numerous organizations with which CIBER has developed strong relations (e.g., American Chambers of Commerce in Asia and Latin America, the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. National Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, etc.), as well as at academic conferences and through the publication of research reports, journal articles, and books, thus having a multiplier effect by enlarging the pool of data available to other academic institutions, which produce international business training in their own locales. (See Appendix F for lists of the academics, government officials, and managers who attended CIBER-supported programs in 2001.) Each of the proposed projects is organized under the leadership of USC faculty and senior staff. Many of the projects combine business school expertise with expertise from area-studies specialists at USC, as well as from academic, business, and government experts from around the world. (See Appendix H for the lists of visiting experts who have lectured in CIBER-supported programs between 1991 and 2001: 716 academics, executives, and government officials.) All of these projects are evaluated by students, business participants, and business sponsors. (See Appendicies F and G for evaluation results.) 5. ConclusionFederal support for USC's CIBER since October 1990 has been instrumental in expanding the international teaching, research, and outreach activities of 110 USC project leaders, their dozens of colleagues, and their thousands of students. In turn, their successful projects generated momentum for creating the Pacific Rim Education (PRIME) initiative in the Marshall School of Business, and helped stimulate the strategic policies of the entire University of Southern California to become more Pacific Rim-focused. Federal support of USC's CIBER is needed to provide a continuous catalytic stimulus to the rapidly expanding international activities of the Marshall School of Business. This federal support is also essential to enable CIBER to assist the internationalization of teaching and research activities in some of USC's other professional schools, e.g., architecture, policy, planning and development, and fine arts, as well as to support efforts to introduce international business components into the teaching and research activities of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. Title VI support for USC's CIBER has been about $300,000 annually, since 1990. USC's business school "matched" this federal support with more than $500,000 per year of real resources up until 1997, at which time it increased this annual investment in CIBER-supported activities to over one million dollars. In addition to making substantial financial investments in internationalization, the Marshall School has been able to attract many of its top faculty to develop and lead the school's internationalization initiatives. These business school initiatives and the international initiatives of USC's other professional schools have been actively supported by USC's president, provost, and vice provosts. In summary, decisions and action by USC leaders, in combination with federal support, have enabled USC to aggressively implement the internationalization initiative of its strategic plan and to make significant progress on expanding the international learning opportunities for its students, faculty, alumni, and other business stakeholders. Federal support has accelerated the internationalization of teaching and research at the University of Southern California in very important ways. This influence provides a strong demonstration of how federal funds can be leveraged in support of the congressional mandate to improve the international competitiveness of the United States. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Abstract The Center for International Business Education and Research at the University of Texas at Austin (CIBER-UTexas) was established in 1990 with the award of a U.S. Department of Education Title VIb grant. In 1993, 1996, and 1999, the Center successfully competed for subsequent three-year CIBER grants. Situated in the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), CIBER-UTexas has received widespread recognition for its impact on the internationalization of business education and the partnership it has developed with the international business community. Notably, the successful internationalization efforts of CIBER-UTexas were recognized in 2000 when UT became one of only eight U.S. universities invited to membership in the prestigious PIM (Program in International Management) Consortium. The extent of the CIBER-UTexas impact can be demonstrated by some quantitative measures associated with the programs delivered to date. Since its inception in 1990, CIBER-UTexas has been involved in the development and delivery of 82 new internationally-oriented courses; provided 122 regional and national internationalization conferences to more than 1,600 business educators; offered conferences for the regional international business community with a combined attendance of over 7,600 persons; supported overseas teaching and research programs involving 168 faculty; and developed international study and internship programs for over 1,500 students.
In the 2002-2006 initiative, CIBER-UTexas will use its strategic position at the University of Texas at Austin – located in the heart of the Southwest’s high-tech international business community and in close proximity to Mexico and Latin America – to (1) enhance the international knowledge and global experience of business students, educators, and leaders; and (2) promote mutually beneficial cooperation among business educators, students, and regional businesses to elevate business education and practice of U.S. managers and firms in today’s increasingly global economy. A single entity acting alone cannot increase U.S. competitiveness in the global market, but a collaborative approach that links cross-institutional strengths and the business community creates a powerful synergy capable of significant and lasting impact. To this end, CIBER-UTexas proposes the following set of initiatives that, in concert with CIBER activities across the U.S., will build overall competitiveness and generate measurable gains in U.S. international trade. The projects for 2002-2006 build on CIBER-UTexas’ history of accomplishment and utilize our existing academic, governmental, and industry networks to meet the mandate of the U.S. Department of Education to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence for all Americans. As detailed below, the 2002-2006 projects will endeavor to maintain a global focus, with special emphasis on Latin America, emphasize academic outreach, integrate language and culture into business education, address the need for increased international sophistication at the MBA level, and continue to develop strategic partnerships with complementary institutions. CIBER-UTexas in Its Regional Context During its first decade of operation, CIBER-UTexas formed vital connections in the business and academic communities in the Southwest and in the nation, in order to convey the national imperative of understanding the global market in a more comprehensive way. CIBER-UTexas is now an integral part of the international business education and service community in the Southwest, regularly interacting with business organizations and schools on matters pertinent to its central mission of enhancing U.S. global competitiveness. The regional context of CIBER-UTexas demonstrates the importance of the CIBER-UTexas initiative. The Southwest (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico) represents one of the main areas for international business in the United States. International business involvement of the region has soared during the past decade. Exports from Texas increased from just $33 billion in 1990 to $91 billion in 1999. Texas ranks second only to California in terms of overall export activity, and exports more than twice the next ranking state. Much of this activity is in the dynamic field of technology-intensive goods, a primary source of U.S. competitive advantage. In addition, NAFTA has created intense interest in the southwest United States for doing business with Mexico, and discussions of a possible Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) promise even greater trade globalization for the region. Texas serves as a natural geographic, economic, and cultural bridge between the United States and Latin America.
The University of Texas at Austin is the largest university in the United States, with over 50,000 students. UT’s McCombs School of Business offers majors and concentrations in international business at the undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral levels, and it is associated with an extensive network of overseas business schools to provide faculty and students with opportunities for international exchange and internships. In addition, CIBER-UTexas has been instrumental in the development of an internationally oriented faculty across all academic departments of the McCombs School. The resources of the McCombs School are further magnified by CIBER-UTexas alliances with academic units across the University that possess international expertise which enhance the Center’s ability to accomplish its goals: the Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies, Center for Middle East Studies, Center for Asian Studies, Center for Russian and East European Studies, Linguistics Department, IC2 Institute, LBJ School of Public Affairs, and individual language departments that offer instruction in more than twenty-five foreign languages each semester. Many of these entities have representatives on the CIBER-UTexas Advisory Board or faculty who have worked closely with CIBER-UTexas personnel on past activities. CIBER-UTexas also has close partnerships with key business and government organizations that serve the international business community – U.S. Department of Commerce, Small Business Development Centers, District Export Councils, and Texas Economic Development – that are also represented on the Advisory Board. The Director of CIBER-UTexas is Dr. David E. Platt. The Center also has three Associate Directors who oversee CIBER-UTexas’ activities in their areas of expertise: Dr. Laura T. Starks is Associate Director for Research, Dr. Orlando R. Kelm is Associate Director for Business Language Education, and Raymond J. Brimble is Associate Director for Business Outreach. The Center also has a full-time Assistant Director, Diane Wilson, who manages the Center’s day-to-day operations and who has been with the Center almost since its inception. Summary of CIBER-UTexas Proposed 2002-2006 Project CIBER-UTexas operations are centered around the pursuit of three major goals: (1) the internationalization of business education and research; (2) the integration of business education with other international components of the academic community; and (3) the formation of a partnership with the international business community. The manner in which CIBER-UTexas is proposing to accomplish these goals represents an evolution substantially beyond its achievements to date by employing the Center’s unique configuration of resources to address regional and national needs identified through a process of continuous needs assessment. The five central themes that permeate the proposed 2002-2006 project have been identified through this process: • Maintain a global focus, with special emphasis on Latin America • Place a strong emphasis on academic outreach • Integrate language and cultural studies into business education • Provide leadership in addressing the special problem of MBA internationalization • Develop partnerships with complementary organizations. These central themes are reflected in the new and continuing programs being proposed for the 2002-2006 period. A sampling of the new programs is presented below, each with a brief description. MBA Student Internationalization will be addressed through innovative educational techniques, and employer demand for international competencies will be explored. Free Trade Issues will be a focus of research and education efforts, including conferences with UT-Austin’s Latin American Studies and a team of regional partner universities. Economic Relations with the Middle East and South Asia, in light of the terrorism of September 11, will be explored through partnerships with UT-Austin’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies and Center for Asian Studies. Language Initiatives will be directed toward use and dissemination of the extensive Business Spanish programs and materials developed to date, and the extension of these ideas into other languages. A Career Handbook, directed at students who want to pursue careers in international business, will be prepared and distributed nationally. Internationalization of Community College Curriculum will be the focus of a series of conferences jointly offered by CIBER-UTexas, CIBER-Texas A&M and Austin Community College. Role of Women in Latin American Business will offer a conference to female U.S. managers and students on the particular issues facing women in the Latin American business environment. A Web-based Speaker Roster will be developed in cooperation with Texas District Export Councils to serve as a resource for classes in schools across the region. Legislative Support Program will work with business groups attempting to address state-imposed impediments to international business activity. Expanded International Opportunities will be provided to students in numerous new programs. In addition, a wide range of programs instituted in previous grant periods is being continued and enhanced. Almost all of the programs – new and continuing – involve extensive collaboration with partners to ensure that they will be delivered in a highly cost-effective manner. The alliances allow the Center to leverage a modest number of dedicated staff to achieve wide-reaching impact. Program effectiveness will be ensured via a process of regular and in-depth evaluation. CIBER-UTexas will employ U.S. Department of Education resources provided in a manner that makes the maximum possible contribution to the competitiveness of U.S. business in the global economy. Eligibility Requirements The CIBER-UTexas Advisory Board has been appointed to provide valuable input from internal and external constituency groups. The Advisory Board consists of members from the McCombs School of Business, Area Studies Centers, Liberal Arts, and professional schools within the University, as well as representatives from the business community and the state development agency, Texas Economic Development. The inclusion of board members from diverse constituencies who share a common commitment to the enhancement of international business activities has been invaluable in conducting the activities of the Center. Consistent with the requirements of the CIBER grant award, the Advisory Board meets at least once each year. For the 2002-2006 grant period, the Advisory Board as a whole will meet in the Fall of each academic year. In addition, CIBER-UTexas personnel consult regularly with members of the Advisory Board with respect to on-going programs and activities. Members of the Center Advisory Board are presented below according to the criteria provided in the statute. Vitas and biographical sketches of each member are provided in Appendix 1. Representatives of administrative offices of the University of Texas at Austin: Dr. Robert G. May, Dean, McCombs School of Business Faculty representatives of the McCombs School: Dr. Linda V. Gerber, Director, Program in International Business, and Co-Chair, Department of Marketing Dr. Robert T. Green, Professor of International Business and Marketing, and Senior Fellow and former Executive Director of CIBER-UTexas Dr. Stephen T. Limberg, Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting Representatives of the international studies and foreign languages: Dr. Leopoldo M. Bernucci, Professor and Chair, Department of Spanish and Portuguese Dr. Nicolas Shumway, Director, Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies Faculty representatives from other professional schools and departments: Dr. Betty S. Flowers, Professor, Department of English, and Director, Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library Dr. William P. Glade, Professor, Department of Economics Representatives of local or regional Community College: Beth Sabo Huddleston, Director, International Small Business Development Center, Richland Community College, Dallas Representatives of local or regional businesses: James Bethmann, Managing Director, Korn/Ferry International, Dallas Raymond J. Brimble, Managing Partner, The Lynxs Group, Austin Scott Grant, Vice President, Collmer Semiconductor, Inc., Dallas Ricardo Lopez, Director of Procurement and Marketing, HEB de Mexico, San Antonio/Monterrey Thomas A. Stellman, President, Texas International Partnership, Inc., Austin Representative appointed by Governor of the State of Texas: Helena Colyandro, Director, Office of International Business, Texas Economic Development |