Center awarded $1.5 million grant for international business education and research

The Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded it a four-year grant to fund the university’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).

The UW–Madison CIBER will receive more than $1.5 million to support its activities between 2010 and 2014.

The federal grant will allow the UW–Madison CIBER, which was established in 1998 joining a distinct network of universities nationwide, to continue developing and delivering programs that strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. businesses globally and enhance international business-related teaching, research and learning. The $391,000 it will receive annually from the Department of Education is an increase of almost 9 percent over its current grant.

“This award recognizes not only the global strengths of UW–Madison’s professional schools but also its outstanding language and area studies programs,” said Michael Knetter, Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business and UW–Madison vice chancellor for advancement. “CIBER is a tremendous resource for the university and the greater business community, and is a great example of the Wisconsin Idea.”

CIBER works with partners from across the UW–Madison campus, throughout the UW System, technical and community colleges in the upper Midwest, businesses based in Wisconsin and state government to increase the quantity of globally competent individuals entering the U.S. workforce. It supports interdisciplinary research on a wide range of global business topics and disseminates knowledge to the local, regional and national business communities.

Examples of major initiatives that the UW–Madison CIBER plans to support and deliver during the 2010-2014 grant cycle include:

• Curriculum development and business outreach efforts to educate students and business professionals on international accounting standard convergence;
• Global business consulting projects for MBA students;
• Annual study tours to introduce faculty to the business, economic and cultural environments of Southeast Asia;
• Support for less-commonly taught languages such as Persian, Arabic and Chinese; and,
• Greater international study and work opportunities for under-represented students.

“It is critical that we prepare our graduates to compete in an increasingly complex global business environment,” says Randall Dunham, Keenan A. Bennett Chair of Industrial Management and CIBER faculty director. “CIBER plays an important role in this effort by providing opportunities for students to gain international experience on campus and abroad, and by assisting faculty members to strengthen their global expertise.”

The CIBER Advisory Board is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors, including Cargill, Medtronic, Harley-Davidson, GE Healthcare, Spectrum Brands, Foley & Lardner, Emerson Network Power, Promega, Saris Cycling Group, Lands’ End, Steele Ventures, Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and UW–Madison’s Division of International Studies, College of Engineering and Office of Corporate Relations.

The UW–Madison CIBER will be one of 33 centers nationwide.