Presentation by Dr. Galen Spencer Hull, Director Office of International Business Programs

Transcription

1 Presentation by Dr. Galen Spencer Hull, Director Office of International Business Programs College of Business Tennessee State University (TSU) At the School of Economics Tianjin Polytechnic University (TJPU) JUNE 2006 Summary of the Partnership between TJPU and TSU Chronology of partnership events Dr. John Wu, a Chinese American and original Tianjin ren with business operations in both the United States and China, was primarily responsible for initiating linkages between the two universities. He spoke favorably to officials of TJPU about the TSU College of Business and to TSU officials about TPU. Subsequently an invitation is offered for TSU officials to visit TJPU. November Dr. Tilden Curry Dean of the college of Business, Dr. Soumen Ghosh, Director of the Office of Business and Economic Research, and Dr. Evelyn Nettles, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, visit Tianjin, where they discussed the capabilities of their respective institutions and explored a possible partnership. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities is signed, expressing a commitment to explore initiatives in such matters as: (1) the exchange of faculty and students, (2) research projects, (3) academic information sharing, and (4) possible establishment of a joint or collaborative MBA program 1

2 June Two officials from TJPU (a vice president and a dean) visit TSU to express continuing interest in various collaborations and to continue the dialogue between the two institutions. Fall semester Dr. Hong Zhao, Dean of the TJPU School of Economics, serves as Visiting Scholar in the College of Business at the invitation of the Department of Economics and Finance. She taught a course on Economic Problems, participated in joint research projects, guest lectured on a number of occasions, and networked with various business, education, and social groups. May 20-July Eight TSU students participate in a six-week Study Abroad program at TJPU, which includes a course in international trade and an independent study course in Chinese language, business and culture. In preparation for this trip to China, they were enrolled in a Chinese language class in Nashville. Two members of the faculty accompany them while in China: Dr. Galen Hull from the College of Business and Dr. John Miglietta of the College of Arts and Sciences. TSU Students Participating in the China Study Abroad Program: Brittini Barnes Anwar Gartrell Jennifer Peterson Karen Tankersley Tamia Flemister Deirdre Middleton John Rembold Shaana Worlds June TJPU invites a TSU faculty member to teach a course in micro economics at TJPU. Dr. Abu Wahid, professor in the TSU Department of Economics and Editor of the Journal of Developing Areas, teaches this course. Fall semester Two students from TJPU An Jian and Liu Bo, are expected to enter the MBA program at TSU and to be offered graduate assistantships. Spring semester Arrangements are currently underway to seek a second Visiting Scholar from TJPU,Prof. Yang Chun-mei. for placement in the Department of Economics in the TSU College of Business. May 28-31, President Melvin Johnson visits TJPU at the invitation of TJPU President. He first arrives in Beijing and is hosted by Dr John Wu and his staff. Further relationship building between the two universities and discussions of future collaborations are the focus of meetings with TJPU academic authorities. TSU MBA in China. The modalities of how a TSU MBA program might be offered in China are the subject of discussion over the past several months. One scenario would involve TSU offering each of its MBA core courses through two weeks of intense on-site instruction and the balance online. 2

3 Profile of Tennessee State University Tennessee State University (TSU) was established by virtue of a 1909 act of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee and began enrolling students in 1912 (the same year that Tianjin Polytechnic University was established). Originally reserved for Black Americans only, TSU is open to all races and nationalities. It is one of Tennessee's two landgrant universities and is one of several universities in the State University and Community College System under the Tennessee Board of Regents governing body. Based in Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, TSU has a responsibility to the entire state, as specified in federal land-grant legislation. As a modern urban land-grant university, TSU not only offers a broad variety of residential academic programs but also has an extensive and growing commitment to the working adults of the mid-state area. This commitment was enhanced by its merger with the University of Tennessee at Nashville in 1979, including the integration of a College of Business within TSU. Today TSU provides a full range of degree and nondegree programs, library services, laboratories, classrooms, and faculty at both its Main Campus and its downtown campus, currently under a major renovation. Total enrollment is currently around 9,000 students. TSU has grown far beyond its original mission of providing teacher training and degree programs in Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences, trades, and business. It now has a College of Arts and Sciences, a College of Business, a College of Education, a College of Engineering and Technology, a School of Agriculture and Home Economics, a School of Allied Health Professions, a School of Nursing, a School of Graduate Studies, a Division of Extension and Continuing Education, an Institute of Government, and a Division of Aerospace Studies. Since the inception of its first graduate program in 1948, TSU has grown to serve the state through programs leading to some 44 undergraduate degrees and 30 graduate degrees. Tennessee State University's leadership in the state's university community is evident in the number of joint and cooperative programs with other universities, both public and private, including a speech pathology and audiology program with Vanderbilt; a criminal justice program with Middle Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University; Allied Health Professions programs with Meharry Medical College; and agricultural extension programs with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition, the University is engaged with Howard University in a joint pharmacy program. Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Its programs in Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business, Nursing, Family and Consumer Sciences, Social Work, Music, Dental Hygiene, Cardio-Respiratory Care Sciences, Medical Technology, Health Information Management, Health Care Administration and Planning, Speech Pathology and Audiology, and have been accredited by the appropriate professional organizations. All other professional academic programs are now seeking full accreditation by the appropriate agencies. 3

4 Mission Statement (approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents, December 9, 1994) Tennessee State University (TSU), an 1890 land-grant institution, is a major statesupported urban and comprehensive university governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). This unique combination of characteristics - land-grant, urban, and comprehensive - differentiates the University from all others in the state and distinctively shapes its instructional, research, and public service programs. In carrying out its diverse mission, the University serves the city of Nashville and middle Tennessee, the state, the nation, and the international community. The University provides instructional programs, state-wide cooperative extension services, cooperative agricultural research, and food and agricultural programs of an international dimension. As a comprehensive institution, TSU provides programming in Agriculture, Allied Health, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering and Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Human Services, Nursing, and Public Administration. The institution is broadly comprehensive at the baccalaureate and master's levels. While doctoral programs are focused in education and public administration, future doctoral programs will continue to address the needs of an urban population. As a major urban institution TSU provides both degree and non-degree programs (day, evening, weekend, and at off-campus sites) that are appropriate and accessible to a working urban population. To address the needs in health care throughout middle Tennessee, TSU offers a limited number of associate degree programs in nursing and allied health. To address the needs in government, business, and industry, the University seeks to embody distinct excellence by providing the state's most comprehensive programming in public administration, through the doctoral level, as well as in business administration and engineering, through the master's level; in these areas the university emulates those institutions in other capital cities that have traditionally served as primary resources to state and local governments and provided resources to the private sector. The University supports an athletic program which reflects a commitment to students' overall development; the University also promotes positive and life-long learning, scholarly inquiry, and a commitment of service to others. It serves a diverse population of students--traditional, non-traditional, commuter, residential, undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree, full-time and part-time. In doing so, it develops the talents of its students including those with special academic talents as well as those who have educational, cultural, environmental, or socio-economic constraints. The University is committed to providing educational opportunities to all qualified people without regard to age, sex, color, race, religion, national origin, or other non-merit reason. The University's objectives mirror these general and specific purposes as well as the University's priorities. TSU projects itself to the students, faculty, alumni, and to the citizens of the global community through the motto: Think, Work, Serve. 4

5 Higher Education Organization and Governance The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) The Tennessee Higher Education Commission, created in 1967 by act of the General Assembly, has the responsibility of coordinating and planning for all of higher education in the state system. It has no operating responsibilities but must approve new academic programs and new centers of all campuses; review budgets; perform long-range planning; and generally ensure that a comprehensive system of higher education is developed to meet the needs of the citizens. THEC oversees the Tennessee Board of Regents. The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) The Board of Regents was created by the General Assembly in 1972 to govern the newly established State University and Community College System, composed of six universities and ten community colleges. The Universities include Austin Peay State University, East Tennessee State University, Memphis State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and Tennessee Technological University. The community colleges include Chattanooga State Technical Community College, Cleveland State, Columbia State, Dyersburg State, Jackson State, Motlow State, Roane State, Shelby State, Volunteer State, and Walters State. The Board now provides governance for technical schools and area vocational schools as well. Consortium for International Education Tennessee Board of Regents Recently the Tennessee Board of Regents established a Consortium for International Education, aimed at coordinating the efforts of the 18 TBR institutions to internationalize their programs. TBR institutions have a combined enrollment of over 180,000 students, but they have relatively few international students. Thus the Consortium will provide a propitious opportunity for TSU to exercise leadership, based on its past record of achievements and current initiatives in China. The key issues that the Consortium anticipates addressing over the next five-year period include securing student loan assistance for study abroad and continuing to establish linkages with partner institutions abroad. Tennessee State University Administration The University is administered by the President, a Provost (a newly created position), and four vice presidents whose areas of responsibility are: Academic Affairs, Business and Finance, Student Affairs, and University Relations and Development. International Educational Exchanges In 2004/2005 there were 121 international students enrolled at TSU. Most of the Chinese students were enrolled in the graduate program in the School of Engineering. An International Exchange Program is coordinated in the Department of Languages, Literature and Foreign Languages. Last year 12 TSU students participated in its study abroad programs. 5

6 Office of International Programs-College of Business In the spring of 1999, the Office of International Business Programs (OIBP) was established in the College of Business with the primary mission of providing the impetus for internationalizing its curriculum and programs. Dr. Galen Hull assumed responsibilities as the first Director of the Office of International Business Programs (OIBP). Since then he has managed a four-person office and collaborated with faculty and administrators across campus. One of his first initiatives was the Minor in International Business program. To date ten students have completed all the requirements for the Minor. The Multicultural Friendship Society (MCFS), formed in 2000 under the sponsorship of OIBP. Each spring for six years MCFS has organized a Multicultural Festival on campus. OIBP reaches out to the Nashville business community. OIBP staff have been active in the World Trade Council and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. This has helped to open doors for student internships and long-term job possibilities. TSU students have participated in several research projects involving the Nashville businesses and several have completed internships. The fall 2005 semester OIBP began its seventh year of the Windows onto the World Lecture Series, which takes place six times each year and focuses on issues of international concern. Faculty development is an important part of the OIBP mandate to further the professional objectives of COB faculty. Every year at least a dozen COB faculty travel to conferences, present papers, and incorporate these experiences into their courses. Under the Globalizing HBCU Business School Initiative coordinated by the University of Memphis COB faculty members have participated in several activities, including a recent tour to universities in Southern Africa. Together with the Office of Business and Economic Research and The Journal of Developing (JDA) areas, OIBP organized a 3-day International conference on globalization and urbanization challenges and opportunities from 6 to 8 May Papers from that symposium were published as proceedings in OIBP manages partnerships with universities in other countries, including linkages in Malawi, Ukraine, Thailand, and Tunisia as well as China. Possibilities are also open for exchanges in South Africa and Botswana. Each of these involves exchanges of faculty and students. OIBP is currently managing a three-year grant program with the University of Tunis el Manar in Tunisia. Journal of Developing Areas- College of Business In 2002 Prof. Abu Wahid began publishing an academic review entitled The Journal of Developing Areas (JDA), a multidisciplinary publication. The Journal aims to stimulate in-depth and rigorous empirical and theoretical research on all issues pertaining to the process of economic development. It also intends to encourage research on economic, social, urban/regional and inner city problems of the United States and other developed countries. The Journal of Developing Areas is published in English language twice each academic year in fall and in spring by the College of Business. 6

7 Minor in International Affairs- College of Arts and Sciences This program, which became effective in the academic year, is open to students throughout the university regardless of their major. The minor in International Affairs has a core component of Political Science, History, and Geography courses. In addition students are asked to specialize in a specific area of emphasis. These are Area studies (African, Asian, European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern studies); International Security, Law, and Organization; International Development; Foreign Policy Analysis and Comparative Politics; and International Peace and Justice, Cultural Studies. This minor offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of international affairs. The International Affairs minor provides students with exposure to various disciplines (Africana Studies, Agriculture, Anthropology, Business, Communications, History, Geography, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Political Science, and Sociology). By taking a menu of courses students develop an understanding of cultural, economic, historical, geographical, and political aspects of the international system. Pilot Center for Academic Excellence in Intelligence Studies A Pilot Center for Academic Excellence in Intelligence Studies was established at TSU in 2005 with funding from the U.S. federal government. The Center is providing opportunities for TSU students to study abroad during the summer of 2006 in Central Europe, South Africa, and China. The Pilot Center expects to initiate further student and faculty exchanges over the next three years. Mid-Continent Consortium for International Education TSU is one of the founding institutions with other institutions in Tennessee (both public and private). The Consortium is an effort among member institutions to join together for the purpose of promoting study abroad in non-english speaking countries areas represented by students enrolled at our respective institutions. Member institutions 9 public and private) come from Tennessee and Kentucky. Each member has two voting members on the Board of Directors. College of Education - Kurdistan Project Dr. Kirmanj Gundi and Dr. Roger Wiemers, faculty members in the Department of Educational Administration, have been asked to participate in rebuilding the educational system of Kurdistan (northern Iraq) following the regime of Saddam Hussein. In 2004 the Kurdistan Academy of Science (KAS) was created to promote K-16 curriculum and higher education programs of study in Kurdistan, and to engender cooperation between Kurdish and non-kurdish educators/scholars. Drs. Gundi and Wiemers were instrumental in the founding of this organization. Dr. Gundi is a member of the Kurdish community in Nashville and may well be the only Kurdish professor of education in the United States. Discussion between Tennessee State University and Andhra University in Kurdistan began in

8 School of Agriculture: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research (IAgER) has as its objective to be engaged internationally by providing technical assistance in areas in which its School of Agriculture faculty have expertise. In September 2005 Winrock International requested the assistance of a Research Associate in IAgER with expertise in meat goat production to travel to Tajikistan to provide technical assistance in goat breeding for mohair, meat, and milk production at both the household and farm levels. He spent two weeks in Tajikistan meeting with producers and educating them on best management practices to maximize production in this developing agricultural economy. USAID requested the services of Dr. Safdar Muhammad, a Research Associate Professor, to travel to El Salvador to design a marketing system for El Salvador tropical fruit producers. 8