COBA Gets $189.4-K Grant

ASU's Business College Gets $189-K Grant to Establish International Business Education Program
- The program to Include Study Abroad in both France & Belgium.
- The University is one of 20 schools nationwide to be selected for this grant by the Dept. of Education.
By: Kenneth Mullinax/ASU.
Alabama State University's business students will soon be traveling to Europe and learning first-hand about climate change and its ramifications in international business in both France and Belgium, thanks to a recent U.S. Department of Education grant awarded to the University.
ASU's Dr. Percy J. Vaughn, Jr. College of Business Administration (COBA) has been awarded a two-year grant of $189,400 to fund its new European business education program titled "Preparing Alabama State University Business Students, Faculty, and Regional Business Professionals for Business Opportunities Being Created by Climate Change," stated Dr. Kamal Hingorani, COBA's dean.
"This Department of Education grant is good for the University and good for COBA because it jumpstarts our new international business education program," Hingorani said. "Because of this grant award that comes from the Department of Education's Business and International Education Program, Alabama State's business students will get exposure to two of Europe's most dynamic countries and be able to study abroad and be educated on just how businesses impact climate change, for better or worse; and what one may do as a corporate executive to lessen the carbon footprint of a business entity and the ensuing business opportunities in doing so, which is good for the world's residents and the Earth's environment."
IDEA BEHIND THE GRANT
The U.S. Department of Education's program provides grants to higher education institutions that enter into an agreement with a trade association to improve the academic teaching of the business curriculum in this subject and to conduct outreach activities that will assist the local business community to compete in the global arena.
"Only 20 universities across the nation were awarded this grant, and this is a very prestigious grant to be bestowed on any college of business," stated COBA's dean.
COBA's partners include Energy in Huntsville; Department of Commerce, State of Alabama; U.S. Commercial Services, Birmingham; Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association; and Lawson State Community College.
STRENGTHENS ASU'S STUDENTS & ACADEMICS
For our students, this new two-year grant provides a lot of positive assets that includes:
* Providing a strengthened minor in ASU's International Business curriculum with an opportunity to earn the "NASBITE CGBP" (professional international business)* Study tours to Europe in both France and Belgium so students may be educated on-site about positive business models that work to reduce carbon footprints;
* Study tours to facilities within the state of Alabama that involve global business and climate change initiatives;
* A substantial amount will be spent for faculty development in enhancing an International Business curriculum; as COBA may soon introduce its MBA program.
COBA's dean said that among the many positive attributes this new two-year grant does for enhancing ASU's business studies, its greatest accomplishment will be its "lifting-up" the University's students.
"The bottom line is that this is good for Alabama State University's business students because it broadens their educational horizons," Hingorani explained. "This will impact 15 scholarly students who will be chosen for the allotted slots this grant creates with no money wasted on staffing. This allows us to put the funds where it provides the maximum impact for ASU, which is toward its students."
To learn more about the U.S. Department of Education's grant, click here: (Business and International Education Program)
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