The College of Business expanded its international learning experiences for students this week with a new Louisville-China connection.
     On October 6, Dean Charlie Moyer signed an exchange agreement with Dean Wei'an Li of the Nankai University Business School. Nankai is one of the top three schools in China and is recognized globally as an outstanding business school.

     Just 90 minutes from China's capital, Beijing, Nankai is located in the city of Tianjin with a large seaport and an economic zone that houses plants and operations of high-profile international businesses. Home to approximately 11 million people, Tianjin offers a rewarding cultural environment for students. Nankai is expected to provide an array of learning experiences, according to College of Business Dean Emeritus Bob Taylor, who accompanied Dean Moyer on the trip.
     “We expect to initiate undergraduate exchanges, undergraduate study tours, graduate student experiences and joint faculty research opportunities within the next year,” said Taylor, who also is the college’s director of international programs.   “We set a goal of creating relationships with 15 first-rate international programs, and this brings us to 14.”
     While in China, the deans also will meet with university representatives in Beiwei and Shanghai, including Fudan (popularly regarded as the Harvard of China) and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade.
     In addition to China, the College of Business has international study agreements with leading schools in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Moscow, Prague, Taiwan and Hungary, pending relationships with schools in New Zealand and Poland, and is seeking relationships in South Africa and Latin America.
     College of Business students who meet the requirements can apply for up to $5,000 in study abroad scholarships.  In most exchange programs, the students pay tuition at their home university and attend international classes at no additional cost, other than travel and living expenses.
     For more information about international study opportunities, students can attend weekly information sessions Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in COB Room 024 or contact Assistant Dean for Advising Allie Goatley at 502.852.6360.

(posted 10/7/08)