Partners: University of Texas - Pan American (Texas); Universidade de São Paulo (São Paulo); Universidade Federal do Paraná (Paraná).
Program goal: enhance the quality and effectiveness of management education through curriculum development and sustainable Brazil-United States student exchanges with a long-range impact on Brazil-United States relations. The program integrates Management Technology/Information coursework and real-life/global service learning. Target areas: 1) curricular cooperation 2) student exchanges 3) community outreach. 1 is a challenge; 2 and 3 are proceeding well. 2007/08/09: Student recruitment: brochures, website, faculty, essays, interviews, recommendations. Students took courses in English and Portuguese, including: International Management in Brazil (English); Marketing Planning and Control (Portuguese); History of Economic Thought (English); and Industrial Economics and Organization (Portuguese). Others participated in a short term program, Brazil in Global Commerce and Culture, and in applied/service learning, working with Brazilian business in IT, marketing, and the Afro-Brazilian Incubator (ABI), which supports disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Students received pre-travel Portuguese, thanks to grant-supported Portuguese 1 and 2 classes. 2007/08/09: Bentley hosted 2 visiting scholars from Brazil; cooperative research. Bentley/USP explored a common curriculum, but a lack of common interests stalled this effort. The 4-way model complicates communication/decision-making; levels of commitment also vary.
2009/10: 1 Bentley student traveled to USP for a semester, 2009; positive experience. 1 USP student spent the entire 09/10 year at Bentley. 2 Paraná students will attend Bentley 2010. 1 USP student and 1 Paraná student will attend Bentley 2010/11. 1 Bentley student will attend USP spring 2011. Despite substantial recruiting efforts, the number of students interested in Brazil for a full semester has been low, due primarily to language: despite Portuguese language support at Bentley and in Brazil, few students develop enough fluency to study in Portuguese. By contrast, short term programs flourish: 1) Bentley hosted USP graduate students and alumni June 2010 as part of a new graduate course, Contemporary Practices of Managing Effectively in Technology-Based Business Environments, enrolling both USP and Bentley students; included further faculty research development. 2) 4 Bentley students traveled to Rio in July/August 2010 as part of a 4-week directed study in collaboration with USP, Paraná, and ABI, Brazil Enhancing Afro Brazilian Incubator Business Performance. The course focuses on Brazilian business culture/economy; how NGOs address economic and social issues. Students study Portuguese before and during the trip. 3) Bentley developed Brazil in the Global Economy, Culture, and Commerce, a 3 credit, Global Experience Program to run January 2011. Students will study Brazil’s economy, culture, and business; objective is to strengthen students’ international education and familiarize them with contemporary Brazilian issues. Students are required to study Portuguese; partially supported by FIPSE funds. 4) Angelica Cortez, co-PI of the grant, led a program in which five UTPA MBA students took Brazil in Global Commerce and Culture, developed by UTPA and supported and presented by Paraná. Students were required to study Portuguese, and FIPSE provided support. PI Nader Asgary continues his collaborative research with partners. We are pursuing additional external funding to extend our work in Brazil.
ONLINE REFERENCE:
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Nader Asgary
Project Director
U.S. Lead
Bentley University
Cronin International Center
ACG 161
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452
Tel: 781-891-2784
Fax: 781-891-2478
Patricia Foster
Project Co-Director
U.S. Lead
Bentley University
Cronin International Center
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452
Tel: 781-891-2847
Fax: 781-891-2819
Isak Kruglianskas
Brazilian Lead
Universidade de São Paulo
Av. Prof. Luciano
Gualberto, 908
Cidade Universitária 05508-
900
Brazil
Tel: 55-11-3818-4034
Fax: 55-11-3818-4034
Angelica Cortes
U.S. Partner
University of Texas-Pan
American
College of Business
1201 West University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78541
Tel: 956-381-3359
Fax: 956-384-5065
João Carlos da Cunha
Brazilian Partner
Universidade Federal do
Paraná
Departamento de
Administração General e
Aplicada
Curitaba 80 210-170
Brazil
Tel: 55-41-3360-4360
Fax: 55-41-3360-4388
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