Partners: University of Texas - Pan American (Texas); Universidade de São Paulo (São Paulo); Universidade Federal do Paraná (Paraná).
The goal of this program is to 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. It works to strengthen and expand ties by establishing sustainable student-based programs, with heavy emphasis on student exchange/mobility and exploration of curriculum collaboration at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The program focuses on innovative ways to enhance the field of Management of Technology/Information Management. It integrates coursework and real-situation scenarios in global service learning and implementing cross-cultural business knowledge within the target areas of 1) curricular cooperation; 2) student exchanges; and 3) community outreach.
Three modules comprise the project: 1) design and implementation of common curriculum; 2) encouraging student exchanges that include study abroad, short-term intensive modules, internships, and summer programs; and 3) implementation of community/enterprise outreach. To date, common curriculum development has not been a success.
Students have been recruited through brochures, a Web site, faculty outreach, student essays, interviews, and professor recommendations.
In the student exchange part of the program, U.S. students have taken courses at Brazilian institutions in both English and Portuguese. These courses have included International Management and Business in Brazil (English); Marketing Planning and Control (Portuguese); History of Economic Thought (English); and Industrial Economics and Industrial Organization (Portuguese). A group of U.S. students also participated in Brazil in Global Commerce and Culture, and in applied/service learning projects. While studying in Brazil, students worked with Brazilian businesses to develop information technology solutions while applying marketing knowledge to develop promotional programs/materials for Brazilian entrepreneurs. They worked with the Afro-Brazilian Incubator, an organization that provides training and support services to disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Prior to their travel, students received instruction in Portuguese.
Bentley College hosted two visiting scholars from Brazil, and both conducted research with Bentley faculty.
Faculty and administrators from Bentley and the University of São Paulo have initiated a study of issues related to a common curriculum, but this effort has been a challenge due to lack of areas of common interest. Partners find that the four-way model complicates communication/decision-making and the level of commitment to the project varies among them.
A second evaluation was submitted in mid-2009.
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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