Pitt Business e-newsletter Issue 11, September 2008
Notes from the Dean
The global marketplace is driving fundamental changes in the way the world does business. New producers, new markets, enhanced technologies, and integrated supply chains have changed the face of capitalism. These changes and the market volatility that accompanied them in 2008 have pressured accepted business education models. It is clear to me that business education must change if it is to succeed in preparing men and women for the challenges of global markets. And as I look critically at the business curriculum, program offerings, and opportunities we are making available to students at the University of Pittsburgh, I am confident that we are equipping our students with the skills and experiences to navigate the turbulence of today's global markets.
From their acceptance of admission, our undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in one of the many study abroad experiences available through the College of Business Administration (CBA), the International Business Center, the University, or any number of approved study abroad program providers. The innovative and award-winning Plus3 program was designed to give freshmen business students their first college experience abroad. The program combines international travel with business research in countries such as Brazil, Chile, China, and Germany. By developing students' interest in international business early on in their college career, the hope is that they will pursue other international business courses and programs and even other semester-long experiences abroad. With a record number of CBA students participating in international study experiences this past year, it's clear that students are recognizing the necessity of developing the skills and experiences that will help them thrive on what is most certainly a complex and competitive world stage.
On the graduate side, the fact that half of our 2008 full-time MBA students and 40 percent of our PhD students came from countries outside the United States has helped to create an atmosphere in the school that is reflective of the global marketplace. In addition, our Executive MBA (EMBA) Worldwide program operates on three continents-North America, South America, and Europe-with plans to launch a fourth international base in Asia in the coming years. The EMBA classes that began in January 2008 represent the largest-ever classes in the Pittsburgh and Prague locations. Strategic partnerships with top corporations are making the Katz MBA degree more recognizable across the world. The first class enrolled in a customized EMBA program developed for the Czech composite insurance company Česká Pojištovna will graduate in November, and another class for Česká Pojištovna and its parent company Generali PPF Holding began this month.
In this issue of Pitt Business, you'll read about several exciting things that have taken place and align with our globalism initiative. First, read about PhD candidate Jacqueline Pike, who presented research on Wikipedia that she coauthored with Associate Professor Brian Butler at an international conference on human-computer interaction. India—projected to be the world's third largest economy by the year 2025—will be the hub of our Asian initiatives, which are explained in more detail in the story Katz Forges Partnerships in India.
The turbulence and murkiness of the global economy will provide great opportunities for students like ours who are prepared for this new environment. Katz and CBA focus on globalism because it is critical to the future of business and our students.
