August 2007 - Volume 1 Issue 7

CIBERweb Newsletter

Success Story

Informal Foreign Language Tutoring at UT-Austin - The University of Texas at Austin

At the McCombs School of Business, there are many MBA/MPA students who want to brush up their foreign language skills but don’t have time to take traditional language courses. Our informal tutoring program gives these students access to international colleagues who are native speakers of languages they want to work on. Students sign up for inexpensive private or small-group tutoring sessions, working out their own schedule and location with the tutors.

In 2006-2007, 50 students enrolled in the program. Languages included Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. 19 students, many from McCombs, served as tutors. Some students enroll in the tutoring as a refresher course, others in preparation for study abroad, and others are simply interested in an area or culture and want to learn more. CIBER also underwrites the fees for McCombs faculty and staff who want to study a language.

Interested individuals can now subscribe to the CIBERweb newsletter by visiting http://ciberweb.msu.edu/newsletter.asp and clicking the "subscribe" link. This subscription service will allow the CIBER network to reach a greater audience by bringing the latest CIBER-sponsored publications, events, and activities directly to our friends, colleagues, and constituents.

Featured National Impact Publication

National Security Risk Management Activities (2003)

Upcoming Activities

Aug 9, 2007 U.S.-Canada Trade Workshops - Michigan State University
ITA-CSC Trade Promotion workshops are aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses in Michigan, as well as the agencies that serve them (e.g., chambers of commerce, economic development corporations, small business development groups). The initial series of workshops will consist of four, day-long in-services designed to provide attendees with a broad understanding of U.S. – Canadian trading protocols and procedures. Attendees will be invited to help plan a follow-up series of workshops by completing an end-of-session survey on their specific interests and priorities.

Aug 14, 2007 The Web Revolution for Business - San Diego State University
Full two-day conference on web applications that can help companies decrease their global business costs, while increasing market share and profitability. Speakers from Google, eBay, PayPal, FedEx ,Baker & Mckenzie, Nik Software, Thomson CompuMark, FBI, Yamagata America, and Shipping Solutions will present new strategies for business.

Aug 23, 2007 U.S.-Canada Trade Workshops - Michigan State University
ITA-CSC Trade Promotion workshops are aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses in Michigan, as well as the agencies that serve them (e.g., chambers of commerce, economic development corporations, small business development groups). The initial series of workshops will consist of four, day-long in-services designed to provide attendees with a broad understanding of U.S. – Canadian trading protocols and procedures. Attendees will be invited to help plan a follow-up series of workshops by completing an end-of-session survey on their specific interests and priorities.

Aug 24, 2007 Women as Economic and Business Leaders - Michigan State University
This session, for Arabic women representing Saudi Arabia, Yeman, Iraq, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Oman, and Tunisia, will focus on Women in Business and Economics. The participants are sponsored by the state department on a Middle East program involving Women in Business and Economics. After a morning of programming arranged by CIBER, they will meet with MSU President Lou Anna Simon and then move to the State Department in the afternoon.

The MSU-CIBER session will begin with a welcome by the Dean and a presentation on globalEDGE, as requested by the group. They will then hear presentations from female executives at two major American corporations before concluding the session.

About CIBERs

The Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBERs) were created under the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to increase and promote the nation's capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise. Administered by the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the CIBER program links the manpower and information needs of U.S. business with the international education, language training, and research capacities of universities across the U.S. Thirty universities were designated as centers that serve as regional and national resources to business, students, and academics. Together, the CIBERs form a powerful network focused on improving American competitiveness and providing comprehensive service and programs that help U.S. business succeed in global markets. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you can unsubscribe from our mailing list.

August 2007 - Volume 1 Issue 7