Michigan State receives top CIBER grant,
$1.44 mil. for international business

S. Tamer Cavusgil

Tomas Hult

Michigan State University's Center for International Business Education and Research located in the Eli Broad College of Business recently had its multi-year grant renewed, receiving the highest amount of funding from the U.S. Department of Education among the 30 centers - at least $1.44 million over the next four years, 2006-10.

The Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBERs) were created by Congress under the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to increase and promote the nation's capacity for international understanding and competitiveness. Administered by the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the CIBER network links the manpower and technological needs of the United States business community with the international education, language training, and research capacities of universities across the country. The 30 Centers serve as regional and national resources to business people, students, and teachers at all levels.

Since its establishment in 1990, MSU-CIBER has secured support exceeding $15 million from the federal and private sectors. According to MSU-CIBER Director Tomas Hult, the center focuses its efforts on three areas vital to an organization's global value chain:

• Knowledge development (conducting research that produces leading-edge knowledge)
• Knowledge dissemination (offering innovative programs and products, such as CIBER's knowledge portal - globalEDGE, www.globalEDGE.msu.edu)
• Cultural competitiveness (helping the business community and society successfully leverage leading-edge knowledge)

Michigan State President, Lou Anna K. Simon said, "Michigan State University is advancing the university's strategic commitment, outlined in our 'Boldness by Design' plan, to be recognized worldwide as the United States' leading land-grant research university for the 21st century… land-grant has become world-grant…and as in 1855, Michigan State University will lead the revolution."

Robert B. Duncan, the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Dean, said "We are delighted with the federal government's decision to continue to invest in Michigan State's international business efforts. Our CIBER has established an enviable worldwide leadership position, which fits strategically well within the Broad School's mission to excel in the education and development of business leaders and in the creation and dissemination of knowledge, leading to national and international prominence for our core businesses."

S. Tamer Cavusgil, who is the John William Byington Endowed Chair in Global Marketing, founder of Michigan State's CIBER and currently its executive director, has guided the development of the MSU-CIBER over the past 16 years into a resource center of more than 30 people. "An excellent staff and infrastructure enable us to pursue a comprehensive range of activities," Cavusgil said. "The impact of our activities can be felt both on campus as well as throughout the world."

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