Collaborative Activities
The College is committed to developing collaborative activities that meet three criteria:
Quality
The Center builds on the College's international focus and strengths, including federally funded projects in research, outreach, and curriculum development for transition economies in various disciplines including entrepreneurship, information systems, tourism, business development and business promotion. Recent projects funded in excess of $10 million have been completed or are active in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Poland, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Georgia.
The Center increases the scope and quality of the College's international activities, particularly in transition economies, by
- Developing relationships with funding organizations using RCB and GSU resources, and monitoring funding opportunities in the public and private sectors.
- Applying for funding in collaboration with chairs, directors, and faculty members interested in opportunities of transitional economies.
- Providing assistance to RCB departments in preparing specific grant proposals for transitional economies.
- Managing the implementation of funded projects.
- Facilitating the collaborative research of RCB faculty members with researchers in the transitional economies.
- Organizing forums for dissemination of findings and discussion and critique of ideas.
- Facilitating the creation of visiting scholars and student exchange programs for transitional economies regions.
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Resources
The activities of the center have been funded by external grants, primarily from the U. S. Agency for International Development, Higher Education in Development (formerly Association Liaison Office), Department of State, and Foundations. In addition, proceeds from indirect costs from the Center's grants will be used to enhance other international research and outreach activities in the college.
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Demand
Research and outreach focusing on transition economies is needed to achieve the international targets to reduce poverty, disease, and illiteracy.
For example, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in their joint report titled "Global Monitoring Report 2005: From Consensus to Momentum" outlines an agenda to achieve international development goals. The agenda includes:
- Ensuring development efforts are country-owned
- Improving environment for growth
- Scaling up human development services
- Dismantling barriers to trade/increase "aid for trade"
- Doubling aid and improving quality of aid.
In 2006, the United States Government will spend $9.1 billion to assist emerging economies in business, trade, investment, development assistance, finance development, education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. In this environment, the College has the opportunity to capitalize on its successful record of grant awards and implementation.
The AACSB International Peace Through Commerce Task Force task has been established by the Board of Directors with the acknowledgement that many prominent global players already embrace the idea that business not only develops financial stability around the world, but that it can also transcend governments, religions, and other institutions in fostering international cooperation, trust, and tolerance. Within this arena, the task force is asked to find the unique role that may exist for business schools – the intersection where business school missions and peace efforts coincide.
Members of the task force, working with AACSB staff, will consider, plan, and execute strategies that will enable and encourage business schools to help faculty, students, and others to understand and engage in activities that harness the connection between business; social, political, and economic stability; and peace. The College is represented on this task force.
Opportunities are emerging in transition economies. New business leadership is developing, and the Robinson College has the opportunity to play an even more vital role in making it happen.
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