“In today’s business world, companies have to think globally if they want to compete,” says Dr. Vasyl Taras, associate professor in the Department of Management. “The economy is becoming increasingly interconnected, and the demand for international business expertise has never been greater.”
To meet that demand, the Bryan School welcomed its first class of students in the new Master of Science in International Business (MSIB) program in Fall 2018. With an entirely online format and a curriculum designed around practical real-world experience, the new MSIB program has attracted students from across the U.S. and all over the world. Modeled after the highly successful UNCG X-Culture program, many of the courses will include projects where students work virtually in diverse groups and get hands-on experience solving real-life international business challenges.
“Students will have the opportunity to develop relationships with their peers across the globe and build their leadership skills by managing international teams,” says Taras. “They will also have the chance to work with more than 50 different private sector partners, including some well-known names like Louis Vuitton, Home Depot, and Hard Rock Café.” The projects will focus on many different aspects of international business, from managing global supply chains to developing marketing plans and strategies for choosing and entering new markets.
One of the things that differentiates the Bryan School’s program is that it’s not just the students who are bringing a broad range of international perspectives to the program. Of the 10 professors who will be involved in the program, only two are originally from the U.S.
“Having instructors who come from places like Ghana, Ukraine, Finland, and Chile is going to bring a breadth and depth of international business knowledge that you won’t find in similar programs,” says Taras. “This really sets our program apart and will prepare our MSIB students for the future of international business.
