| Undergraduate Dual-Degree Program in International Management |
| Grant: | P116J070051 |
| Start: | 09/01/2007 |
| End: | 08/31/2011 |
| Funding: | $ 408,000 |
| EU-U.S. Atlantis Program | |
| | 2010 abstract | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Partners: Universiteit Van Tilburg (Netherlands); Universidad de Deusto (Spain). The initial program stipulated that Bentley University, Waltham, MA, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands and University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain would offer a 4-year undergraduate dual degree program, with degrees issued by Bentley and E.U. school of choice. In 2008/09, the degree option was restricted to Bentley/Tilburg, but all Bentley/Tilburg students spend 1 semester at Deusto. Bentley students study 4 terms at Bentley; 3 at Tilburg; 1 at Deusto. In March 2010, Bentley signed an agreement with Deusto to engage in a student exchange program whereby Deusto can send Bentley 1 student for one semester for every 3 Bentley students who spend a semester at Deusto. IBIM is an academic/cultural innovation; no similar program exists; international focus exposes students to foreign culture, language, geography, academics. Students gain Dutch/Spanish-language skills; supported at all sites. Graduates design/manage international IT systems. Joint Partner Progress 2009/10: Ongoing curriculum development (curricula different for Cadres 1 & 2 due to new curricula at each institution); grading conversions; grade/transcript sharing; student academic, cultural, health, living; reconciling differences in grant management between EU/US; pre-travel orientation sessions (video/in-person) for Bentley/Tilburg students in 3 locations; student blog/web page; immigration procedures; staff/faculty presentations with partners; joint research/publications. Joint Partner Challenges Continued in 2009/10: curriculum, grade conversion, finals, calendars, credits, mobility, academic cultures, student withdrawals, student academic performance issues, recruitment, staff allocation; planned first Deusto student exchange. Bentley-Specific Progress 2009/10: Updated IBIM academic/administrative/travel student handbooks; updated IBIM-specific academic standards/student assessments; website updates; additional pre-travel orientation sessions, including video for students abroad; streamlined immigration/visa process; instituted IBIM specific laptop policy; increased academic advising and academic documentation; parent meetings; welcomed Tilburg Cadre 1 and Bentley Cadre 2 ; initiated range of joint and cadre-specific meetings and activities; changed recruiting plans for Cadre 3 due to new admissions requirements; hosted annual project directors conference; presented workshop on handbook development; arranged student presentations at conference; initiated opportunity for our students to work in Tilbug’s “buddy” program; facilitated NCAA process for Dutch student to play Bentley soccer; offered Dutch/Spanish Rosetta Stone; changed mobility path; conducted several student surveys; sent faculty/staff to Deusto, resulting in new student/faculty/staff initiatives including new Spanish offering, more faculty exchange, more joint research and publication; recruited Cadre 2 and began recruitment and selection for Cadre 3 (includes open houses, multiple email blasts, brochure mailings, website info, academic review, interviews). Student numbers: Bentley Cadre 1: 6; Cadre 2: 5; Cadre 3 being recruited. Tilburg Cadre 1: 4; Cadre 2: 5. Tilburg will not recruit Cadre 3 until 2011. Student recruitment and retention issues include: program’s high academic standards for acceptance and academic challenge once accepted, students opposition to 2-year time away; dislike IT curriculum and want to change major. The original plan called for two Bentley cohorts of 12 each. Re-evaluation of the program, based on timing constraints, led us to restructure and plan for additional cohorts. Under the new agreement with Deusto, Bentley will accept our first Deusto student fall 2010.
ONLINE REFERENCE: International Bachelors in Information Management |
Nader Asgary
Bentley University
Mary Ann Robbert
Bentley University
Willem-Jan van den Heuvel
Universiteit van Tilburg
Rebeca Cortazar
Universidad de Deusto |
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