If you are teaching International Business/Management in Jan-May 2012, consider enhancing learning in your course by participating in the International Student Collaboration simulation.

 

The project is designed to give students an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in cross-cultural collaboration, as well as is an excellent research platform for participating instructors.

 

Participation is completely free.

 

Over a thousand students from 22 countries are participating in the project this semester and a total of over 2,000 students from almost 30 countries have participated in 2010-2011. 

 

Detailed information about the project can be found at http://www.vtaras.com/International_Cooperation_Project.html

 

Briefly, the idea is very simple. Instructors who teach IB/IM team up students from different countries to complete a term project. Collaborating on-line, students develop a business proposal for a multinational company. Participation on the project is typically worth 20-30% of the course grade and performance is evaluated based on the quality of the team report and the ability of the team to meet the deadlines.

 

We provide all materials and administrative support; you distribute the instructions to your students and do the things you would do when running a regular team-based term project (answering students’ questions, grading reports, etc.).

 

Although the project was designed as an experiential learning tool, it is also an excellent platform for research on international team dynamics and performance (IRB approved). Several papers are currently being developed based on the data we’ve been collecting. Ideas for new research projects are welcome. 

 

The schedule is still being finalized, but the active phase of the project (when students are working together, exchanging ideas, writing the team report) is likely to start in late February-early March and end around May 1, giving our students about eight weeks to complete the project.

 

Non-US-based instructors are especially encouraged to apply.

 

To sign up, questions, concerns, suggestions, please contact Vas Taras ( [log in to unmask] ).

 

Sincerely,  

Vas Taras

 

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Vas Taras, PhD

Department of Business Administration
Bryan School of Business and Economics
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
349 Bryan
POB 26165, Greensboro, NC 27402-6165
336-256-8611
[log in to unmask]
www.vtaras.com