Supporting University-wide initiatives to globalize the URI education experience, business professors are developing collaborative relationships with universities in Tunisia, North Africa and Minsk, Belarus.

Middle East North Africa Region: Tunisia
To build a pathway for URI students to study in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, three URI professors have received travel support for 2017. MENA holds significant growth potential for international trade and as a result there are opportunities for student internships, study, and eventually future careers. College of Business Associate Dean and Professor of Finance and Decision Sciences Shaw Chen is working with faculty to develop student exchange programs with universities in the region. For example, URI Assistant Professor of Accounting Anis Triki, who grew up in Tunisia, is responsible for internship programs with the North African educational institutions and URI Assistant Professor of Arabic Alexander Magidow will work to advance the language and culture aspects of the exchange programs. The interdisciplinary team will visit universities in Tunisia, including the University of Sfax. This trip will expand URI’s network and define details of a future collaboration for students and faculty from both institutions. Trips to Kuwait and United Arab Emirates are also being explored.

Minsk, Belarus
Associate Professor of Finance Shingo Goto received a Carnegie Global Travel Grant to develop opportunities with the Belarus national flagship university in Minsk, Belarus. Goto’s recent trip to Minsk uncovered interest in a partnership with an American university. Such a partnership will help them to develop their faculty expertise in market-based economics and business management disciplines; educate banking and IT specialists; train Belarusian doctoral students, and explore an exchange program focused on entrepreneurship.

During his visit, Gotu presented lectures to the English BBA and MBA programs at the School of Business and Management of Technology at Belarusian State University (BSU) as well as at meetings with the National Bank of Belarus and a private think tank focused on economic development. In May 2017 another trip is planned with URI Assistant Professor of Computer Sciences Statistics Natallia Katenka to further promote URI’s capabilities and define future education partnerships. Katenka is a BSU graduate who has deep insights into Belarusian culture.

Taiwan
In other international news: A J-term trip brought 14 Supply Chain Management business students to the National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU). URI students worked with 24 NTOU students who were selected for the program as part of the “Ocean Business is Good Global Business” project.