International Business Education in a Global Environment: a Conceptual Approach

International Education Journal Vol 5, No 2, 2004

255

http://iej.cjb.net

International Business Education in a Global

Environment: A Conceptual Approach

Jaime Ortiz

College of Business, William Paterson University OrtizJ@wpunj.edu

The globalisation phenomenon poses a different set of challenges to the higher

education system in countries around the world and requires that international

business students be prepared to function professionally in an increasingly complex,

interdependent, and dynamic economy. Understanding the educational implications of

the internationalisation process requires faculty, staff, and senior-level administrators

with a global mindset. The education system in the United States, aiming to satisfy the

demand from business students, should be framed in a context in which students

emerge better prepared to cope with the forces that govern today’s world economy.

This paper introduces a conceptual framework based on social, legal, economic,

political, and technological (SLEPT) conditions to justify greater internationalisation

in business curricula in North American institutions of higher education. A

combination of distinctive student exchanges, study abroad programs, corporate

overseas internships, and more importantly, a solid international business curriculum

should allow them to become more effective, problem-solving individuals.

internationalisation, business education, curriculum integration

INTRODUCTION

The higher education system in the United States calls for innovative educational programs that

could serve the student cohort of the twenty first century (Symonds and Miller, 2002). Essentially,

this higher education system is made up of three entities; an assortment of public state

universities, a variety of community colleges, and several private universities and colleges. Policymaking at those levels is the responsibility of either an elected or appointed Board of Trustees at

individual institutions....