CIBER takes students overseas

It is not often students have the chance to travel abroad and combine theoretical teaching from textbooks with practical experience from the real world.

But for those involved with the Center for International Business Education and Research, it is nothing out of the ordinary.

As a part of Title VI, CIBER is just one of several federally funded programs on the Bloomington campus. The purpose of the center is to help improve the competitiveness of American business through language training, cultural immersion and particular curriculums designed to prepare students once they enter the real world.

“The key is helping our students coming out of higher education understand and develop a global perspective,” Managing Director of CIBER LaVonn Schlegel said.

Students are sent for short-term, study-abroad assignments, typically lasting two weeks or less or the duration of spring break. By sending students to countries such as Brazil, China, Croatia, Ghana, India, Japan, Korea and Peru in 2008 alone, business students are much more prepared for their future.

But it is not just business students who can take advantage of CIBER. Anyone can partake in this program.

In fact, Schlegel said a lot more students are already involved with CIBER than actually realize it, citing the bevy of scholarships they award, their work with faculty to help tailor a class to better fit the students entering today’s business world and their work with Kiva and the School of Journalism, among other things.

“It’s about life-long learning,” Program Manager Shawn Conner said. “You have to ask the right questions. ‘What do I need to go out and learn about this on my own? What are my resources and where do I find them? If it’s going to be a long-term assignment, maybe I can’t get by on my English language skills.’”

In 2009, the center’s students already have plans to visit Dubai, Egypt, Hungary, Ireland and Israel. Schlegel said opportunities like these make the center a success.

“It’s the connections and relationships we’ve been able to make, not just in the business school, but around the world,” Schlegel said. “We’re able to mix those ideas and make them real, and I think that makes us as successful as we’ve been able to be.”