Kelley school brings Middle East students to IU

The Kelley School of Business’ Global Business Institute is back, bigger and stronger.

The program, a collaboration between Kelley, Coca-Cola and the State Department, brings students from the Middle East to IU each summer for a four-week crash course in business.

The program is currently underway.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership in such a wonderful and life-changing program,” said Idalene Kesner, dean designate of Kelley.

“Entrepreneurship is key to creating stability and growth in emerging markets, and it’s exciting to know we can build on that progress in other countries this year. We look forward to welcoming a new group of students to the Kelley family.”

The 100 students, all college-aged, come from Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, the Palestinian Territories, Morocco, Pakistan and Tunisia.

Applications rose from 5,300 last year to more than 7,000 this year.

“The students applied under the heading of ‘how to make tomorrow better’ for their countries,” Associate Director Christine Davis said.

“The goal is to promote entrepreneurship, economic development and cross-cultural communication.”

Davis explained that during their time here, the students hear lectures and meet with teachers to construct a feasibility study to potentially create a business.

They are separated into teams by country, choosing for themselves what kind of business they would like to create.

Apart from school, the students also take time to visit local attractions to experience American business and culture.

They will visit Indianapolis businesses, Nashville for its culture and, after the course is over, they will visit Washington D.C. and the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta.

“We look at the youth as the keys to creating a better future,” said Hamish Banks, director of public affairs and communications for Coca-Cola in the Middle East.

“Our business philosophy is that you can’t have a strong business without a strong community. The key to success is this golden triangle between the government, the business sector and civil society. When they’re in harmony, it can be a powerful force.”

While many of the students are still in school, some of their ideas from last year have already taken off.    

One team started a restaurant in Alexandria, Egypt. Another patented an idea for a solar-powered irrigation system.

“It’s a great program with fantastic students,” Davis said.

Though the students come from different backgrounds, Banks said, they all share a “hard-wired sense of possibility.”

“With this program, we are supporting the most vibrant part of the population,” Banks said. “We’re building a network of future leaders.”