Daniels Going Global: Expanding Our Global Reach
The Daniels College of Business has always emphasized a global approach in its programs and experiential learning activities, embracing the belief that all business is international. With globalization being one of the major initiatives of the Daniels Tomorrow strategic planning process, today, Daniels is more focused than ever on identifying and assessing global opportunities that will drive the College forward.
With nearly three-fourths of DU undergraduates studying abroad -- many taking advantage of the Cherrington Scholars Program, which subsidizes students' tuition -- both the University of Denver and Daniels have long been known for their travel opportunities. But as Director of Globalization Tom Dowd puts it, a College-wide globalization effort is about much more than international programs. "We're working to integrate the portfolio of international activities already going on at Daniels in order to maximize returns for students, faculty, alumni and staff."
Among other things, Dowd and his globalization committee are working on the following initiatives:
Strengthen relationships with international alumni.
Alumni can help greatly with the effort to broaden Daniels' international reach, says Dowd-from recruiting international students to placing Daniels graduates in their companies to helping Daniels establish and solidify corporate partnerships with international organizations.
Develop more formal exchange programs with international schools.
Dowd and Dean Christine Riordan are focused on developing sustainable relationships with colleges and universities overseas-schools with which the College can create long-term faculty exchange, student exchange and other mutually advantageous programs. In addition, such relationships will help Daniels expand its research efforts with international institutions and businesses.
Increase international student enrollment.
To understand why international students choose to study at the Daniels College of Business-and to continue to recruit even more international students-Dowd says the globalization team is working to understand and improve the international student experience (in part by collaborating with the Suitts Career Management Center to develop a plan for career placement for such students). Daniels will reinforce its relationships with the native countries of its international students and will develop new partnerships with other countries.
Launch a world executive program.
Dowd, Dean Riordan, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Richard Scudder, and a faculty design team are in the early stages of developing a brand new world executive program, which will integrate the core business curriculum of the Daniels MBA with courses from the Korbel School of International Studies and the Sturm College of Law. Open to students based around the world, the residency program will target experienced professionals whose jobs include a heavy global component. Daniels' world executive program will be similar to Global Executive MBA programs at business schools at Georgetown University, Duke University, Columbia University and others.
Dowd says that in 10 years' time, Daniels will be known for its international reach and high-quality student experience. "We'll be branded as a truly global business school," he says. "There will be all sorts of access for students, faculty and companies to engage with us in ways that benefit them as well as us, and we'll have a rich international student population and alumni database." Thankfully, Dowd admits, the College launches the effort from a great starting place. "We have a foundation that is broad and strong on which to build."
