University Advancement

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CSUN’s International Business Program Receives Grant

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., June 20, 2007) — Cal State Northridge’s College of Business and Economics has been awarded a $165,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to advance the development of its program in international business.

"The grant is going to help us dramatically improve the academic teaching of the curriculum in the field of global supply chain management, also known as global logistics," said Rafi Efrat, director of Northridge’s International Business Program.

An initial grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education two years ago to support the development of a university certificate in international trade. The program is now expanding. "The grant helps us better align CSUN with the emerging needs of the business community in the field of global logistics," Efrat said.

Efrat said that student and faculty interest, along with advisory board research, led to the creation of ideas behind the grant. "The field of global logistics is rapidly developing," he said. "It crosses marketing and operations functions in business. The demand by working professionals for this form of educational training continues to grow."

The new grant supports key aspects of the new curriculum, including community outreach and cross-cultural understanding. It also provides funding for faculty research and travel as well as stipends for students to participate in a ten-day educational tour abroad annually over two years.

As part of community outreach, students will participate in a hands-on course providing services to small businesses in the San Fernando Valley. Working as part of a team, students will help small businesses expand internationally, providing consultation under the supervision of faculty. "We will introduce them to the nuts and bolts of global logistics," Efrat said.

Ali Behnezhad, co-director of the program, said CSUN’s location advantage provides a wealth of educational opportunities. "The proximity of our campus to the port of Los Angeles, the largest port in the nation, puts us in a unique position to closely study logistical activities there and provide a solid education in global logistics for our students," he said.

The ten-day student tour to Mexico or China, "combines cultural emersion and field visits of facilities and businesses involved in global logistics," Efrat said. "Rather than expecting our students to spend a semester or a year abroad, this grant offers students the opportunity to gain cross-cultural appreciation of business during the spring break as part of a course."

For more information contact Efrat or Behnezhad at the center at (818) 677-6211 or visit the Web site http://www.csun.edu/~busintl/ibcertificate.htm/index.htm.