Two grants from the U.S. Department of Education are promoting partnerships between Bentley and other leading academic institutions. The support comes from the department’s Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE), which aids programs to encourage reform and innovation at colleges and universities in this country and abroad.
Dual Degrees in Information Management
A grant of $408,000, awarded through the FIPSE European Union–United States Atlantis Program, establishes an international dual degree program in information technology. Undergraduates will study at Bentley, Tilburg University in the Netherlands, and Deusto University in Spain. The European Union awarded $548,000 to the partner schools.
Nader Asgary, associate provost for international relations and director of the Cronin International Center, is a strong proponent of academic partnerships that stretch across the globe.
“Students will be immersed in all aspects of global higher education, earn two degrees in two different countries, and have access to more international job opportunities,” he says. “There is also the potential for conducting research with colleagues at partner institutions.”
Through the program, undergraduates study for two years at their home university, three semesters at their primary away-university, and one semester at the third site. In addition to academic courses, the host institutions are offering an array of cultural opportunities in their respective countries. Language proficiency is another program goal, with the Bentley students studying Dutch and Spanish, and the European students exposed to English and Spanish at all academic sites.
The European Union–United States Atlantis Program is conducted by FIPSE and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture. Bentley Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems Mary Ann Robbert and Director of Sponsored Programs Mary Louise Paul provided key support in the grant-seeking process.
Student Exchanges Focused on Managing IT
A grant from the FIPSE United States–Brazil Higher Education Consortia funds student exchanges of a year or more among Bentley and institutions in Brazil and Texas. Bentley undergraduates will study in Portuguese at one of two schools in Brazil: the University of São Paulo or the Federal University of Paraná. The other partner is the University of Texas–Pan American. All schools received $200,000.
“The award provides a framework for expanding on 10 years of cooperative efforts between Bentley and the University of São Paulo,” explains Professor of Management Hans Thamhain, citing joint educational programs, student and faculty exchanges, and collaborative research. He and Joao Resende-Santos, associate professor of international studies, helped develop the grant proposal and remain active in implementation.
The program aims to enhance many aspects of global business education and cultural enrichment, with a particular focus on the management of technology. Through classroom study and other activities, students will develop the knowledge and skills to address actual business problems against a cross-cultural backdrop.
Internships, conferences, and experiential learning are part of the program as well. Supporting organizations include the Massachusetts High Technology Council, Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives.
The United States–Brazil Higher Education Consortia is administered by FIPSE and the Brazilian Ministry of Education. Grants for up to four years are awarded to groups of two or more academic institutions from the U.S. and Brazil.