Past Programs and Initiatives
Undergraduate
Business Exchange Language Scholarship
A scholarship program through CGB that sought to encourage students to pursue language learning opportunities while studying abroad on a business exchange or direct enroll program.
CGB Presents: Positive Impact Internship - Brazil
The Positive Impact Internship was an opportunity to learn from companies in Brazil that strive to make a positive impact on the world. Students were placed on multicultural teams to work on a real business problem focused on social impact.
IB Agility Labs
The International Business (IB) Agility Labs were short-term virtual case challenges that allowed undergraduate students to learn from global business leaders and collaborate with international peers. Students benefited from exposure to an international company, worked on teams with business students around the world, and gained hands-on case experience to build their resumes and CVs. Through these labs, students gained multiple global perspectives in a fast-paced, intensive, and hands-on competition while working on a real global business issue.
Passport to a Global Mindset
A CGB initiative that defined ‘Global Mindset’ by seven competencies or attributes that those with a global mindset exhibit.
Seven Competencies of the Global Mindset
- Tolerance of Ambiguity — Ability to navigate unclear or uncertain situations without feeling stress or anxiety. Comfort with vague instructions or information.
- Global Business Savvy — Knowledge of business environments and growth drivers (institutional, geographic, cultural, and economic) that operate in and between countries.
- Passion for Diversity — Willingness to seek out and consider diverse viewpoints, appreciate the values and beliefs of others, and collaborate on diverse teams.
- Cultural Curiosity — Interest in learning about cultures and world events, and taking the initiative to seek out more information about local contexts.
- Adaptability — Ability to overcome challenges and be resourceful when faced with difficult situations.
- Self-awareness and Humility — Confidence in oneself without overestimating one's abilities while valuing the experience and backgrounds of others.
- Relationship Building — Eagerness to interact with new people and develop a strong network built on communication, empathy, and mutual respect.
Graduate Programs
Managing Global Business Risks and Opportunities
This course provided students with the opportunity to learn from and engage with business leaders and MBA students in the leading international business destinations of South Africa, Poland, and Israel. The class provided conceptual tools for identifying and assessing the institutional influences shaping national business environments. Students learned about the business and cultural environments in the three focal countries through direct online interaction with overseas business leaders and MBA students, as well as local subject matter experts. Students employed this knowledge in a team project in which they advised a real-world American firm on a strategy for entering one of the three countries. At the end of the class, teams presented their findings to firm representatives and a panel of external judges.
The class consisted of four sequential modules.
- Conceptual tools for developing international business strategies
- Virtual engagement
- Team project
- Presentation & integration
Ace the Case Global Business Challenge
The Ace the Case Global Business Challenge was a virtual opportunity for all MBA and business graduate students to compete against peers from schools throughout the U.S. Teams were required to address a real challenge for a global client through an interviewer-led case and a final video presentation.
Participants:
- Worked in teams and provide actionable recommendations.
- Sharpened skills in navigating the case interview process and in making virtual presentations.
- Networked with international students and corporate executives.
- Joined a virtual student mixer and optional virtual cultural activity.
- Participated in a case interview process with an international company.
- Competed virtually against business students from across the globe.
- Engaged in both synchronous and asynchronous sessions for this two-part competition.
All Students
CGB Presents: NASBITE International Student Membership
An opportunity through CGB to become a member of NASBITE International and receive access to the annual conference, network with international trade professionals, and earn the Certified Global Business Professional credential.
CGB Presents: The Global Business School Network Beyond Conference and The Social Logistics Challenge
The Global Business School Network Beyond Conference unites students, educators, and professionals worldwide to address key challenges in business. Participants explore how business schools are innovating to positively impact society, promote inclusivity, and advance sustainable practices, all while adapting business education for the future.
The Social Logistics Challenge immerses learners in a digital environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and innovation to solve societal issues using logistics principles and technology.
CGB Presents the NASBITE Exporter Summit
An opportunity through CGB to participate in the NASBITE Exporter Summit, an opportunity to gather with top small and medium-sized exporters, trade professionals and trade assistance providers from across the United States, providing them with an opportunity to exchange and share best practices and lessons learned that have contributed to their export success.
Alumni & Industry Professionals
Export Management Bootcamp for Industry Professionals
This intensive 2-day boot camp in export management was designed to equip industry professionals with a solid foundation in global strategy, resources in export management, market analysis, and tangible tools on how to move goods on the market for international export, the right way. Participants interacted with export-related agency representatives who know how to get products into international markets.
ExporTech™
The Center for Global Business partnered with the Maryland/DC District Export Council and U.S. Commercial Service in Baltimore to offer ExporTech, a national export assistance program that helps companies entering or expanding in global markets.
Maryland Business Adapts
This initiative recognized the resilience of Maryland industry in overcoming the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Faculty Development
Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB)
The Center for Global Business provided support through the CIBE Title VI grant for Smith and non-Smith faculty to participate in FDIBs, overseas programs that provide faculty development and training of faculty in the area of international and global business abroad.
CIBE FDIBs
Through the CIBE Title VI grant, FDIBs are overseas study programs — both summer and winter — offered by other CIBE schools that provide faculty development and training of faculty in the area of international and global business abroad . For more information concerning all CIBE FDIB Programs, please visit CIBERWEB.
#KeepGlobalSmith Grant
A grant competition created to support teaching innovations in global learning for the online environment for Smith School faculty. This initiative sought to support and encourage teaching innovations in global learning that leverage now ubiquitous communication technologies to enrich student experiences. The grant was used to support any teaching activity that significantly enhances global learning, including:
- Teaching collaborations between the Smith School and educational institutions located abroad.
- Collaboration for student projects between the Smith School and organizations or companies with operations or headquarters abroad.
- Entirely campus-based global learning experiences for Smith School students (such as simulations, cultural intelligence exercises, etc.)
#KeepGlobalUMD Grant
A grant competition to support campus-based initiatives that connect UMD with the global business environment. Applications proposed fulfilling the mission by connecting non-business curriculum, activities, and teaching with the global business environment or industry. CGB offered small grants that propose integrating global industry or international business concepts into courses and co-curricular activities offered across campus. Such programs include but were not limited to the following:
- A series of co-curricular events that tie together global economics or business with arts and humanities, engineering, science, or other disciplines.
- A project-based learning opportunity for students with a global industry client or to study a global business ecosystem.
- An educational career event to introduce students to global industry careers.
- Training workshops for student entrepreneurs on global supply chain management, distribution channels abroad, export compliance, etc.
Distinguished Speakers Series in International Business: Teaching Guides
Maryland Business Adapts Cases
The primary objective of these case studies was to analyze and learn about the performance of a select group of Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) of Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how they managed operations and showed resilience in reverting to business. Each case identifies lessons learned in each case as the companies represent different manufacturing and service sectors of the economy.
Download the Maryland Business Adapts 20/21 Cases document.
Maryland Business Adapts 21/22 Cases:
Amethyst Technologies: David Vs. Goliath
COVID-19 and Adaptation at Orbis Technologies
Faculty can request teaching notes and the supplementary video interview with the CEO of Orbis Technologies by contacting the center at smithglobal@umd.edu.
CGB Research Initiatives
The Center for Global Business Annual Forum
The Center for Global Business’ Annual Forum occurred every spring to bring together distinguished voices from the academic, policy, diplomatic, and business communities to speak on a different theme each year.