Santiago Luna, the coordinator for the Center for Global Business at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, writes about international business language programs offered by the center.
The Center for Global Business (CGB) launched a new portfolio of business language opportunities in this year as part of a commitment to the goals of the Title VI CIBE grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This grant supports international business and language programs for students and professionals to increase the United States’ capacity for international understanding and economic competitiveness. Language competency is one of the top skills related to international expertise that U.S. companies seek out in new recruits, according to a 2014 study conducted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Tennessee.
To serve the foreign language needs of the Smith community and U.S. based companies, the Center has partnered with the University of Maryland School of Language, Literature, and Culture (SLLC) to create 3 new business language courses: French, Arabic, and German. The total enrollment in business language courses for fall 2018 and spring 2019 is 127 students. Also in partnership with SLLC, CGB will award scholarships for business students from anywhere in the U.S. to attend a summer language institute in College Park.
The successful business language grant offered to Smith alumni last year will be expanded this year to include any alumni of the University System of Maryland. The UM System encompasses a total of 14 state institutions, and the Title VI funds will reach a wider audience through this expansion
“We are proud of the great strides we have made in enriching our foreign language portfolio,” said Rebecca Bellinger, CGB executive director. “Although English is perhaps the most commonly used language in business, you can’t know the culture of doing business in another country unless you understand its language. Acquiring and mastering a foreign language gives our students a competitive advantage in the job market and creates greater opportunities for existing professionals when doing business abroad.”
Opportunities for Students
UMD Summer Language Institute
Open to undergraduate and graduate business students from any accredited U.S. academic institution, CGB and the Summer Language Institute offer scholarships of up to $8,500 for the participation in an intensive Arabic or Persian language program from June 3 – August 2, 2019. Application deadline is March 15, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more.
UMD Courses
Open to UMD students, CIBE and SLLC offer an array of programs that merge business and language. Programs available include, but are not limited to, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, and Italian. Learn more.
Professionals
Business Language Opportunity Award
Available to alumni of the University System of Maryland, this award’s purpose is to support the career advancement of alumni in global business positions. Eligible applicants with a graduate date of three years prior to the date of the application are eligible to earn up to $750 for a language course of their choosing. No minimum level of proficiency required. Application deadline is May 15, 2019. Learn more.
Learn more about the Center for Global Business.
Media Contact
Greg Muraski
Media Relations Manager
301-405-5283
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu
About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.