CGB Offers New Certified Global Business Professional Course This Winter

The Center for Global Business (CGB) offered the first iteration of BMGT499I, the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) Student Pathways in International Business course during Winter Term 2022-23. The CGBP credential is a nationally recognized certification awarded by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE), the leading organization in setting standards for global business education and trade credentialing.

In spring 2022, the course material was offered as a CGBP Student Pathways Cohort program. With growing interest in the designation, the program evolved into a full one-credit course, allowing more UMD students the opportunity to expand their careers and perspectives as global professionals. The CBGP credential is widely recognized as the standard for excellence in international trade and employers can rest assured that those who have earned it have a high level of expertise, professionalism, and competency in international trade. It further confirms applied knowledge in international trade and export management, competencies required to distinguish oneself and to succeed in today’s competitive market.

Led by Philip Grove, adjunct professor, MBA ’15, and CGB advisory board member, six students took the new one-credit course and were able to expand their proficiency and understanding of global business from an international perspective. He said the course was “a deep dive into the mechanics of international business” and “exposed the students to global business processes that are applicable to any company operating globally.”

The course prepares students for the CGBP exam and provides deep exploration and discussion of global business topics. Content is delivered in a blended format, allowing students to both learn material independently at their own pace, and to consult with their professor during live sessions for further discussion. Upon completing and passing the exam, students are reimbursed the exam fees.

The course material covers four primary domains: global business management, global marketing, supply chain management, and trade finance. Under each of the covered domains, there are five recurring “threads” of focus used to explore each topic in greater detail: documentation, legal and regulatory compliance, intercultural awareness, technology, and resources.

The Global Business Management domain of the class focuses on developing students’ skills in strategic and operational planning, development, implementation, and assessment of international aspects of business. The Global Marketing portion builds on that knowledge, focusing on support functions required to assess customer needs, evaluate opportunities and threats on a global scale, and meet corporate needs within environmental restrictions. Subsequently, the course also provides opportunities to evaluate supply chain options to optimize solutions to support international plans while complying with all rules, regulations, and security issues from sourcing to final destination in the Supply Chain Management section. The final part of the course focuses on Trade Finance, where students practice evaluating financial risk and methods to support global activities – a necessary skill to implement global activities.

Kali Wade, a junior undergraduate supply chain management and marketing student, took the course when it was first offered as a one-credit and noted that the material “helped build (her) global mindset” by providing “the guidance to navigate diverse cultures, values, and business practices.” She also mentioned that the professor consistently “used relevant events to explain the processes in the domains,” making her “feel more prepared going forward to succeed in the competitive global market.”

With the course being strategically structured to prepare students for long-term success, Grove emphasizes that with the material covered, “students are now equipped with unique knowledge to take the CGBP exam and approach their careers with a global mindset.”

The CBGP Student Pathways in International Business course is supported in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education.