Coles College establishes international partnership with Germany’s Bielefeld University
The Coles College of Business has launched a formal partnership with Bielefeld University of…
Georgia (May 4, 2005) — Coles College establishes international partnership with Germany’s Bielefeld University
Terri Thornton
Abstract
Contact: Terri Thornton‚ 404−932−4347 or territhornton@mindspring.com
The Coles College of Business has launched a formal partnership with Bielefeld University
of Applied Sciences‚ located in the East Westphalia area of Germany. The agreement
is expected to involve a series of student and faculty exchanges beginning this fall.
Administrators at Bielefeld say KSU’s expertise in economics and accounting is particularly
attractive to them. Bielefeld has much to offer KSU as well‚ says Coles College Associate
Professor Kurt Schulzke‚ who leads the KSU side of the partnership. “First and foremost
are the people‚” Schulzke says. “Bielefeld’s business faculty offer a wide range of
European Union and international expertise‚” he says. “An added benefit is that many
Bielefeld faculty and students speak English‚ making it easier for KSU’s largely English−speaking
student body to have a rewarding academic experience overseas.
“In addition to giving our students and faculty members an immersion in international
commerce‚ the partnership may also open the door to study at other universities which
have existing affiliations with Bielefeld‚” Schulzke adds. Bielefeld has cooperative
agreements with more than 100 institutions of higher learning worldwide‚ as well as
seven North American universities.
“Many well−known German companies are global players nowadays – not only exporting
to the U.S. market but also having production facilities within the U.S.‚” added Thomas
Rautenstrauch‚ Professor of Business Administration and Accounting at Bielefeld University.
“These include DaimlerChrysler‚ BMW‚ Siemens and so on. It is important for students
to have experience with the U.S. market and/or university system to match the requirements
of attractive employers. The new partnership between Bielefeld and the Coles College
of Business at KSU offers the great opportunity for getting important experience‚
learning more about your university system‚ your country‚ economy and market to our
students as well as to our faculty members.”
Rautenstrauch will be guest lecturing at the Coles College in late October 2005 in
the area of international financial reporting.
This is the latest in a series of international partnerships underway at the Coles
College. The MBA for Experienced Professionals program at the Coles College of Business
at Kennesaw State University has forged a long−term agreement with the Institute for
Business and Public Administration (ASEBUSS) in Bucharest‚ Romania. The ASEBUSS agreement
grew out of professional collaboration between Professor Schulzke and ASEBUSS Lecturer‚
Adrian Manaicu‚ that began in 1991‚ a few months after the Romanian revolution. The
Coles College also has a formal academic agreement with Kazak American University
in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. The business school is also home to the
China Research Center‚ and two Coles College faculty members have been honored as
Fulbright Scholars.
“It is critical for institutions of higher learning to prepare their students to thrive
in the global economy‚” says Coles College Dean Tim Mescon. “Agreements with institutions
such as Bielefeld University help our students and faculty members develop expertise
needed to prepare them for the challenges of the future.”
“I’m glad to tell you that the new exchange program between Bielefeld and KSU is highly
appreciated by our students and faculty members because it allows the opportunity
to improve cross−cultural thinking‚” adds Axel Benning‚ Dean of Bielefeld’s business
and management faculty.
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Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing
student population of 18‚000 from 132 countries. The third largest university in the
state‚ and a member of the 34−institution University System of Georgia‚ KSU offers
more than 55 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
