Business and International Education (BIE) Grant, U.S. Department of Education, 2001-2004, “Developing Student Capacities for International Careers Through Study Abroad & Internships.”

 From June 2001 until May 2004, the Office of International Business Programs  (OIBP) managed a grant under the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI Business and International Education (BIE) Program.  The BIE program was entitled “Developing Student Capabilities for International Careers Through Study Abroad and Internships,”    focused on encouraging TSU students to contemplate an international career through exposure to other cultures and working with international firms.  This grant coincided with efforts by the Office of International Business Programs to promote a new Minor in International Business.   

 Two types of activities were funded under the BIE grant:

  Ø      Study abroad - strengthening the existing undergraduate business as well
          as the MBA program through opportunities to study and intern abroad,
          including in those countries where TSU has institutional partnerships. 

  Ø      Internships with international firms and associations – providing
           work opportunities for TSU students in firms, agencies, and associations
           with international operations in order to prepare them for careers in
           international business.

 For this grant OIBP entered into partnerships with the business community through local agencies and organizations involved in export promotion in Middle Tennessee. The Nashville Area International Business Center houses three partners: the International Business Council of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Export Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and International Trade Center of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center Network.  They in turn helped to identify private firms for internships and were active in hosting TSU students as well.