The Eastern Michigan College of Business signed an important
agreement with the Ansal Institute of Technology (AIT)
in Dehli, India, to bring more undergraduate and graduate
students to EMU.
David Mielke, dean of EMU's College of Business, said
the new partnership is important for more than just increasing
enrollment.
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Mielke |
"The College of Business has been developing partnerships
with educational institutions in countries that are key
international trade and business partners. We now
have agreements in Korea, China and India," Mielke said. "We
are positioned to help Michigan businesses by educating
students who, after a post-degree practical training position
with a company in southeast Michigan, will be ready to
assume a position within their operations in those countries.
"Hiring key personnel in those countries can be difficult
and we can provide students fluent in English, who have
lived in the U.S. while earning an undergraduate or graduate
business degree, and have worked for the Michigan-based
company. There are benefits for our Michigan companies,
the students and the College of Business."
In India, most undergraduate programs are three years
in duration and result in a "diploma." The agreement provides
the opportunity for undergraduate students who have completed
the diploma to transfer their credits to EMU and earn an
undergraduate bachelor's degree in 12 months.
Before students enter an MBA program in the U.S., they
must have an equivalent of four years of undergraduate
education.
The College of Business has approved courses for a fourth
year, a "bridge" year, of study at AIT after the diploma
that will then enable students to enter the MBA or Master's
of Information Systems programs at EMU.
"Everyone benefits from this agreement. AIT has a competitive
edge recruiting students for their undergraduate program;
they earn increased revenues from the "bridge" year; we
increase the international enrollments in the College;
and the students have a simple system to follow to earn
our degrees," Mielke said. "The opportunities for Michigan
companies to hire students for their operations in India
are a bonus."
The first seven students admitted to the programs will
enroll at EMU this fall.
"Our partners at AIT scheduled a time for me to meet with
interested students," Mielke said of a recent trip to Dehli. "I
expected to meet 25-30 students. I entered a classroom
with more than 100 students waiting to meet me. The students'
biggest concern was how many students we would accept into
this program."
