Past Programs and Initiatives

Graduate Programs

International Business Agility Labs

The Center for Global Business hosted short-term virtual case competitions connecting University of Maryland students with peers at partner universities worldwide. Teams tackled real challenges faced by international companies, building cross-cultural collaboration, problem-solving and presentation skills through hands-on global business experience.

Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP)

The Center for Global Business offered the CGBP Student Pathways Program to prepare students for NASBITE International’s certification in international trade and export management. Through a one-credit winter course, students explored global business management, marketing, supply chain management and trade finance, with access to professional instruction, exam preparation resources and networking opportunities.

Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program

The Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program connected Smith School business master’s students with paid summer internships at small and midsize companies across Maryland and the United States. Students applied their skills to projects in strategy, marketing, finance, supply chain management, analytics and technology. Supplemental training and faculty guidance supported their work on business growth and operational challenges. The program received partial funding through a U.S. Department of Education Title VI CIBE grant.

Managing Global Business Risks and Opportunities

Students engaged virtually with business leaders, MBA students and experts to explore business environments in South Africa, Poland and Israel. Teams applied their learning to develop market entry strategies for an American firm and presented recommendations to company representatives and external judges.

Ace the Case Global Business Challenge

This virtual competition challenged MBA and business graduate students to develop recommendations for a global client through a case interview and video presentation. Participants strengthened teamwork, problem-solving and presentation skills while connecting with peers and corporate executives. Read about the 2022 and 2021 competitions.

All Students

CGB Presents: NASBITE International Student Membership

An opportunity through CGB to become a member of NASBITE International and receive access to the annual conference, network with international trade professionals, and earn the Certified Global Business Professional credential.

CGB Presents: The Global Business School Network Beyond Conference and The Social Logistics Challenge

The Global Business School Network Beyond Conference unites students, educators, and professionals worldwide to address key challenges in business. Participants explore how business schools are innovating to positively impact society, promote inclusivity, and advance sustainable practices, all while adapting business education for the future.

The Social Logistics Challenge immerses learners in a digital environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and innovation to solve societal issues using logistics principles and technology. 

CGB Presents the NASBITE Exporter Summit

An opportunity through CGB to participate in the NASBITE Exporter Summit, an opportunity to gather with top small and medium-sized exporters, trade professionals and trade assistance providers from across the United States, providing them with an opportunity to exchange and share best practices and lessons learned that have contributed to their export success.

Student Global Leadership Board

The Student Global Leadership Board (SGLB) is a student organization consisting of 4 undergraduate, 1 master’s, and 1 MBA student who work closely with the Center for Global Business to represent the student voice in global programming. SGLB members will work closely with CGB, Smith faculty, and students to help shape and promote programs that align more closely with students’ needs and interests. 

The purpose of the Student Global Leadership Board is to:

• Represent the student voice: Act as a bridge between the student body and the Center for Global Business to ensure programs align with students’ needs and interests.
• Enhance Global Opportunities: Bring forward new ideas to expand and improve global experiential learning, including international business treks, case competitions and global networking events.
• Foster Leadership Development: Offer students a hands-on leadership role, where they develop project management, communication, and collaborative skills.
• Create Lasting Impact: Work together to shape programs and initiatives that will leave a legacy of enhanced global learning experiences for future students.

By being a member of the SGLB, you will gain:

• Skills in international education and student services
• Experience in program development and coordination
• A deeper understanding of international business teaching and learning
• A broader international education network
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Access to leadership training workshops
• Recommendations for other opportunities

Required skills and expectations:

• Previous leadership or involvement in coordinating with students is required
• Self-starter and ability to work independently toward project goals
• Ability to pitch in fresh ideas to increase awareness amongst the students
• Effective communication (verbal and written)
• Project management skills
• Organizational skills
• Ability to meet every month

Elena Emde

Freshman double-majoring in marketing and international business.

Elena Emde serves as executive vice president of the International Business Student Organization, a club that fosters global mindsets and connects students to international opportunities at Smith and beyond. As a first-generation German American, she has a strong interest in global affairs and enjoys developing international networks through initiatives led by the Center for Global Business. In her free time, she likes running and being in nature.

Ecclisia Mekbeb

Sophomore double-majoring in supply chain management and international business.

Ecclisia Mekbeb is the director of events for the International Business Student Organization, helping create opportunities for students to engage with global topics and professionals in international fields. She is also an Honors Ambassador and a community assistant in on-campus housing. A first-generation Ethiopian American, Mekbeb is passionate about global development and previously interned with the Ethiopian Outreach Ministry, supporting community-based initiatives.

Einav Tsach

Junior pursuing a dual degree in multiplatform journalism and international business, with a minor in Jewish studies.

Einav Tsach works as a resident assistant and holds leadership roles in UMD’s Jewish community. He has interned at national and local news outlets, consulted for TAMID, and studied U.S. diplomacy and policymaking as part of the UMD Global Fellows program. He was born in Israel and moved to the U.S. at age 8.

Ajinkya Deshmukh

Second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems.

Ajinkya Deshmukh has worked on campus as a research assistant supporting artificial intelligence projects. Professionally, he has consulted on digital transformation initiatives for clients such as Dell and LyondellBasell. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, he is passionate about motorbikes, coffee and soccer.

Alumni & Industry Professionals

Export Management Bootcamp for Industry Professionals

This intensive 2-day boot camp in export management was designed to equip industry professionals with a solid foundation in global strategy, resources in export management, market analysis, and tangible tools on how to move goods on the market for international export, the right way. Participants interacted with export-related agency representatives who know how to get products into international markets.

ExporTech™

The Center for Global Business partnered with the Maryland/DC District Export Council and U.S. Commercial Service in Baltimore to offer ExporTech, a national export assistance program that helps companies entering or expanding in global markets.

Maryland Business Adapts 

This initiative recognized the resilience of Maryland industry in overcoming the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Maximizing Maryland Graduate Internship Program

This program connected small and midsize businesses in Maryland and across the United States with Smith School master’s students for summer internships. Interns supported projects in strategy, operations, analytics, finance, marketing, supply chain and technology, with supplemental training and faculty guidance to help companies advance business growth.

Faculty Development

Title VI CIBE National COIL Training and Matchmaking Network

This program introduced faculty to Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), offering guidance on project design and resources for international partnerships. Information sessions and matchmaking opportunities supported faculty in developing courses that built students’ cross-cultural communication and virtual teamwork skills.

Smith COIL Faculty Fellows

This fellowship supported Smith faculty in developing Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects that connected students across cultures. Fellows attended workshops, designed courses and mentored colleagues, with stipends, instructional design assistance and international partnership support funded through the Title VI CIBE grant.

Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB)

The Center for Global Business provided support through the CIBE Title VI grant for Smith and non-Smith faculty to participate in FDIBs, overseas programs that provide faculty development and training of faculty in the area of international and global business abroad. 

CIBE FDIBs

Through the CIBE Title VI grant, FDIBs are overseas study programs — both summer and winter — offered by other CIBE schools that provide faculty development and training of faculty in the area of international and global business abroad . For more information concerning all CIBE FDIB Programs, please visit CIBERWEB.

#KeepGlobalSmith Grant

A grant competition created to support teaching innovations in global learning for the online environment for Smith School faculty. This initiative sought to support and encourage teaching innovations in global learning that leverage now ubiquitous communication technologies to enrich student experiences. The grant was used to support any teaching activity that significantly enhances global learning, including:

• Teaching collaborations between the Smith School and educational institutions located abroad.
• Collaboration for student projects between the Smith School and organizations or companies with operations or headquarters abroad.
• Entirely campus-based global learning experiences for Smith School students (such as simulations, cultural intelligence exercises, etc.)

#KeepGlobalUMD Grant

A grant competition to support campus-based initiatives that connect UMD with the global business environment. Applications proposed fulfilling the mission by connecting non-business curriculum, activities, and teaching with the global business environment or industry. CGB offered small grants that propose integrating global industry or international business concepts into courses and co-curricular activities offered across campus. Such programs include but were not limited to the following:

• A series of co-curricular events that tie together global economics or business with arts and humanities, engineering, science, or other disciplines.
• A project-based learning opportunity for students with a global industry client or to study a global business ecosystem.
• An educational career event to introduce students to global industry careers.
• Training workshops for student entrepreneurs on global supply chain management, distribution channels abroad, export compliance, etc.

Distinguished Speakers Series in International Business: Teaching Guides

View resources.

Maryland Business Adapts Cases

The primary objective of these case studies was to analyze and learn about the performance of a select group of Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) of Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how they managed operations and showed resilience in reverting to business. Each case identifies lessons learned in each case as the companies represent different manufacturing and service sectors of the economy.

Download the Maryland Business Adapts 20/21 Cases document.

Maryland Business Adapts 21/22 Cases:

Amethyst Technologies: David Vs. Goliath

COVID-19 and Adaptation at Orbis Technologies

Faculty can request teaching notes and the supplementary video interview with the CEO of Orbis Technologies by contacting the center at smithglobal@umd.edu.

WSC Case Study

CTSi Adapts and the Mudbucket Blooms

CGB Research Initiatives

The Center for Global Business Annual Forum

The Center for Global Business Annual Forum occurred every spring to bring together distinguished voices from the academic, policy, diplomatic, and business communities to speak on a different theme each year.

PhD Research Award

Through the Title VI CIBE grant, the Center for Global Business funds PhD research that advances our understanding of the international context in which business is conducted. We are particularly interested in research proposals that align with the congressionally mandated CIBE mission of contributing to (a) the internationalization of business disciplines, and/or (b) the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses. We would welcome proposals on international themes from any of the business functional areas.

2024

Chan Kim is a fifth-year student in the economics PhD program at the University of Maryland College Park. Kim's groundbreaking proposal delves into the intricate dynamics of international trade, industrial organization, innovation, and productivity growth, addressing critical questions at the heart of U.S. businesses’ global competitiveness.

2023

Abhay Grover, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Logistics, Business, and Public Policy, conducts research at the intersection of public policy, operations, and supply chain management as it relates to the agri-food industry.

2022

Ariel Rava, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Accounting and Information Assurance, conducts research on how global supply chains are affected by political risk, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine.

2021

Roxanne Jaffe, a PhD candidate in the Department of Management and Organization, conducts research on global strategy, location choice, and international business, from an economic perspective. Jaffe also specifically looks at international data on micro-mobility expansion behavior, to better understand firm internationalization in new industries.

2020

Audra Wormald, a PhD candidate specializing in strategic management and entrepreneurship, conducts research to better understand the role startups play in the emergence and growth of a new industry by analyzing their internationalization decisions. The specific research questions of interest are: how do startups become multinationals? What role does human capital play in firms' decisions to internationalize?

2019

Sabari Karmegam of the Department of Decision, Operations and Information Technologies, conducts research on how the adoption of the mobile channel on matrimonial platforms has affected the efficacy of the matching process and the associated outcomes in India.

CIBE Initiatives

AIB-CIBER Doctoral Academy

The Center for Global Business is a contributing partner of the AIB-CIBE(R) Doctoral Academy, a global training program for Ph.D. students in international business, offered by the Academy of International Business and select CIBE(R)s. The program provides comprehensive training through in-person and online modules, workshops, and mentoring led by experienced international business scholars.

The certificate program is designed to build a strong foundation in international business and help participants develop a scholarly network essential for a successful academic career. In addition to formal training, students connect with like-minded peers and may have opportunities to engage with the broader international business research community.

Upon completion, participants receive an official certificate recognizing their advanced training in international business research and education.

Please see the program website for more information on the curriculum, admissions, and other details.

CIBE Consortium for Education Abroad (CC/FEA)

This fully funded collaborative initiative of the Title VI CIBE program and the Forum on Education Abroad is designed to increase the capacity for community colleges to develop education abroad programs and to develop a workforce with a global perspective by providing comprehensive, wraparound support. 

Institutions selected for participation will identify a team of two to four administrators and/or faculty members who will commit to formulating a strategic action plan to move education abroad efforts forward at their institution for the next 12-18 months. The institutional team must contain at least one faculty member. While not required, preference will be given to schools whose participant team includes a faculty member who teaches business or economics.

Through a series of specially designed workshops, webinars, and networking meetings, participating individuals will be introduced to resources, experienced education abroad practitioners, and fellow community college peers to assist them in creating and implementing their strategic action plan. Participants will be matched with an experienced mentor who will work closely with them during this intensive program.

Please visit the CC/FEA website for program dates and current information.

MSI Consortium

The Center for Global Business at Smith is a contributing partner of the MSI Consortium, a consortium of CIBEs assisting HBCUs with faculty development, study abroad, faculty development abroad, grant writing and pedagogical resource-sharing activities. GSU-CIBER serves as the lead institution, and information on the consortium can be found on its website.

Key Activities

• International Business Pedagogy Workshops: The annual faculty development workshops have trained over 1,500 faculty around the country over the past two decades. Previously hosted by the University of Memphis CIBER, the workshops are designed to help U.S. business faculty bring international context into the classroom and to expand their classroom knowledge and skills.
• GSU-CIBER International Business Case Competition: Open to students from the MSI Consortium, this two-day event brings together seven to ten teams from the MSI Consortium, with four undergraduate students per team. The teams receive an internationally focused business case and present their solutions to a panel of judges consisting of executive leaders from the Atlanta business community.

CMCC

The CIBE Consortium for Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) and Community College (CC) (CMCC) is a consortium of nine universities across the country that are home to the Centers for International Business Education and Research, a Title VI grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The CIBE CMCC includes the University of South Carolina, University of Washington, George Washington University, Indiana University, Florida International University, San Diego State University, Brigham Young University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Maryland.

The consortium acts as a resource multiplier in connecting schools across the CIBE network with MSIs and CCs nationwide for the purpose of internationalizing business education, thereby increasing the visibility of and access to innovative development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.

The CMCC actively seeks to support institutions and individuals (faculty, administrators, and students) at MSIs and CCs across the country who aim to develop capabilities that will expand and strengthen international business education at their respective institutions or increase their own expertise in international business education.

Please visit CMCC for more information.