Business in the USA: the experience of learning and development
Partner, Deputy Director of Consulting Group "Zdes I Sejchas", business-trainer of business school "Zdes I Sejchas" Irina Sotnikova took part in the project that is organized and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. During the project Irina studied the experience of business education and economic development in the USA.
The project "Education in the sphere of Business and Economic Development" is held by international public organization "World Learning" in the framework of the International Visitor Leadership Program. From the 9th to 27th of February 2015, participants from Belarus visited several US states, had a number of interesting meetings with representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations, business schools and universities, college students and schoolchildren. The program was aimed at to give the opportunity for Belarusian guests to communicate with colleagues, share experiences, and get to know Americans and their culture.
“Particularly we got acquainted with the accreditation practice in business education – said Irina Sotnikova after her trip. – It is very interesting that universities and business schools are not required being accredited, but most of them do it to attract students and receive public funding“. She explained that the accreditation was carried out by independent professional associations, and they focused on the questions of the programs quality and methodologies of work with the audience. The system of higher and post collegiate education is decentralized. Universities and business schools are free to carry out any programs, invite any tutors, etc.
The cooperation between universities and business schools with their alumni is very interesting. For example, University of Kansas School of Business offers students work and internship in the large and successful companies in the United States. Each year the Business Career Fair in Kansas gathers representatives of more than 100 companies from all over the country. In addition, graduates provide financial support to their "alma mater". This practice is quite common in the United States. Irina Sotnikova said that universities and business schools had three main sources of funding: budget revenues, students` payment for education and help of graduates, which can reach up to 30%.
"In all of the states that we have visited, there are support and business development programs - shared impressions Irina Sotnikova. - They are funded from the federal budget, the budgets of states, as well as from various foundations and associations. Many training programs are designed for those who make the first steps in business. It was very interesting experience to work with schoolchildren. From 8-9 classes school children are motivated to think like entrepreneurs, who are able to create products and promote them not only in the domestic but also in the foreign markets”.
"For example, the organization "Global Trade Mission" engages students in Detroit in an intensive three-day workshop 3 times a year. The task is to create an idea and develop a business plan for an export-oriented product. Belarusian guests listened to presentations of some work groups. The representative of "Zdes I Sejchas" told that one team had established a car security system using fingerprints for the German market. They provided full technical and economic justification of the project. The second group of students demonstrated their idea - special containers with cooling system for selling food in India. This product was designed for poorer residents who can not afford to buy a refrigerator. The students worked the technical aspects, determined the target audience, counted up the market capacity, etc.
"Generally, I would like to say that the system of business support in the United States at the stage of its formation is highly developed, it is an objective of the various governmental, non-governmental organizations and foundations activities. The state is interested in the growth of new initiatives. Providing financial support to business at the stage of formation and development, it gets the money back in the form of taxes, "- resumed Irina Sotnikova.
For reference: the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of The U.S. Depertment of State was launched in 1940 to build bridges of understanding between the United States and other countries. Each year over 4,500 IVLP participants - current and future leaders from all over the world travel to the United States. Such visits are developed carefully considering the professional interests of the guests.
