Bloch
Global Connection
NEWS
Study Abroad
Students enrich their studies at Bloch with trips abroad.
Preparing students for global careers
In Spring 2011, Bloch students had the option to participate in one of four Study Abroad programs, including London, Paris, Beijing and Cape Town, South Africa, all of which are among the top U.S. trading partners. In its first year, the Cape Town program was led by assistant professor of health administration Arif Ahmed and focused on global health care policy and management. The Study Abroad program, which is open to students across campus and students from other schools in the Kansas City area, continues to expand in light of the globalization of business. According to Fred Hays, former Study Abroad director and chair of the Department of Finance, “The program allows our students to learn about how businesses – including companies right here in Kansas City they may end up working for — operate overseas." Students visiting London are exposed to the operations of companies like Cerner, Lockton Insurance and Lloyds of London. They also learn about the culture and history of the city or country. This will mark the fourth year the program visited China, a trip that helped students understand the importance of China as a developing partner. They visited various industries from the financial (CitiBank and the Shanghai Stock Exchange) to the pharmaceutical, including manufacturing facilities that make everything from cosmetics to AIDS drugs that go to Africa. Left and middle: Study Abroad students in For more information on the Study Abroad program, visit Bloch China sample the cuisine and culture. Right: students stop for a photo op in London. Study Abroad on Facebook at facebook.com/blochstudyabroad.
Bloch Research Puts UMKC at No. 1…in the World Appointed to Mayor’s Commission Bloch assistant professor of nonprofit leadership Brent Never was elected to Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James’ Citizens’ Commission on Municipal Revenue. The 16-member commission, comprised of civic and community leaders, will be charged with examining the city’s current funding mechanisms and providing analysis and recommendations to James and his staff. Never was chosen based on his research, knowledge of city finances and community leadership and involvement.
On December 5, UMKC and the Bloch School announced another headline-making ranking. Driven by research productivity in the Bloch School’s Department for Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation, UMKC was ranked No. 1 in the world for innovation management research. UMKC found itself in excellent company, beating out M.I.T. (ranked No. 2), Harvard, Stanford, Michigan State and Texas A&M, to name a few. The ranking is part of an article approved for publication in a March issue of the Journal of Product Innovation Management. Three Bloch School entrepreneurship faculty, Michael Song, Mark Parry and Lisa Zhou (whose research drove the ranking), were also ranked among the top 50 innovation management scholars in the world by the Journal, with Song and Parry at No. 1 and No. 4, respectively. While the Journal has ranked innovation scholars in the past, this is the first time they have ranked universities.
Bloch Financial Management Association Earns Prestigious Award Congratulations to the UMKC Bloch School’s FMA (Financial Management Association) and its student president, Xiaoxiao (Rebecca) Tang, on earning the Superior Chapter Award from FMA International. Fewer than five percent of FMA chapters globally are presented with this designation. Bloch keeps good company with others in the Superior category, including Arizona State, Auburn, Georgetown, SUNY Oswego and Zhongnam University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, China.
Dr. Pam Dobies Kicks Bloch Career Services into High Gear Africa Trip Addresses Global Health Global dignitaries visited the Bloch School at the inaugural session of the South Africa Study Abroad course on global health. Pictured from left are Dr. Nomonde Xundu, Health Attache, Republic of South Africa; Michael Wood, senior fellow, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership; Arif Ahmed, Bloch associate professor of health administration; and Lebert Shultz, Honorary Consul, Republic of South Africa.
10
BLOCH Magazine
Winter 2011
1
Thanks to efforts led by Bloch School assistant professor Pam Dobies, who also serves as director of the Bloch Career Network Initiative, Bloch students can take advantage of specialized career and placement guidance. “From the time they begin their relationship with the Bloch School, the Career Network guides each student and alumnus through the design and pursuit of a holistic career plan,” Dobies said. Whether it’s one of many available internships or full-time position placement, the Bloch Career Network leverages the university’s Roo Career Network (RCN) to connect the right person to the right position with the right organization.
Like Us! Follow Us! Look for the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management on Facebook and @UMKCBloch on Twitter and keep up with the buzz about Kansas City’s preeminent school of management.
The Henry W. Bloch School of Management
11