VSB Ranked #7 overall in the Nation by Bloomberg Businessweek; IB Programs Ranked 16th

VSB was once again recognized as one of the best undergraduate business schools in the nation in the 2011 Bloomberg Businessweek ranking. VSB ranked #7, placing among the top 10 business schools in the nation. This is an improvement of 13 spots from the previous year’s ranking. The annual ranking is determined by academic quality, professional development, business relevance, and student satisfaction. VSB performed exceptionally well in a number of categories: Overall Academic Quality Rank: #2 in the Nation; Student Grade for Teaching Quality: A+; Student Grade for Job Placement: A. VSB's International Business programs ranked #16 in the nation, ahead of many leading IB programs, underscoring the success of the Center's recent global initiatives. Here is a link to the Bloomberg Businessweek specialty rankings.

Center Releases Annual Review; Announces Rammrath Scholarship Recipients

The Center has released its fourth annual review. Click here to review a copy in PDF Format.  The Center has also announced the recipients of the Rammrath study abroad scholarships. Click here to review a copy in PDF Format.

Global Leadership Fellows Program Announced

Rammrath Foreign Student Scholarships Awarded

Rammrath Study Abroad Scholarship Awarded

Judy Choi, an Accounting and International Business Co-Major from the VSB class of 2011, and Helene Purcell, an Economics major from the VSB class of 2011, are the recipients of the Rammrath VSB Semester Study Abroad Scholarships. These awards will support the students’ study abroad experiences in Tokyo, Japan and Salamanca, Spain, respectively, during the 2010 spring semester.

Hiu Chan, Mu Chen, Stephanie Chow, Adriane Nguyen, Jenna Feibus, Helen Chen, Courtney Chung, Francesco Auddino, Jessica Campbell, Areeb Naji and Anna Pleuhs are the recipients of the 2010-2011 Summer Study Abroad scholarships. See their biographies here.

First VSB Business Leaders Forum Held

On September 29 and 30, VSB hosted its first-ever Business Leaders Forum.  The Forum brought together more than 120 members of VSB's various Advisory Councils for discussions with Villanova leadership, networking sessions, and individual advisory council meetings.  Jay Wright, Villanova University s acclaimed basketball coach, provided the keynote address. Center for Global Leadership Advisory Council participated throughout the event, and Manny Nunez, one of CGL's advisors, weas awarded one of two inaugural recipients of the Rev. Joseph C. Bartley, O.S.A. Alumni Medallion.  

Villanova Holds Second Annual Leadership Summit with the theme of "Globalization."

One hundred prominent Villanova University alumni convene Oct. 7-8 for the University’s 2010 Leadership Summit to discuss “Globalization” and how they’ve leveraged their education and experiences at Villanova into important leadership roles. Gen. Anthony Zinni, ’65, USMC (ret.), was the keynote speaker.  CGL organized one of four panels, featuring Director Jonathan Doh as moderator and advisory council members Ricuarte Vasquez, Manny Nunez, John Stoner, and Rick Smith, all members of the CGL Advisory Council. Herbert P. Asbury, ’67, outgoing chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and former chair of the CGL Advisory Council, received the 2010 St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal.

CGL and Latin American Studies sponsor Putting the "B" in BRIC; hosts visiting distinguished scholar.

CGL, in conjunction with Villanova’s Center for Latin American Studies, hosted Professor Werner Baer and Professor Peter Kingstone on October 26 and 27. Dr. Werner Baer (Ph.D., Harvard, 1958) is a leading expert on Brazilian economy in the United States. The author of multiple seminal works on Brazilian economy, Dr. Baer’s recent publications include: “The Brazilian Economy: Growth and Development” (Lynne Rienner, 2008). Peter Kingstone (Ph.D. University of California at Berkeley, 1994) is a leading political scientist working on the political economy of Brazil today. His most recent publications include: “Crafting Coalitions for Reform: Business Preferences, Political Institutions and Neoliberal reform in Brazil” (Penn State, 1999). Baer and Kingstone spoke to more than 150 Villanova students at a forum on October 26 at which CGL Acting Associate Director Professor Christopher Kilby moderated.  Baer, one of the world’s foremost experts on the Brazilian economy, was CGL’s Distinguished Visiting Scholar for 2010/2011 and spoke at a luncheon and research presentation for faculty on Ocotber 27. 

Ricaurte “Catin” Vasquez CGL Distinguished Visiting Alumnus.

In an event sponsored by the Center for Global Leadership, the International Business Society, and Business without Borders, Dr. Catin Vasquez drew on his personal experiences -- including his education at Villanova, his work as Finance Minister of Panama and Chair of Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority, and his current position as CEO for GE Capital in Central America and the Caribbean -- to provide insights into building a career in international business. In a lively question and answer session, Dr. Vasquez focused on the importance of a broad education and how best to structure undergraduate study to launch an international business career.

VSB MBA Students Prepared for First-ever Dubai Trip.

Kenyan Ambassador to the United States Elkanah Odembo spoke to students and faculty on October 26 at several sessions sponsored by CGL and other University offices, as well as the USA-Kenya Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental organization whose mission is to enhance mutual partnership, trade and investment between the United States and Kenya.Ambassador Odembo came to Washington after serving as the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to France since January 2009. Prior to representing Kenya abroad, Ambassador Odembo held senior level positions at philanthropic and non-governmental organizations in East Africa for more than two decades. Advocating for human rights and social justice has always been at the core of Ambassador Odembo’s work.

Kenyan Ambassador Elkanah Odembo visits Villanova.

Kenyan Ambassador to the United States Elkanah Odembo spoke to students and faculty on October 26 at several sessions sponsored by CGL and other University offices, as well as the USA-Kenya Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental organization whose mission is to enhance mutual partnership, trade and investment between the United States and Kenya.Ambassador Odembo came to Washington after serving as the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to France since January 2009. Prior to representing Kenya abroad, Ambassador Odembo held senior level positions at philanthropic and non-governmental organizations in East Africa for more than two decades. Advocating for human rights and social justice has always been at the core of Ambassador Odembo’s work.

Haitian Community Leader and Humanitarian Speaks to CGL group.

On December 2, CGL hosted Fr. Joseph Phillipe, a Haitian Spiritan priest who has dedicated his life to helping the poor of Haiti help themselves. Phillipe is the founder of the Association of Peasants of Fondwa (APF)(Haiti), FONKOZE-HAITI – the “alternative bank for the organized poor” – and the University of Fondwa. He trained in commercial accounting at the Ecole du Commerce Andre Laroche in Port au Prince, Haiti and studied theology and politics at the Chicago Theological Union and cooperative credit management at the Centre Lebret in Paris. Phillipe spoke with a group of students and faculty from VSB and across the university, about his economic and community development work, chronicled in an award winning documentary, "The Road to Fondwa" (http://www.roadtofondwa.org), and potential collaboration with CGL, VSB and various Villanova international service initiatives.

“Business without Borders” Student Initiatives

Kenya - In August 2009 three senior students, Abigail Butkus, Amber Brennan and Thomas Meehan, traveled to Meshanani, Kenya, with Professor Debra Arvanites, a faculty member and Associate Dean at VSB. The purpose of the trip was to explore opportunities to work with the local Meshanani community on a number of business opportunities, including marketing and distribution of jewelry and savings and loan programs.

Nicaragua - A group of VSB students traveled with Professor Debra Arvanites to Nicaragua over fall break and another group in May to explore potential partnerships between the community and BWB. The students are in the process of exploring collaborations with the NGO Water for Waslala and a women’s eco-friendly and sustainable restaurant. Two additional projects – one related to micro-hydro electrification provision and another focused on maternal health care – are under development among VSB, nursing, and engineering students. The former project won this year’s Social Entrepreneurship Case Competition (sponsored in part by the center).

Philippines - Two VSB students, Serena Cheung and Palak Patel, interned with SITMo (Saving the Ifugao Terraces Movement) in Ifugao, Philippines for seven weeks this past summer. SITMo is a non-governmental organization that focuses on social development, environmental improvements, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. The interns constructed and led a sustainable business development workshop for local entrepreneurs and farmers under the NIKE (Nurturing Indigenous Knowledge Experts) project.

VSB Foreign Summer Programs Expand

VSB is offering the broadest array of summer study abroad programs in its history.  These include the second year of the innovative program in business and public policy in Rome in conjunction with the American University of Rome, the resumption of internships in the Shanghai program, along with the mainstay programs in London, Madrid, and Rome (John Cabot).  At the graduate level, in addition to the international project programs in China and Brazil, graduate students will be traveling to Milan (Bocconi) and Poland.

China Summer Program Adds Internships

To meet the demand of a growing global marketplace, future employers, and the needs of our students, Villanova University has set up a fantastic program in one of world’s fastest growing economies.

Students participating in an internship placement are required to take Transitions of China's Economy as well as participating in the three lectures related to the program. 
All students are also required to take a “Survival Chinese Language” training.

Global Citizens Program Celebrates 7th Year.

The seventh cohort of the VSB Global Citizens Program has arrived in London.  This distinct program, available to Early Action and select VSB students, allows them to spend the second semester of their freshman year in England taking a battery of classes that tracks their Villanova curriculum and participating in a 6-week internship in London.

International Projects bring MBA Students to Brazil and China

A pilot of an innovative new element of the MBA curriculum brought student groups to São Paulo, Brazil and Beijing and Shanghai, China during the first week of March.  This integrated course and project exposes students to the geographic, economic, political, social, cultural, and competitive factors that shape opportunities in global markets with a focus on a particular emerging nation.  Student groups collaborate with a company to supports its entry or expansion into that market, and travel to the country to explore these opportunities.  For this initial running, one group partnered with Campbell’s to explore its expansion of ready-to-eat soups in China and another partnered with Pfizer to learn more about that company’s vaccine business opportunities in Brazil.

Panama Immersion Continues for Fifth Year

VSB continued its ongoing partnership with alumni and the City of Knowledge in Panama.  For the fifth time, a special section of the required International Economics traveled to Panama over spring break. This special section allows students to learn international economic theory first-hand in the context of an emerging nation. In addition, Professor Ken Taylor met with officials at the U.S. embassy and other contacts to explore future programs and opportunities, including a potential summer internship program.