Strategically located in Miami, Florida International University (FIU) has the advantage of being at the center of it all: growth in Miami is booming, the geographical positioning of South Florida has facilitated a flourishing ocean and air transportation and logistics industry, and there are over 1,000 multinationals in Miami-Dade County. It truly is the crossroads of the Americas.
This ideal setting blends culture, urbanism and ethnicity with the business headquarters for many multinational corporations, giving way to a dynamic environment that is characterized by technology, international commerce and banking, travel and tourism, and entrepreneurship.
Created with this cosmopolitan reality in mind, FIU’s 12-month, accelerated IMBA is a true reflection of cultural diversity as students, faculty and staff are, in fact, international in nature. “To be competitive in today’s workplace you have to think globally. Students come to FIU from all over the world and are taught by professors from Australia, Mexico, Germany, China, India, Greece, Chile, Lebanon, Finland, and also Texas, Michigan, Alabama, Ohio and the rest of the U.S. Walk down the corridors of the business school and you will meet staff from Botswana, Colombia, Slovakia, Brazil and Nigeria, among other countries”, according to José de la Torre, Dean of FIU’s Chapman Graduate School of Business.
The IMBA program, now entering its ninth year, has been consistently recognized and praised; U.S.News & World Report, for example, recently ranked it #23 in the U.S. (America’s Best Graduate Schools, 2008)
The one-year, full-time IMBA is completed in four quarters. All core courses, including a foreign language - Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese or Advanced Business English - are taken during the fall, winter and spring quarters, leaving students the summer quarter to do a business internship or to take specialization courses at FIU or to study abroad with academic partners in places like Spain, Argentina, France, and even China.
China, home to 1.3 billion people, is firmly establishing itself as a major player in the global economy. In 2005, China’s economy grew 9.9% and it was estimated to be the second-largest economy when measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, behind only the U.S. The relatively recent opening of China’s market to international products creates the need for business professionals that understand Chinese culture and can successfully communicate in this environment.
The IMBA China Track allows students to complement their Chinese classes with a study abroad program in China, which entails a month of intensive language and cultural classes, and attending business classes taught in English at partner universities in China.
The Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center is quickly becoming a recognized international leader in entrepreneurship research, education, and outreach. In fact, Fortune Small Business recently placed FIU in their list of “10 Cool Colleges for Entrepreneurs”.
A strong asset to the Chapman Graduate School is the Career Management Services Center. It was created to strengthen ties with corporate partners throughout Florida and the U.S., provide skills development and assist students and graduates during the career development and placement process. Some of our recent graduates are currently employed in companies such as Microsoft, Google, Johnson & Johnson, the NBA, Procter & Gamble, and Bank of America, among others.
Anne Christine Lenquett, IMBA 2004
“FIU’s International MBA was a fantastic experience full of challenging projects. In a multicultural atmosphere, I learned not only the basics of Finance, Economics or Management, but most of all to build a real team spirit. I studied with a class composed of 40 people from more than 20 nationalities. We were able to set aside our cultural differences to work all together. With my team “Les Bagatelles” we participated in a New Venture Challenge, in which we designed a handbag and created an entrepreneurial business model for the benefits of a non-profit organization. By helping each other and learning together, we were able to overcome many obstacles during this intensive year. My classmates have become friends, and even though we are all professionals working in different areas around the globe, we keep in touch and meet as often as we can.
Now, I am working for Google Ireland, in our European headquarters, as part of the AdWords French team, Google’s online advertising program. Working at Google is an amazing professional experience. This dynamic and innovative company gives me the opportunity to use my skills in Communication and Business by participating in exciting projects in an international atmosphere. Google gathers wonderful people from all countries with creative minds working together to build team projects with a worldwide reach. Our company is growing very fast and I am proud to be part of this great adventure.”
For detailed statistical data about this school, please check QS TopMBA Scorecard.
Source: QS TopMBA Career Guide