The Global Student Certificate Program, Fall 2009 - Spring 2010

The Global Student Certificate (GSC) program is an interdisciplinary, co-curricular undergraduate certificate program designed to train a new generation of business leaders. It is necessary for college graduates to be internationally competent in today’s global economy. The GSC program exposes Baruch students to the distinct resources available only in New York City as well as training in intercultural, communication and leadership skills. The program offers participants a unique opportunity to expand their cultural knowledge in the nation’s most diverse college setting. For eight years, Baruch has topped the list of the most ethnically diverse institutions of higher education in the United States (U.S. News & World Report, "America's Top Colleges 2007"). This structured program is a systematic response to Baruch’s diversity designed to create a platform for student learning and sharing.

The GSC program was created to enhance student knowledge of intercultural business theory, international economics and international relations. It is unique in the entire City University of New York system. The Global Student Program (GSC) helps all of Baruch College’s three schools to fulfill their respective strategic missions.

The functional objective of the GSC program is to provide a platform for organizing and broadening the range of globalization and intercultural training for Baruch students. This program is designed to provide high-achieving students with access to programming that would otherwise not be available to them, and by so doing contribute to and complement their academic success. The high-quality array of events in this program not only offers students a cosmopolitan point of view, but gives them an opportunity to build flexibility and adaptability in international settings. Students learn to work more effectively in their chosen profession by increasing their knowledge of and exposure to different cultural, economic, and institutional environments. Furthermore, students completing this program gain a better understanding of their role as global citizens, confident and comfortable in diverse intercultural situations.

In today’s global economy, the skills needed to work in different cultures are becoming indispensable. The Global Student Certificate (GSC) program, run by the Weissman Center for International Business, helps Baruch students acquire these skills, to become effective global leaders. The impetus for the GSC came from Dr. Terrence Martell, the director of the Weissman Center, and has been actively supported by farsighted Baruch alumni such as the late Victor Besso, Howard Smith and Norman Vale. The GSC program is designed to “leverage” Baruch’s diversity, providing students a platform for both learning and sharing. It is ideal for students interested in studying abroad or who have recently returned from studying abroad, as well as for those who might be unable to spend a semester abroad, but wish to explore other cultures. GSC students take full advantage of the distinct resources available only in New York City as part of their training in intercultural, communication and leadership skills. As Dr. Martell told the GSC class of 2007, “The graduates of this program are the face of the 21st century.”

This program is free to Baruch students. It is made possible through a generous grant from the Starr Foundation and the Victor Besso (’47) Endowment Fund.

Our Vision for the GSC Program:

To become the preeminent co-curricular program dedicated to preparing students to become world-class leaders in the 21^st century’s global economy by means of leveraging Baruch College’s extraordinary cultural diversity through intensive enrichment programs designed to help students thrive in a range of cultural environments.

Certificate Requirements:

To qualify for a Global Student Certificate, candidates must complete a minimum of nine GSC designated events in addition to the Capstone Project during the academic year 2009-2010.

All participating students are required to attend/participate in all of the following core GSC seminars to earn six points:

• Introduction to Intercultural Awareness 

• Presentation Skills Workshop
  

• "What is Globalization?" Workshop
  

• Multinational Team Building

• Introduction to Issues in Global Governance
  

• Cross-Cultural Negotiating
  

Students choose one event from each of the following two categories for a total of two points:

• New York City Cultural Event
  
• GSC-designated Global Lecture
  

In addition, students are required to attend at least one additional event from across the following event categories for one point:

• Networking Workshop
  

• Company Visit
  

• Study abroad during the January 2010 intersession
  

Capstone: Group Research Project:

GSC students will be divided into teams at the program’s start. Each team will select a country they wish to research over the course of the GSC program and individual team members will select their preferred research topic. Each team will select a project manager and assign tasks as appropriate.

Team members will research and compile information based on their country and category. The research will then become part of their team’s website to be presented at the program’s completion.

The Capstone Group Research Project gives students the opportunity to combine many of the skills they are acquiring via the GSC workshops. For instance, the Multinational Team Building workshop prepares students to work successfully in a diverse team setting. Furthermore, the Presentation Skills workshops will help students to deliver a poised and polished presentation of their research project to their peers at the program’s end.

Additional Program Benefits

• United Nations guided tour and workshop

• Program guidance from GSC coordinator

• Visits to global coorporations

• Membership in Weissman Center's internship program
• Global Student Certificate program calendar

• Free admission to leading cultural institutions

• Free admission to international lectures throughout NYC

Recognition of Achievement:

Upon completion of the GSC program, students will be awarded a Global Student Certificate from the Weissman Center for International Business.

Eligibility Requirements

• All majors
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Sophomore, junior or lower senior standing
• Enrolled full-time at Baruch College

Application Information:

To apply to the Global Student Certificate Program you must submit the following items:

• Completed GSC Program Application Form to the Weissman Center

• 600-word statement of purpose

• College transcript

• Letter of reference

• In-person interview with GSC coordinator (to be scheduled after you complete the previous four items)

Application Deadline:

Tuesday, September 30th, 2009 for the academic year beginning Fall 2009.

For additional information contact:

Global Student Certificate Coordinator:
Sarah Demetz
Tel: (646) 312-2073
E-mail: sarah.demetz@baruch.cuny.edu