Graduation Year

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Granting Department

Political Science

Major Professor

Dajin Peng, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Earl Conteh-Morgan, Ph.D.

Committee Member

David B. Austell, Jr., Ph.D.

Keywords

globalization, multinational corporations, academia, international trade communication

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of international programs in preparing participants for effective engagement in the world's economy and the complexity of multiple societies and cultures. The study's objective is to identify and assess the skills and competencies that are in demand for graduates of international programs, from both the United States and foreign perspectives, and their main economic social and civic contributions.

This research project develops, pilots and validates a list of critical competencies and skills for persons starting careers in international settings, creating a unique and valuable product. In addition, the project uses the validated listing for gathering and analyzing preliminary empirical data to help understand and evaluate the outcomes and importance of these competencies from three different--yet related perspectives--major employers, preparation institutions, and recent graduates of the program.

The researcher will address the following questions:

1. What are the competencies and skills being required of employees and perspective employees as identified by the businesses and the corporate world?

2. What are the competencies and skills being emphasized by academic institutions in preparing prospective employees for the world of work?

3. To what extent are the competencies and skills of academic programs congruent with the required competencies and skills of the corporate world?

The products of this work provide for the first time a valuable foundation for policy, planning, research, evaluation, and marketing the nature and importance of high quality, well prepared higher education graduates to meet the needs of our country's global workforce.

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