Students from Economic Departments of universities in Ivanovo have a chance to study business in the USA in a program that is fully-funded by a grant from the Federal Government of the USA. This opportunity became possible thanks to an international education project promoted through The International Trade and Small Business Institute (ITSBI).

Russian students study marketing, international business, accounting, strategic management, human resources management and other economic basics in universities and colleges of North Carolina for one academic year. The specific intention of the leaders of ITSBI is for the program to focus directly on the practical applications of business theory. ITSBI is not limited by theoretical knowledge. The students are exposed to business practices through corporate visits at successful companies in North Carolina and other states. Thus they have a chance to understand how American business is managed in these companies and students can define what makes the organization profitable and sustainable.

ITSBI is a creation of Congressman Charles Taylor. Dr. Michael Quigley is the Executive Director the Institute; Marina Bolshakova, Director of the non-profit association «Initiation», is the coordinator of the education project in Russia.

Moscow and its region, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgovor, Tver, Buryatiya, Kalmykiya, and Ivanovo are represented by students-participants in the ITSBI program this year. 20 students left Russia for America in August. A year ago, when the project started 2 of 7 students were from Economic Departments of universities in Ivanovo, Ivanovo State University and Ivanovo State Power University.

Today the pioneers reap the fruits of their diligence by working in the companies which represent small and middle-sized businesses in their regions. And the organizers of ITSBI are to start a new selection process of talented student-economists in November.

The most ipmortant consideration is to know what to say

Marina Bolshakova commented that everybody who applies for participation in the program will have a chance to show their potential. «From our point of view questionnaires, tests and interviews cannot be the only way to choose the right students for this Institute. They will be able to show only what they were taught by their teachers and the level of education they received. Basic knowledge in all economic spheres and in English is of high importance. Nevertheless the most important aspect is that a person has his/her own point of view. And we will teach them how to express themselves.»

That is why we reject the weakest applicants who are not able to achieve even the lowest level of credits after the first interview. Other participants have an opportunity to receive an intensive training in «Youth Model United Nations».

«Youth Model United Nations helps the participants to obtain a unique experience of business communication in English. Our participants are taught no more than a half of the year; they participate in the international conferences, one of which must be held abroad. Then together with American participation we organize a test one more time. In most cases I see great progress which happens after 3–5 months of the training," Marina Bolshakova says.

Students pay for this stage of preparation; and their education in the USA, their residence and meals are financed by the grant from the U.S. budget and private sponsorships.

WIN-WIN strategy

It is obvious why Russia is interested in ITSBI. But an equally important question is why Americans should spend their money for educating Russian students?

«Congressman Charles Taylor is confident that the USA is as interested in a strong and democratic Russia as we are». Marina Bolshakova comments. «And democracy will be established in Russia only when a middle class of professional people will be formed. In order to facilitate this occurence small and middle sized businesses need to be developed. In our point of view this Institute is more important for the regions where people have fewer opportunities to get a good education. Ivanovo Region in particular, as never before, needs willing people who are able to lead economic development, create new workplaces and jobs and improve the economic environment in the native regions of the students».

The same question was asked of Svetlana Morozova, the student from Ivanovo State University, who participated in the pilot group of ITSBI.

— ITSBI has a clear goal for achieving win-win relations between our two nations. Thanks to the Institute Americans have learned a great deal about Russia while we were communicating with them. Of course some facts can be found in the books. Nevertheless when studying with us they learned much about our culture, understood how Russians think, work and manage businesses in Russia.

People from different countries have a different mentality and various approaches to solving the same business problems. It was both challenging and interesting to compare ours and their responses to the same questions. American students and we learned how to think differently.

I know that some American students and my Russian friends are thinking of opening companies in the same business fields in Russia and America simultaneously and then work as international partners. And American professors admitted that their experience of teaching Russian students was invaluable…

No brain drain

Organizations in Russia are confident that the best students will not leave Russia for America when the program is over. «No one had such a desire to stay in the USA», Marina Bolshakova replies. «I think they also realize that if you can be successful you will achieve your goals, no matter in what country you operate your business. Moreover the need for highly qualified personnel is as high in Russia as it is in America, and the result of their work is more valuable and effective for the Russian economy».

In November Congressman Charles Taylor with Dr. Michael Quigley are to visit Russia and meet with the deans of Russian universities-participants of ITSBI. The aim of this visit will be to discuss future plans for the Institute on 2007–2008.