Duke Awarded Grant for International Business Research

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business a $1.5 million grant to fund the center's ongoing research programs from October 2010 to September 2014.

It is the sixth such grant awarded to Duke CIBER since the research center's inception in 1992 and is among 33 grants awarded by the Department of Education for the coming funding cycle.

Duke CIBER, one of a series of university CIBERs established by the U.S. government to promote knowledge of international business, will use part of the grant to fund the InterCultural Edge (ICE), a research program studying and promoting effective cross-cultural communications. Fuqua's Offshoring Research Network (ORN) will also receive grant proceeds.

"Duke CIBER has planned a broad and ambitious slate of research projects over the next four years," said Duke CIBER Director Arie Lewin. "This new grant will significantly advance several key projects aimed at producing applicable tools to enhance cross-cultural business communication and foster global competitiveness."

CIBER plans to certify ICE trainers across the U.S. to instruct students, faculty and business people on cross-cultural communication; ORN will grow its database of information gathered from 2,000 firms, with an emphasis on the globalization of innovation and the ramifications for American competitiveness.

"Fuqua is committed to producing globally competent business leaders, and we thank the Department of Education for helping us achieve that goal," said Fuqua Dean Blair Sheppard. "CIBER is a vital part of our global plans and this grant will expand the center's capabilities to conduct research of international business and provide detailed analysis of emerging trends. We expect both the ICE and ORN initiatives to gain prominence in the dialogue on global business research and public policy."

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About Duke CIBER:

Duke's Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) was established in 1992 by The Fuqua School of Business and has been directed by Professor Arie Y. Lewin since 1995. The Offshoring Research Network (ORN) was conceived as a multi-year initiative focused on understanding the relationship between offshoring and American competitiveness.

There are 33 CIBERs throughout the US that are funded by the US Department of Education under Title VI through a competitive bid process. Duke CIBER collaborates with other CIBERs to carry out projects, and engages in outreach activities with other centers and departments at Duke as well as other colleges and universities, businesses and communities.

To learn more about Duke CIBER, visit http://faculty.fuqua.duke.edu/ciber/site2006/.