FIU strengthens international business education with grant renewal from U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education has renewed Florida International University’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) grant. Increased to $1.33 million, the grant will have a total impact of nearly $2.7 million with matching funds.

The grant is one of just 16 CIBER grants awarded to leading universities across the country this year and, for the second time, the only one awarded in Florida.

The CIBERs were created by Congress to increase and promote the nation’s capacity for international understanding and competitiveness. The CIBER, house at the university’s College of Business (FIU Business), intends to continue to create and/or support more than 50 programs focusing on three themes: diversity, equity and inclusion, sustainability through innovation, and student intercultural proficiency and competitiveness.

“FIU Business is integral to creating leaders who understand the role of international business which benefits the state of Florida and the United States overall,” said William Hardin, interim dean of FIU Business. “Our college’s outstanding work in preparing these future industry leaders continues to be recognized as our undergraduate international business program has been consecutively ranked No. 2 in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report.”

The CIBER will receive $332,499 each year for four years. FIU Business is supporting the program with matching funds.

"The CIBER renewal is external validation of the leadership role FIU Business plays in international business,” said Hardin. "International business and international business education provide Miami with a competitive advantage.”

The CIBER at FIU Business will support existing and develop new activities such as the Undergraduate Research Associate Program; interdisciplinary programs incorporating foreign language and international studies training; international internships and study abroad programs; international trade missions; PhD-level seminars, webinars and workshops; and faculty research and development programs in South Korea, India and Latin America.

“We are on a reinvigorated trajectory with new initiatives on the student front and where student success is the main focus,” said Sumit Kundu, associate dean of international programs at FIU Business, who will serve as the CIBER’s director for the next four years. “My intent is to expand our strategic partnerships to enhance student and faculty success.”

FIU Business is a global leader in international business education and research. In 2021, the college’s undergraduate international business program was ranked No. 2 in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report for the third consecutive year and in 2022, the international MBA program was ranked No. 5 by U.S. News. FIU’s 20 full-time international business faculty members are recognized among the world’s top researchers in the field.