Higher Education and Business Surprise, Thesis

American universities are working with their Caribbean counterparts to create a trans-border trade in ideas and information.

This weekly column will explore issues related to business and higher education in Jamaica and in the United States. Each issue will address specific concerns related to everything from gender to ethics, management to ecommerce. The column will encourage an exploration of cultural differences in a desire to foster dialogue. Business ethics, corporate culture, and diversity will be recurrent themes.

Finally, we will describe trends in higher education and business that impact Jamaica, the United States, and the relationship between the two countries. For example, American universities have started offering MBA areas of specialization in entrepreneurship. Jamaican universities may start doing the same: opening up a wealth of opportunity for small business growth and development. Jamaican universities are also taking advantage of trends in education-as-business. An article published on the Boston College Center for International Higher Education notes that the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) enables Jamaica to market education internationally in the same way it might market rum.

Rethinking what higher education means and the role it plays in society can lead to surprising revelations of what the human spirit is capable of. While globalization and internationalization present numerous problems, those problems can be resolved by encouraging dialogue. In fact, institutes of higher learning play crucial roles in crafting public policy initiatives that can mitigate the negative impacts of free trade. Free trade agreements need to stifle small business growth and should not increase income disparity or access to education. Nations like Jamaica are in a unique position of power: at a time in which cooperation and collaboration are critical.

Education can empower citizens. Universities do not just churn out MBAs. The goal of higher learning is to instill critical and creative thinking habits that can transform the global marketplace, economic theory, and urban and rural development models. Students can contribute to business and social development by becoming writers, public relations managers, international relations consultants, and experts on corporate ethics and the law. The role of education is business is expanding and so is the role of business in education. We look forward to what new surprises may be in store for the United States and Jamaica.

References

Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF). Web site retrieved Oct 15, 2008 at http://www.bhef.com/

Frater, T. (2008). Jamaica's Development Goals and GATS Commitment. Retrieved Oct 15, 2008 at http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/Number53/p13_Frater.htm

Williams-Tracy, L. (2005). Entrepreneurs find answers in higher education. Charlotte Business Journal. March 25, 2005. Retrieved Oct 15, 2008 at http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2005/03/28/focus4.html