Here’s what participants in the Business and

International Education (BIE) Program have to say

about their experiences in the program:

“The BIE Program has been vital in the forward movement

of our international business programs. With funds from

the U.S. Department of Education, we have been able to

implement effective curricular, trade counseling, and 

faculty development initiatives, which have had a 

positive impact on our students and the businesses in

our region.”

–Robert F. Scherer, Dean and James J. Nance 

Professor of Management, College of Business

Administration,Cleveland State University (Ohio)

“Since 9/11, the mission of the BIE program — to develop

future U.S. global business leaders and increase U.S.

competitiveness — has never been more critical to the

national security of this nation.”

–Kelly Jett Murphrey, Director, Center for Study of Western

Hemispheric Trade, Center for International Business

Studies, Mays Business School, Texas A&M University 

“This program is a good foundation to unlock all the 

international education priorities, especially for 

community colleges. It opened the college and our

community to international opportunities that would

never exist otherwise.”

–Rollie Santos, Director, Center for International Education,

Lakeland Community College (Ohio)

“The Title VI B funding helped us to take a risk with a 

needed executive training program in international

trade. Over 10 years later the program is self-sustaining

and remains one of our most highly visible outreach

activities to the international business community.”

–James F. Foley, Director, International Trade 

Center, Small Business Development Center (SBDC),

NAFTA Opportunity Center SBDC, Bradley University,

Turner Center for Entrepreneurship, Foster College of

Business Administration (Illinois) U.S.Department of Education

Office of Postsecondary Education

International Education Programs Service

1990 K Street, N.W., 6th Floor

Washington, DC 20006-8521

Tel: 202-502-7700

Fax: 202-502-7860

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps providing

U.S. Department of Education

International Education Programs Service

Business and International 

Education Program

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The mission of the International Education Programs

Service (IEPS) is to meet the national needs for expertise and

competence in foreign languages and area or international

studies. IEPS administers 14 international education 

programs. These programs are complementary in nature

and designed to benefit a variety of audiences through

training programs, research, start-up or enhancement 

projects, and fellowships.

BUSINESS AND INTERNATIONAL

EDUCATION PROGRAM

This program provides funds to institutions of higher 

education that enter into an agreement with a trade 

association, a business, or both for the purpose of improving

business curriculum and as a means of conducting outreach

activities that expand the capacity of the business community

to engage in international economic activities.

The purpose of this program is to promote education and

training in order to enable U.S. business activity to prosper in

an international economy.

The legislation has authorized the secretary of education to

award grants to institutions of higher education to provide

suitable international training to business personnel in various

stages of professional development. Programs assisted with

federal funds are required to enhance the international 

academic program of the institution and provide appropriate

services to the business community to expand its capacity for

engaging in commerce abroad.

As a statutory requirement, the institution must match 

50 percent of the total cost of the program. Each grant 

application must be accompanied by an agreement between

the institution and a business enterprise, trade organization

or association engaged in international economic activity.

Eligible Applicants

Institutions of higher education in the United States are 

eligible to apply for grants under the Business and

International Education Program. Students must apply

through their institution.

Eligible Activities

An institution of higher education may apply for activities including,

but not limited to:

• Improvement of the business and international education 

curriculum of institutions to serve the needs of the business

community, including the development of new programs

for mid-career or part-time students.

• Development of programs to inform the public of increasing

international economic interdependence and the role of

American business within the international economic system.

• Internationalization of curricula at the junior and community

college level, and at undergraduate and graduate schools 

of business.

• Development of area studies programs and interdisciplinary

international programs.

• Establishment of export education programs.

• Research and development of specialized teaching 

materials appropriate for business-oriented students.

• Establishment of student and faculty fellowships and 

internships or other training or research opportunities.

• Creating opportunities for business and professional faculty 

to strengthen international skills.

• Establishment of links overseas with institutions of higher 

education and organizations that contribute to the 

educational objectives of this section.

• Summer institutes in international business, foreign area

and other international studies designed to carry out the

purposes of the program.

For More Information

E-mail questions to ope_iegps@ed.gov or visit the IEPS Web site at

www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsbie for more information, including:

application deadline, application package, technical assistance,

and program statute and regulations.

Access to the World and Its Languages

educating

creating

Under Title VI of the Higher Education Act, IEPS administers 

10 domestic programs that provide a variety of grants to 

institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and

individuals for projects in foreign languages, area or 

international studies, and international business.

These include:

• National Resource Centers 

• Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships 

• Undergraduate International Studies and 

Foreign Language Program 

• International Research and Studies 

• Business and International Education 

• Centers for International Business Education 

• Language Resource Centers 

• American Overseas Research Centers 

• Institute for International Public Policy 

• Technological Innovation and Cooperation for 

Foreign Information Access 

If you would like more information about the domestic 

international education programs, please visit the IEPS 

Web site at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps.

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