| While academia endeavors to produce well-rounded and competent students, American business and corporate groups endeavor to improve their capacity to compete for a more substantial share of the global market. Perhaps both endeavors, to some degree, can be better facilitated if academia sets the pace to globalize community college business curricula.; Conclusions. The objectives of this exploratory research were: to ascertain what globalizing methods are in place in community colleges in California and elsewhere in the United States; to assess the international scope and content offered in business and related disciplines in community colleges; to establish what value California business and industry place on community college graduates with an international knowledge; and to ascertain the level of awareness of global knowledge of students graduating with an Associates degree.; Responses to the study indicate that 60% of the responding California community colleges do not have a globalized curricula. Student Exchange, however, is a globalizing method used by 67% of the responding colleges.; Responses also indicate that 67% of the responding California community colleges do not offer a certificate in International Business Education, and 62% of the responding colleges' Business Curricula do not have a foreign exchange component for students and faculty. Fifty percent (50%) of the responding community colleges do not offer at least four international business courses as part of the Business Curricula, suggesting that the international scope and content is limited.; Business and industry respondents (90%) highly value community college students who have studied international business education while in college, and students who appreciate the dynamics of a global market. Business and industry (91%) also highly value community college students who understand different leadership styles, management, political, and economic systems, and students who have a familiarity with foreign countries, people, cultures, languages, and geography.; Based upon this exploratory study, it appears that globalized community college business curricula enable students to increase their knowledge base, encourage faculty to employ new methods and strategies that revitalize content and rigor and motivate business and industry to hire community college graduates, an investment that is certain to create employment and profit in a global market economy. |
