I coordinated a sync class focusing on a case discussion with MBA students from UM-Flint and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei. With the input from my colleagues (both of them marketing professors at UM-Flint and NTNU) students thousand miles apart were able to contribute to a case discussion about Walmart’s marketing strategy in China. The new classroom with necessary IPTV equipment built by the School of Management had just finished construction and immediately was put to a good use. The quality of video and audio was amazing – you don’t really feel that people on the screen are actually 11 time zones away!
Read about the story published by UM-Flint News here:
The same story was also published by NTNU’s press office (in Chinese): http://pr.ntnu.edu.tw/news/index.php?mode=data&id=12541&fb_action_ids=400071200075983&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=hovercard&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366
A former student of mine, Feben Teklemicael, who is a proud graduate of UM-Flint BBA-Accounting program, contacted me recently and shared her new adventure: master’s program in Tsinghua University, China. Feben went to China after she graduated from UM-Flint, got into a Chinese language program in Beijing, received a scholarship and started her master’s degree program in computer science. For her, it’s definitely an adventure. We wish you all the best, Feben!
A for
mer student of mine, Michelle Tolin, won a competitive IIA scholarship recently. This scholarship is sponsored by the Detroit Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). She won this scholarship by completing an essay ” Discuss the benefits of using social media in the internal audit process and provide specific examples“. She was one of my best students in BUS421 in the winter semester that ended in April. See the link to the IIA’s announcement here: http://www.detroitiia.org/Awards.htm#SCH
I am very excited to be involved with IIA here. They really provide great opportunities to students. Thanks IIA!
I participated in UM-Flint Office of Extended Learning’s online course redesign project. This is a great workshop for online instructors! One of the projects I did was to make a new welcome video for students online. Folks in OEL have really put efforts into this thing – they used HD camera and professional lighting equipment to shoot the video (feel like I am a movie star!) I am so delighted with the result. This video was first launched in my BUS421 Accounting information systems in summer 2012 semester.
I took part in the ISACA’s training week from June 12-15, 2012 in Dallas, TX. The track I registered and participated is called “Fundamentals of IT Assurance and Audit”. Topics covered include the process of auditing information systems, governance and management of IT, information systems acquisition, development, and implementation, information systems operations, maintenance, and support, and protection of information assets. What I learned the most, however, is a confirmation of my belief that IT audit/security is a growing area and an excellent career choice for accounting students. The biggest “gap” in this profession is that we have a bunch of IT “techies” who know everything about computers, network, etc. but not enough people who ALSO understand business side of the trade. After all, if the IT objectives cannot be aligned with business objectives, why do we invest in IT? So accounting students, here is your opportunity – you study accounting, so you know about business inside out – if you also know something about how IT works, your career choices will be wide open!
This event is well attended by professionals from different industries – accountants from CPA firms, internal auditors from public companies, security professionals, auditors at Federal Reserve, IT directors, etc. The instructor is an experienced consultant in IT audit. The picture was taken by a classmate – a CPA from Nigeria…(well they are called “chartered accountant” for that matter).
The Pillars Magazine at UM-Flint features a story about my 2011 Taiwan Study Abroad Program. It is a discussion about what we had learned from visiting a few Taiwanese companies last summer when 12 students toured Taiwan with me. Click the picture below to read about the story:
Presented at the International Business MBA Program at NSYSU in Kaohsiung, Taiwan: “New Alphabets in Accounting”:







