The Center for Emerging Markets had another very good year, thanks to the passion of its faculty associates, who now number almost 50 and belong to several colleges within NU. In terms of research, we organized a dozen seminars featuring top-notch scholars and provided mini-grants to eleven NU faculty to conduct research on emerging market (EM) issues. CEM also helped organize three international research conferences—one at NU on the role of favors in EMs, another at Cambridge University (UK) on the competitive advantage of emerging-market multinationals, and a third (forthcoming) with the School of Criminal Justice and Law School on training materials to fight corruption in EMs.
In terms of student learning, we helped undergraduates take up coop jobs in emerging markets, subsidized the first MBA field study trips to Russia and India, and will help launch a new Emerging Markets minor for undergraduate students at NU. In terms of influencing practice, we offered five more events in our Webinar series on Competing with Emerging-market MNEs, organized a widely-attended 2010 EM Update symposium for the Greater Boston business community, and co-organized multiple outreach events with the Associated Industries of Massachusetts.
In addition, CEM faculty associates have lectured on EM topics at numerous forums around the world. All of these activities benefited greatly from the BIE grant from the US Department of Education (2009-11) and support from the Liberty Mutual Foundation. We have submitted a very strong follow-up BIE proposal to the Department of Education for 2011-13.
I want to take this opportunity to thank former Dean Tom Moore for his steadfast support of CEM, without which none of our accomplishments would have been possible.