Transatlantic Business School Alliance (TABSA)

The TABSA was founded in 1998 in Marseille as a consortium composed of seven schools of business to develop a common, international business curriculum, three in the United States and four in Europe; University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA; East Tennessee State University, USA; Groupe ESC Marseille-Provence, Marseille, France; Hochschule Bremen, Germany; universitat de Valencia, Spain; University of Westminster, London, England.

TABSA is on the road to a unique international network. TABSA's strategic vision is based upon the concept of Integrated Diversity, which incorporates the diverse academic, cultural and professional traditions of each partner university within a common program of structured activities. This innovative, multinational program is a transforming process that promotes shared, authentic cross-cultural understanding, theoretical knowledge and applied business skills for the development of a cadre of well-trained business professionals in Europe and America who will become the business leaders of tomorrow.

As part of its commitment to continuous improvement we have begun a process which will achieve a number of specific objectives. These include:

• Developing structured relationships for transatlantic student and faculty exchanges;

• The integration of specific transatlantic, business components within the international business curriculum at each institution;

• The incorporation of common curricula components and academic standards, consistent with the accreditation requirements of the respective institutions such that credits from each institution are freely exchangeable;

• The provision of adequate language, cross-cultural and business course-work preparation at each institution to ensure the success of the student exchange experience, and thus the cost-effectiveness of the studetn exchange program;

• The provision of internship (US usage) and work-placement (British usage) opportunities for hosted students in each country;

• The encouragement of the use of new technologies and distance learning, which aim to improve the quality and the cost-effectiveness of transatlantic cooperation in business education and training and;

• The promotion of joint, innovative projects among member institutions.

TABSA offers students a wide range of activities. Students can study abroad for summer school sessions, a semester, a year, or they can take the opportunity to engage in internships with foreign companies. However, the most important educational opportunity is the 2 + 2 program that allows students to receive degrees from two partner institutions. Students study for two years at the home university and for two years at a university abroad. The student's studies take place in multinational groups and within an international setting. Consequently, students become fluent in the languages of the EU's member states and to be sensitive to cultural nuances that underlie the social and political fabric of the EU and USA.

TABSA Partner School Information

• Bremen, Germany
• London, Great Britain
• Marseilles, France
• Valencia, Spain