SDSU Hosts International Economic Summit with
High School Students from Mexico and San Diego
First-of-its-kind effort simulates world trade among nations
Contact: Randy Carmical, Director of Communications
(619) 594-0206 Randy.Carmical@sdsu.edu
SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, April 18, 2006 – San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) will host its first-ever Regional International Economic Summit on Monday, April 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Montezuma Hall on SDSU’s campus.
The all-day conference simulates world trade among nations, with dozens of student teams from San Diego and Baja California, Mexico. The event is structured like a model United Nations, where each student team represents a different country. The students will have spent weeks getting ready, researching their assigned country’s economy, political structure, imports and exports, natural resources, infrastructure needs, and other strengths and weaknesses. These “economic advisers” will then come to the event with specific strategies in mind, prepared to negotiate and trade their way toward improving the standard of living within “their country.”
“The International Economic Summit is an exciting opportunity for students to explore basic economic concepts and globalization issues in a way that combines learning and fun,” said Mark Ballam, director of CIBER. “This kind of program has been conducted successfully elsewhere in the United States, but this will be the first time it has been done with students from more than one country.”
Sixty-nine countries will be represented at the summit by over 300 students from Ensenada, Mexico and San Diego. To get ready, the students have corresponded with e-mail, instant messaging and other electronic communication before meeting face-to-face at the event. While there are 300 students attending the summit, the program is impacting over 750 students in the classroom.
SDSU’s CIBER is a co-sponsor of the event, along with the International Economic Summit Foundation, the California Council for International Trade, the California Trade Education Center and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Financial support for the event comes from Sempra Energy, through its partnership with SDSU’s College of Business. For more information, visit www.econsummit.org.
"Community leaders in Baja California have encouraged our support for programs that will help in the development of their future community, business and political leaders," says Cathy Lavin, community relations manager at Sempra Energy. "With so much of our San Diego-Baja California region's fast growth tied to international trade, these educational programs are really targeted to their needs."
Along with financial support, Sempra Energy employees will donate their time as volunteers at the event, including playing the role of "world bankers" who will provide development loans, sell units of internal improvement, accept tariff payment and exchange currency. SDSU students and employees from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco also will be volunteering their time as Summit Secretaries and members of the USA-Mexico team. The event falls during National Volunteer Week (April 23-29).
The high schools participating in the summit will hold practice sessions as follows:
1. Helix Charter H.S., April 19, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., with students from Monte Vista H.S.
2. High Tech High International, April 20, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. with The Kearney School of International Business
3. CETYS (Ensenada, Baja), April 22, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. with all participating students from Baja, Mexico participating.
Sempra Energy in Mexico
Sempra Energy companies are very involved in Baja California, building the first West Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipt terminal near Ensenada, operating a major power plant near Mexicali, and operating natural gas transmission pipelines and distribution systems.
About SDSU College of Business Administration
With over 5,500 students, the SDSU College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S. Its programs in international business and graduate entrepreneurship are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. This year, the college is celebrating “50 Years of Educating San Diego’s Business Leaders.”
About SDSU’s Center for International Business Education and Research
Since 1989, SDSU’s CIBER has been designated a national center of excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. CIBERs were created under the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to increase and promote the nations capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise. The government-supported program links the manpower and information needs of U.S. business with the international education, language training and research capacities of universities across the U.S.
About San Diego State University
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degree in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s more than 33,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.
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