Partnership Program to Develop the Bachelor's of Business Administration (BBA) Program and Faculty and Administrative Capabilities at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, Baku, Azerbaijan

The partnership program assisted Azerbaijan's transition to a free market economy through strengthening of the institutional capabilities at the newly established ASOA business school. In particular, the program benefited the management teams of the oil and other industries in Baku, which this public university serves.

The partnership program: 1) Developed and implemented a high quality curricula for BBA program; 2) Developed Azeri undergraduate faculty capabilities in business education to deliver the BBA program and achieve and sustain teaching excellence; 3) Created a research center to support Azeri faculty for business research and case development resulting in publications of articles and business cases; 4) Developed Azeri Administrators' capabilities in management and administration of academic institutions to plan and control the activities in marketing, admissions, advisement, scheduling, placement and external relations; 5) Enhanced the library, computer, communications and audiovisual facilities to accommodate the needs of the BBA program and the research center; 6) Facilitated cooperation between the U.S. Government funded business education programs in Azerbaijan and Georgia; 7) Enhanced the internationalization of GSU curriculum and faculty and students.

The Robinson College of Business (RCB) at GSU assisted the ASOA with the design and implementation of BBA curricula and courses, Azeri faculty training to develop and deliver courses in Management, Marketing, Finance/Accounting and Computer Information Systems and to conduct business research and case-writing, establishing a business research center, and Azeri administrator training in management and administration.

The benefits for ASOA and Azerbaijan included: a) An elevated skill for the faculty to more effectively train a new generation of market-savvy business managers; b) More effective administrative infrastructure and skilled administrators; c) A business research facility to provide western style scholarly research and publications and earn recognition for ASOA; d) Increased employment of Azeris rather than expatriots in local and international companies; e) An increased knowledge of proven market economy business practices for business leaders to manage global competition.

Benefits for RCB included: a) Professional development for RCB faculty; b) Research for RCB faculty with input from Azeri colleagues; c) Experience for RCB faculty to conduct research and to develop business cases in their area of expertise such as supply chain, soft computing, e-commerce, and marketing.

The long-term impact included the strengthening of market economy and democratic systems in Azerbaijan, increased regional cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan and promotion of the strategic interests of the United States in the Southern Caucasus region.?

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