| Problem. Businesses and their employees require access to information, training, and resources needed to be competitive in the global marketplace.;Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine whether international business curriculum guides for faculty, developed and prepared by Coastline Community College, assisted in the California community colleges' challenge to offer training in international business curriculum.;Procedure. An attitudinal survey was developed and conducted of community college faculty members and administrators.;Results. The survey mailing to 107 community colleges in California yielded 53 responses, a 49.5 percent response rate.;Although there was a positive acceptance of the guides and an overwhelming majority of the respondents indicated a general need for international business curriculum, just over half (53%) of the colleges surveyed used them. The survey results indicated that the guides were used to develop new curriculum (37%), enhance existing curriculum (31%) and to develop new courses (28%).;The modules that received the average ratings of 4.3 or better out of a maximum of 5.0 included Survey of International Business, International Marketing, Basics of Importing, Basics of Exporting, Export Licensing and Regulations, International Finance, and World Transportation.;Conclusions. The rate of response to the survey and the written comments indicate a high degree of interest in the field of international business and the related guides. This conclusion is reinforced by the fact that approximately one-third of the respondents reported using the guides for curriculum development and enhancement. Survey of International Business, International Marketing, Basics of Importing-Exporting, Export Licensing and Regulations, International Finance, and World Transportation received the highest average ratings of usefulness. The impact of all of the guides was generally positive.;The guides may have been under-utilized due to conditions in the campus environments, rather than a deficiency in the content of the guides.;Recommendations. A high number of responses indicated that the modules were "not used." A follow-up information sheet describing the content and availability of the guides should be distributed statewide to community college faculty and administrators.;Harsh economic conditions may have made a significant impact on both existing programs and the responses to the survey. Further research should be conducted when economic conditions change. |
