The domain of the International Division of USASBE is all issues dealing with small business and entrepreneurship across one or more national borders.

The International Division of USASBE is comprised of a broad cross-section of USASBE members, dedicated to encourage and coordinate international orientation through the exchange of ideas and programs, and to promote small business and entrepreneurship within a global context.

Execution of this mission entails:

• Promoting and facilitating scholarly contacts between members of USASBE and scholars outside of the United States.
• Encouraging and coordinating international programs and opportunities for the exchange of scholars and for the furtherance of comparative research.
• Organizing, promoting, and conducting workshops, symposia, and paper and presentations at the annual USASBE conferences, focusing on international issues affecting small business and entrepreneurship.
• Providing a forum for sharing of "best practices," emerging technologies, and special topics emerging from the membership.
• Serving as a repository and clearinghouse for information on international entrepreneurship research, teaching and lecturing opportunities, as well as providing a data base to be used by parties seeking specialized assistance.
• Providing a forum for division members to establish special interest groups within the domain of international entrepreneurship and small business.
• Serving as the principal liaison between USASBE and other international organizations in the areas of international entrepreneurship and small business issues.
• Serving as the primary USASBE advocate and liaison on international entrepreneurship and small business issues, including interaction with public policy officials to promote policies supporting entrepreneurship and small business activities.
  

Background
One of the significant events of the 13th Annual Conference held in San Diego in January of 1999 was the creation of a new division within USASBE, the International Division. This grass-roots initiative was driven by members expressing interest and a strong desire for an involvement in international entrepreneurship. The rather spontaneous occurrence parallels the dynamics of our changing profession and the business word itself; globalization!

Forty attendees at the January conference met to discuss their international interests and activities, and to consider how USASBE could better respond to their professional needs. The group felt that the interest was sufficient to justify petitioning the membership for creating a new division within the organization. Over eighty persons attending the conference signed that petition, resulting in the USASBE Board approving the formation of the International Division in March of 1999.

An important service of the division is the "International Hosts" program. Division members volunteer to extend help and hospitality to international attendees at the annual conferences. This has been a successful program, appreciated by the visitors and enjoyed by the participants. The division strives to make the international participants feel welcomed, at ease, and to assist them in understanding USASBE and how to make the most out of the conference. USASBE and the International Academic community is served by being available for the international participants' needs - recognizing that their only need may be to know that if they need help they have someone to turn to.

Master Course Outline

The Master Course Outline was created for use at the MBA level in order to help create some common standard as to what would be desired to be included in a course in International Entrepreneurship and offer suggestions for faculty members teaching such a course while allowing flexibility in terms of projects and coverage of topical material within the course. This Master Course Outline was created by Shawn Carraher with the generous support of the U.S. Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship, the Texas A & M University System, and the U.S. State Department.

Division Officers - 2007

VP:  George Puia, Saginaw Valley State University,  puia@svsu.edu 

Division History*
2006 VP: John O’del, Rhode Island College
2005 VP: Sherry Sullivan, Bowling Green State University
2004 VP: Deborah Francis, Jacksonville State University
2003 VP: Melinda Harris, Norfolk State University
2002 VP: Shawn Carraher, Texas A&M Commerce
2001 VP: Paul G. Simmonds, Florida State University
2000 VP: Emeric Solymossy, Western Illinois University-Quad Cities
1999 VP: Jon Richards, Southwest Oregon Community College
1997 Internationalization Task Force: V.K. Unni, California State University--Bakersfield

* Approved as USASBE Division in 1999.