ACU welcomes international students in internship exchange program For immediate release May 26, 1999 A summer exchange program for five Abilene Christian University students and five Universidad Autonoma de Laguna students from Torrejon, Mexico, will be more than a cultural exchange. The students, all business majors, will compare and contrast U.S. and Mexico business practices and human resource management techniques. Dr. Malcom Coco, director of internships and assistant professor of human resource management at ACU, has organized the exchange program, a first at ACU. It will begin June 1 with an orientation process and luncheon. "This international exchange internship program offers ACU students and students from the university in Torrejon the opportunity to learn business cultures in U.S.-based and Mexico-based companies," Coco said. "It should open the students' eyes to the concept of a global marketplace like no other college experience." Participating students will be introduced to the Abilene economy through June 1 orientation sessions at ACU's College of Business Administration. Dr. Thomas Kim, economist in residence at ACU, will present Abilene's economic forecast at 8 a.m. Then, at 9 a.m., Dr. Ted Presley, director of ACU's international studies, will offer a cultural orientation, and at 10 a.m., Charlie Dromgoole, president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, will present information about Abilene's industrial strength. Students will be paired for internships at these local businesses: Hendrick Medical Center, First National Bank, Abilene Regional Medical Center and the Small Business Development Center. Each pair of students will consist of one ACU student and one student from Mexico. Students will be introduced and then released to host-company representatives at an 11 a.m. June 1 luncheon at Hendrick Medical Center. The Abilene internships will continue through July 2. After that, the 10 students will go to Torrejon on July 3 to start a month-long internship with similar corporations in Mexico. While in Abilene, the students from Mexico will be living in ACU's University Park apartments. When the group travels to Mexico, ACU students will stay with the families of their internship partners.. --30-- If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@nicanor.acu.edu or call 915-674-2692. Last update: May 26, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@nicanor.acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/people/news/990526-interns.html