TheSouthern University College of Business; new electronic business program issteadily gaining national and international recognition.
“Theoverall idea is to use e-business as a tool in developing countries,” said Dr.Vincent Mbarika, professor of e-commerce and databases.
In aninterview with Afritec LTD, and African Communication and TelecommunicationCompany, Mbarika stated, “E-commerce is a broad term that involves the movementof goods and services through some electronic means.
“In recentyears, however, these electronic transactions have been predominantly over theInternet and that is why many people attribute e-commerce to the Internet. Aswe know today, e-commerce also takes place over wireless media, commonly knownas m-commerce (Mobile Commerce).”
Inaddition, ongoing research to develop practical e-business, to improve theeconomy, and a look at other pertinent e-business issues are concerns for theprogram both at the University and at universities in other countries.
Mbarikastated that Southern has a research agenda that involves the countries ofEgypt, Uganda, Cameroon and Kenya.
There hasalso been a request from the National University of Rwanda to SouthernUniversity to help develop a master’s program in technology, which involvese-business.
In a letterto Mbarika, student Mike Barongo of Makerere University, ICS in Kampala, Ugandawrote: “Thank you for having come and delivered your presentation at thee-business workshop here at Makerere University, ICS.
“I believesome of the challenges you did identify such as National infrastructure,cultural issues, and ethical issues may as well be critical for the successfulimplementation of E-governance.”
There areapproximately three graduate students at Makerere University, ICS in Uganda whowork closely with Southern University.
Since thefall semester of 2004, the 128-hour curriculum with courses such as Managementof Business Databases, Development of Business Information Systems, AdvancedBusiness Programming, Supply Chain Management, Electronic Commerce andBusiness-to-Business E-Commerce have been preparing students for high-techcareers.
“TheCollege of Business is modernizing for access to technology,” said Dr. DonaldAndrews, dean of the business college in the September 28, 2004 issue of theSouthern Digest.
Opposite ofTulane University, a private university in New Orleans, Southern University isthe only public university in the state that offers the full e-businessprogram.
Management,analysis, and application development dealing with electronic business are someof the skills students of the e-business program develop.
Working inacademics, bank and financial institutions, with the government, healthcare,insurance, retail, and small businesses are some of the careers students canchoose from upon graduation.
SouthernUniversity as a whole, in conjunction with the College of Business, are in theworks of developing a master’s program in of e-business as well, through theNelson Mandela School of Urban Policy. A Master of Business (MBA) program atSouthern is also a possibility in the future.
For moreinformation on the e-business program or the Southern University College ofBusiness, contact Dr. Vincent Mbarika at (225) 771-5643 or Dean Donald Andrewsat (225) 771-5640.
