CSUN to start trade program.

Fueled by a two-year $150,000 grant from the United States Department of Education, California State University, Northridge is developing a new undergraduate program specifically focused on international trade.

The program, slated to begin this spring, was developed in response to a desire from Valley small to medium-sized businesses to have a local center that could help them expand their international outreach.

"Our first main objective is to be an outreach place for the Valley business community," Rafi Efrat, the director of CSUN's International Business Program, said. "We did a needs assessment in the community and found a great deal of demand for communities looking to expand internationally, but they had few resources in the way of export consulting."

In accordance with their findings, Efrat developed the program, in collaboration with the school's Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning that would have a community-service learning component that would provide export consulting to local businesses. In the final component of the five-course program, students will head out into the community, pair with local businesses and help them expand their export business. Some of the things that students will help businesses with include developing a marketing plan and helping them narrow down which international markets might be most receptive to their company's products.

Seed money

The $150,000 earmarked for the program is essentially seed money, with most of the funds directed towards getting the program off the ground and subsidizing its study abroad programs and internships. Faculty practitioners from the field will supervise the courses, with current CSUN professors teaching the other courses in the program.

In an effort to help target the businesses that will find such a program useful, Efrat has already spoken with representatives from the Valley International Trade Association.

"I think the program will definitely be useful. The more institutions that offer business information as it relates to international trade will be a benefit for the community," David Iwata, the marketing outreach coordinator for the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley (and VITA), said.

CSUN will not be the only learning institution in the Valley involved in the international trade arena. Last year, Pierce College established an International Business Center.

Customized service

However, according to Efrat, the CSUN program will be distinct from Pierce's Center.

"We're much more customized than Pierce is. They are much more focused on providing informational sessions and seminars," Efrat said. "We're sitting down with the firms and working with them over several months to develop a plan to meet their specific needs."

Trade Program at a Glance

* California State University, Northridge

* Developed by CSUN's International Business Program in collaboration with the school's Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning

* Courses to be taught by industry professionals and CSUN professors

* Courses will include international marketing, international finance global logistics, international business law and an internship