Undergraduate publishing opportunities expand with launch of new journal.

In a few months, undergraduate authors from around the world will have a new outlet for their research endeavors: the undergraduate Journal for Global Business and Community. The online publication aims to “put a human face on globalization,” according to Robert Hogner, associate professor, Department of Management and International Business, coordinator of the college’s Civic Engagement Initiative, and development director for undergraduate international business programs.

“There are undergraduate journals. but none in international business, much less any focused on the issues of global business and community,” Hogner said. “The journal will cover the political, economic, social, moral, and technical issues associated with globalization.”

Two students developed the business model.

Aydin Bonabi

Two students, Honors College graduate Aydin Bonabi (BBA ’05), and Aadil Edoo (BS ’06), developed the business model, after Bonabi, co-founder and founding president of the International Business Honor Society (IBHS) had thought of the concept and discussed it with Hogner.

“We wanted to create a global voice for students interested in international business,” said Bonabi, now a program specialist in the Office of Online Learning in the college and a student in the Chapman School’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program. “We also wanted something on the academic side to complement the efforts of the IBHS to build socially-involved, ethical students.”

Why you should consider preparing and submitting a paper.

According to Edoo, who now is a member of the finance department at a leading oilfield services company, undergraduate research is an important task for a number of reasons, noting that it:

• is quite popular at the more prestigious universities globally.
• gives students a better idea of what research is all about, which aids them in their decisions concerning graduate school.
• demonstrates that a student knows what he/she is getting into in the field.
• allows students to gain valuable research skills and exposure to advanced methodologies.

Laying the groundwork represents a yearlong commitment, helps students grow.

Bonabi, Edoo, and Hogner brainstormed about what they wanted the journal to be—having to fashion its vision, establish what it should accomplish, and even decide what to call it. Among its goals are

• to foster undergraduate research in the field of international business with the added ethical and community component,
• to provide undergraduate students an avenue for publishing papers that demonstrate a high level of understanding and intelligence,
• to stress the greater dedication and effort required to write a paper for submission to a journal,
• to promote the college and university in the academic arena, and
• to establish the college’s leadership in the concept.

“We looked at the structure, mission, layout, target audience, selection process, timelines, and method of delivery of more than thirty journals,” Edoo said.

Robert Hogner

After two semesters involving a number of meetings and revisions to the plan—along with Hogner’s help on the budgeting questions—the business model was completed. Its development was a challenge to the students involved.

“Other than the idea, we had no experience as far as academic journals go,” Edoo said. “At times it was a bit difficult as progress seemed slow, but we stuck with it, and eventually, we put together something worth looking at.”

Take advantage of this new research outlet.

Not only are Bonabi and Edoo largely responsible for shaping this new venture, but also, they plan to follow their own advice and submit a paper.

“Our working title is ‘Developed and Developing Countries: Income Disparities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF),’” Bonabi said. “We’ve done the research, will co-author the paper, and send it in for review and, hopefully, acceptance and publication.”

The initial call for papers will go out this fall and the inaugural issue will appear in spring, 2007. If you’re interested in finding out more about the submission process, contact Robert Hogner at 305-348-2387 or e-mail him at rhogner@fiu.edu.

The project is a partnership among the IBHS, the college’s undergraduate international business program, and Florida International University’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).