Local businesses can get international perspective through Cape foundation

Area businesses looking to gain an advantage during globalization have a local option in Cape Girardeau's Cultural Exchange Network.

Robyn Walker, executive director of the not-for-profit CENET, said American companies understand the need for globalization and for bringing in fresh ideas and talent worldwide.

"Any local businessman or woman interested in global trends and development could temporarily enhance their work force with an international trainee or intern," Walker said.

In 2009, about 2,000 students were enrolled in CENET's programs.

Its largest program is the Training/Internship program, which allows international interns to participate in work-based programs in the United States for one year; trainees may stay up to 18 months. Most interns are still studying, whereas trainees already graduated or have work experience.

CENET, which collects and gathers all the paperwork for the U.S. State Department and determines whether participants are qualified for its four programs, works with a number of multinational corporations and small businesses and has a number of businesses nationwide interested primarily in that program.

Walker said the Training/Internship program allows people from around the world to see another side of America, "perhaps not the side of America that they see in the media in their home country."

In return, Walker said, the American business owner gains insight into the global business community and gets a chance to develop an awareness of trends outside the U.S. industry.

"Given the shift to a more globalized market, many business owners find this opportunity extremely valuable and are eager to host a participant," she said.

Walker pointed out she would also like to get the local community more interested in the possibilities of going abroad for a longer period of time, since CENET helps American students to gain work experience abroad or spend a semester in a foreign country.

"Anyone under 25 worldwide that doesn't have an experience outside of their own country is going to be at a disadvantage," she said. "And I think you really have young people searching for that opportunity, so we get loads of contacts."

The smallest program, Internship Across Cultures, is primarily for American students, recent graduates or people with at least five years' work experience who are interested in work-based programs in Australia and the United Kingdom.

"The aim of this program is to try and get more Americans going abroad and to provide an option for them to go abroad that's not study-based but more work-based," Walker said. "We work with representative agencies in Australia and the United Kingdom who place our participants with local businesses."

Walker said American participants going abroad on the Internships Across Cultures program generally earn the host country minimum wage or have unpaid positions.

"There is therefore very little cost to the business owner," she said.

The Magellan Exchange, for students to study abroad, is a consortium of 25 universities worldwide. Southeast Missouri State University is one of the member schools. Students pay their tuition and fees to their home institution, and an international student takes the place of an outgoing American student. Participants can choose to attend universities in Germany, Belgium, France, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, Austria and the United States.

Walker said most of CENET's local participation is through the Magellan student and faculty exchange at Southeast Missouri State University.

Kelsey Gantner from Highland, Ill., participated in the Magellan exchange two years ago in fall 2008 in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The Southeast Missouri State University student said she is thankful for the program because she had an amazing experience at an affordable price.

"I was informed that [Maastricht] was a beautiful city and had a very good business program," said the 21-year old. "After being there and experiencing the school, I definitely agree."

The senior accounting major graduates in May and plans to start a master's program in international business in Maastricht this fall.

"I honestly believe it was the best experience of my life to be able to firsthand live in another country and gain an appreciation of differences in another country's way of life," she said. "The people I met while studying in the Netherlands for just that one semester will be friends of mine for the rest of my life. It's a pretty amazing feeling to literally have friends from the other side of the world."

Anke Ruwette, 23, from Hulsberg, the Netherlands, went to Arkansas State University through the Magellan exchange three years ago and is now in the Training/Internship program. When her adviser told her CENET was looking for interns or trainees, she saw her chance and started as an international trainee for CENET in September. Her responsibilities include reviewing applications and helping CENET applicants from all over the world to find internships with U.S. companies.

"I love working here, I really like being here," she said. "It's really interesting. Every day is different. One day everybody is so busy and it's chaotic, the other day it's really professional."

She said she likes working at CENET because it is always changing.

But "what I like about the U.S. the most is that everywhere you go it's so different," she said. "The south and the north are so completely different. I like to see different kinds of the U.S."

CENET also offers a four-month Work and Travel program for international students who must be enrolled in their home-country university. Both the Work and Travel and the Training/Internship opportunities are just for non-U.S. residents.

With that program, CENET is "looking to invite people to learn both American business ways and also to experience a little bit more than just a work environment, also to experience travel," Walker said.

Those interested in the programs can go to www.cenet.us or call 335-7111.