VT KnowledgeWorks presents its third annual Global Partnership Week, August 19 - August 25, 2012. University students, faculty, and staff from all over the world will congregate, collaborate, form partnerships, and build their global networks. The Global Partnership is a multi-layered, ongoing cooperative association of regions building permanent social, academic, and business relationships.
To date, this year’s participating University Partners include Tech University of Malaysia; Tongji University, China; Telecom SudParis, France; University of Trento, Italy; University of Kent, England; Vienna University of Technology, Austria; Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; and Virginia Tech, USA.
Members of the Global Partnership gather annually during a week-long event hosted by VT KnowledgeWorks, the Virgina Tech Corporate Research Center, Virginia Tech, and the citizens and businesses of the New River and Roanoke Valleys. Two concurrent tracks offered during the Global Partnership Week address the particular globalization issues faced by student entrepreneurs and innovative universities.
The Student Track celebrates the energy and ingenuity of university students and their important contributions to the global economy by means of a Business Concept Challenge. The Challenge provides a unique opportunity for students to compete globally for a $25,000 grand prize and VT KnowledgeWorks Trophy. While in Blacksburg, the teams are housed with local families, spend interactive time with successful technology companies, enjoy fellowship with Virginia Tech students, and attend a formal Awards Banquet hosted by the Virginia Tech Office of Outreach and International Affairs.
Another key element of the week is a stimulating multi-university roundtable event at Virginia Tech where faculty members participating in the University Track will discuss and exchange best practices, and cooperative arrangements. Participants of the University Track enjoy celebratory meals with a regional audience, and have numerous opportunities to network, partner, and do business with each other. They also attend the Global Student Business Concept Challenge and Awards Banquet.
These generous sponsors make this very special week of education, competition, relaxation, and relationship building possible: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., NetVentures, Novozymes, Rackspace, StellarOne Bank, SunTrust Bank, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., Virginia Tech, Virginia Corporate Research Center, and VPT, Inc.
- Learn more about the VT KnowledgeWorks Partnership Week
- Download the free VT KnowledgeWorks Global Directory for the Android or for iPhone or other iOS devices
- View the Global Partnership category on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks
VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, funded through the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters is in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
VT KnowledgeWorks sponsors include Attaain, Inc., BB&T, The Branch Group, Handshake 2.0, Harris Office Furniture, Hodges, Jones & Mabry, P.C., Hutchison Law Group, LeClairRyan, New River Valley Intellectual Property Law, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and The Becher Agency (TBA).
