SOM's List of Strategic Partners Grows

By Patricia Schoch


By partnering with The Leadership Center at UTD, Nokia becomes one of the
newest strategic partner of the UTD School of Management, joining the
growing list of SOM strategic partners that includes: 

*  Alcatel USA 
*  Alliance Data Systems
*  A.T. Kearney, Inc.
*  AT&T
*  Bank One
*  Deloitte & Touche
*  Ericsson
*  Fujitsu Network Communications
*  Gillani, Inc.
*  Haynes and Boone, LLP
*  Intervoice, Inc.
*  Marsh Inc.
*  Nokia
*  Nortel Networks
*  TXU
*  7-Eleven, Inc.

SOM's Strategic Partners Program is an alliance of business partners that
work with the school in a unique relationship designed to help meet the
business education needs of companies in high-tech, worldwide competition.  
SOM Dean Hasan Pirkul underscores the importance of the Strategic Partners
Program to the school.

"It is through these partnerships with business that the school and
university receive not only crucial financial aid but also a unique
perspective on management expertise and future-oriented curriculum ideas
that help us to stay on the cutting edge."

SOM strategic partners currently contribute between $20,000 and $100,000
annually for a minimum four-year period.  Their senior executives also act
as advisors on the UTD President's Leadership Circle, the UTD Development
Board and The School of Management's Advisory Council.

"For a business school, it is imperative that we work closely with
industry in defining our direction, programs and research agenda," the
dean says, noting he regards such business-education partnerships as
essential for relevant management education.  

The dean stresses that the school maintains a two-way, reciprocal
relationship with its strategic partners. In return for their financial
and advisory support, SOM provides value back to supporting companies in
the form of customized executive and continuing education programs
tailored to fit the companies' needs.

"Such partnerships with industry give our strategic partners a stake in
our school and allow them to spend sufficient time being engaged with us
in our programs.  Only then can we stay abreast and continue to address
the rapidly changing needs of industry and the workforce," Dean Pirkul
says.