Collaborate with Industry
During
the school year, many students work onsite for local companies—from established
national leaders like Dell, Motorola, and Nortel to start-ups trying to
gain venture capital funding. Students do everything from writing business
plans to analyzing key financial decisions as they get a first-hand look
at the ever-changing economic horizon.
Research Centers
interaction. Faculty in the centers draw leading companies and executives to engage with the McCombs School in a variety of ways. The end results are new and exciting internship and job opportunities, hot practicum topics, and extended networks for our students.
Our research centers provide Texas MBAs opportunities in almost any area—from finance and investment to marketing, entrepreneurship, and information technology. Here’s just a taste of some of the options our students have:
Information Technology:
Center for Research in Electronic Commerce (CREC)
More than nine years old, the CREC (originally called the Center for Information Systems Management) is the leading center in the world for research and education in the areas of Electronic Commerce and Digital Products. Established long before the boom in electronic commerce, the center is responsible for an array of research, publications, and white papers on e-business, including the Internet Economy Indicators, sponsored by Cisco Systems.
Accounting:
Center for Business Measurement and Assurance Services (BMAS)
As technology alters the basic business processes and even the organization of today’s enterprises, non-traditional business measures—and assurance of their relevance and reliability—are becoming central to keeping pace. BMAS brings together students and faculty across disciplines and corporate partners to concentrate on such non-traditional measures, new accounting skills, and assurance methods dictated by evolving technologies.
Finance:
Center for Energy Finance Education and Research (CEFER)
As an industry resource, CEFER is the focal point for the creation of the leading academic program in energy finance and financial risk management. This center’s purpose is to further develop the new energy finance curriculum and support faculty research in the area of financial risk management as it relates to energy and financial commodities.
Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Center for Private Equity Finance
Funded by a gift from one of the most famous private equity firms in the world, the center sponsors research, conferences, and course materials on this expanding sector of venture capital. With the center’s establishment in 2000, McCombs became one of the only schools in the world with a dedicated program in the arena of private equity. The center enhances McCombs’ overall strength in finance, deepening the exposure of our students and faculty to the latest research in capital markets, corporate finance, investments, real estate, and other areas associated with private equity. The center also awards merit-based scholarships to select MBAs.
Center for Real Estate Finance (CREF)
CREF is the first academic center at a leading U.S. university to specialize in the intersection of real estate and finance. The purpose of the CREF is to support curriculum development in real estate finance at UT as well as to support faculty research and faculty development. The center is the focal point for the creation of a nationally recognized real estate program.
Marketing:
Center for Customer Insight (CCI)
Companies must better anticipate and satisfy customers’ changing needs in the global information age or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The Center for Customer Insight, a network of leading universities and businesses engaged in multidisciplinary research and education programs, focuses on the emerging role of information technology in customer relationships.
Management:
Herb Kelleher Center for EntrepreneurshipFounded in 2002 with a $4 million gift from Southwest Airlines CEO Herb Kelleher, this center will develop new knowledge in entrepreneurial processes, publish case studies, develop and deliver programs, and facilitate the success of entrepreneurs from the McCombs community. The center brings together financial resources, leading entrepreneurs, and faculty from multiple disciplines and universities. One of its goals is to support the ongoing development and integration of the McCombs School entrepreneurship curriculum.
