Corporate MBA (CMBA) Sustains Stable Enrollments for the Third Consecutive Year Through Strategic Planning, Innovative Recruitment Initiatives, and Strong Teamwork
Meet the Team
- Jing Yu, Associate Director of Admissions, Marketing and Recruitment
- Rita Wu, Assistant Director of Recruiting
The CMBA unit recruits international graduate students by collaborating with the College’s newly established international university partners in Italy, Taiwan, and India, while continuing to leverage long-standing recruitment partnerships across Asia. Through strategic planning, innovative recruitment initiatives, and strong teamwork, the unit has maintained stable international enrollment for the third consecutive year despite the significant challenges universities worldwide faces in attracting international students.
What We Do: It’s All About Recruiting Outstanding International Students
The CMBA unit is equipped with unique expertise in recruiting international students. Its success is achieved through strategic outreach and cross-campus cross-college collaboration. Key initiatives include hosting late-evening virtual information sessions to accommodate time differences with prospective students, partnering with UIC’s central admissions office and Office of International Services to streamline admission procedures, and offering a series of post-admission workshops on practical topics such as housing. Together, these efforts increased student engagement and contributed to stronger enrollment yield. These efforts resulted in a breakthrough in India and a significant increase in enrollment of graduate students from both Italy and Taiwan.
The CMBA unit plays a key role in advancing the College’s international collaboration strategy by planning and coordinating partnership development visits for CBA leadership and hosting delegations from partner universities. Through these efforts, the unit strengthens strategic global partnerships, supports the development of new collaborative opportunities, and enhances the College’s international visibility and engagement.
What Corporate MBA Does (Continued)
CMBA fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for international students. Recognizing that studying in a new country presents both academic and cultural challenges, CMBA team work collaboratively across departments and units to ensure a smooth transition for students entering the American classroom and adapting to life in the United States. Faculty, staff, and program administrators actively partner to provide guidance, mentorship, and individualized support throughout the student experience—from arrival and orientation to academic progress and career development. Particular attention is given to students participating in contract programs with partner universities. Across the College, teams consistently go “above and beyond” to help these students navigate academic expectations, professional opportunities, and cultural adjustment. These collective efforts have produced outstanding outcomes for students in the contract programs, fostering both academic excellence and meaningful career opportunities:
- All six students from the 2025 Contract MS in Supply Chain and Operations Management cohort from Italy received internship offers for the Spring 2026 semester, providing valuable industry experience through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) while completing their studies.
- All four students in the 2025 Contract MS in Finance cohort from Taiwan secured on-campus employment as Graduate Hourly staff or Teaching Assistants, gaining professional and academic experience.
- Among these four Contract MS in Finance students, one received a full-time job offer in Fall 2025 with an annual salary of $100,000 and is currently applying for an H-1B visa, representing a significant professional milestone.
- Another student from the same cohort of four Contract MS in Finance students secured a full-time position with a top financial institution in Taiwan, with a starting salary 50% higher than the prevailing market rate, demonstrating the global career pathways enabled by the program.
- For the first time in its 30+ year history, the CMBA program allows its students to use CPT, a work authorization that allows international students to work off campus while still enrolled in academic programs. The policy has already produced results—eight CMBA students secured a Summer 2026 internship during their final semester. This initiative also serves as a strategic component of CMBA’s recruitment efforts and has been positively received by all partners.
How We Can Help: Supporting Faculty Success, Site Visits and International Engagement
Looking to enrich your students’ learning experience or expand the global reach of your work? The CMBA unit is here to support you.
Our team can assist faculty in planning and coordinating professional site visits and experiential learning opportunities for students, such as visits to UI Health as pictured below and visits to other industry, government, or community partners. We can help with logistics, coordination, and planning to help ensure these experiences are seamless and impactful.
We also invite faculty to showcase their courses, student projects, research, and other academic initiatives through our network of international university partners. Profiling your work can increase its global visibility, foster new academic collaborations, support student exchange and engagement opportunities, and strengthen partnerships with institutions around the world.
Whether you are planning a site visit, seeking international collaborators, or looking to highlight innovative teaching and research among the College’s international university partners, we are here to help. Contact us at cmba@uic.edu to discuss how we can support your goals.