UW-Parkside: School of Business and Technology

Students get global perspective from German prof

Going global: German professor visits UW-Parkside

UW-Parkside students and faculty recently got a first-hand view of Germany's state of the IT art from someone who is helping to create that art. Professor Reza Asghari of the University of Applied Sciences in Wolfenbuettel, UW-Parkside's sister campus in Germany, teaches and conducts research in the emerging field IT law.

"The reason that I work there is that we have a course of study called Law of Information and Communication Technology, which is a very new course of study in Germany," Professor Reza Asghari said. "And in that context, I teach e-business and e-government."

Professor Asghari's started the day meeting with faculty and students for an open discussion of Euro information technology issues based on his research into the societal impact of computers.

"For example," said Stu Hansen who attended the session, "one of his focuses is on e-government, including electronic voting. E-government goes beyond that to include providing government services to its citizens, whether they are applying for a car license online or looking up zoning plans online."

Electronic commerce and the delivery of government service online were subjects Professor Asghari addressed while speaking to students in Tom Witt's Business Data Communications class.

"The class was at the business school and I talked about the economic impact of information and communication technology of firms and institutional governments. I talked about electronic business and cost saving effects through e-business in companies. But also how efficient governmental institutions can work when they use internet and intranet."

Professor Asghari got a view of local progress on e-government during a visit to Kenosha County's IT operation.

Our German guest said he came away from his time at UW-Parkside with hopes that he would be back on a more permanent basis.

"I had a very good talk with Mr. Ebeid [School of Business and Technology Dean Fred Ebeid] and [Interim Provost Jerry] Greenfield and they emphasized that they are very interested in international programs. So, what I suggested, as a first step, that I teach as a visiting professor my course on e-business. And it could be combined with e-learning teaching," Professor Asghari said.

He added UW-Parkside and Wolfenbuettel may establish an agreement along the lines of the Information Society Management program the German school is working on with UW-Milwaukee. He expects to know more about that possibility in the coming months.