Hawaiʻi Pacific University is launching a three-year Bachelor of Science in Global Business program.
HAWAIʻI PACIFIC UNIVERSITY APPROVES ACCELERATED THREE-YEAR BUSINESS DEGREE
Hawaiʻi Pacific University has received regional accreditor approval for a new Bachelor of Science in Global Business designed to be completed in three years instead of four. The 90-credit program was approved by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, making HPU one of a small number of institutions nationwide to offer a fully accredited three-year business degree and the first in Hawaiʻi.
University leaders say the program aims to address rising college costs and demand for faster pathways to employment. By shortening the timeline, students can save a year of tuition, housing, and living expenses while entering the workforce sooner.
The curriculum is delivered in twelve eight-week terms at HPU’s downtown campus and emphasizes applied learning. Students complete real-world projects, case studies, and interdisciplinary coursework across areas such as finance, strategy, operations, analytics, and business law. The program also includes a two-semester capstone consulting experience.
Internships are central to the design. Students may complete two internships, including international placements, while building skills in communication, leadership, and problem solving.
HPU is now accepting applications for the accelerated degree, which is intended for students prepared for an intensive academic schedule and early career entry.
Students, faculty, and Fidelity Investments Canada leaders gather at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management to celebrate a $250,000 gift supporting the Rotman Commerce Student Fidelity Fund, a new undergraduate student-run investment portfolio.
ROTMAN COMMERCE GETS $250,000 FOR NEW UNDERGRAD INVESTMENT FUND
A new student-run investment fund at the University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce program has received $250,000 from Fidelity Investments Canada, giving undergraduates the opportunity to manage real capital. The gift establishes the Rotman Commerce Student Fidelity Fund, designed to provide hands-on experience in portfolio management and financial analysis.
Students selected each year will serve as portfolio managers and analysts, making investment decisions across sectors including healthcare, technology, infrastructure, consumer goods, commodities, and financial institutions. The fund will execute its first trade in March 2026. A 12-member board of faculty, alumni, and industry professionals will oversee the program.
The fund operates under a dual mandate. Students must pursue competitive, risk-adjusted returns while maintaining enough liquidity to meet an annual charitable distribution requirement of at least 3.5% of assets. Program leaders say this structure mirrors real-world asset management responsibilities and accountability.
Rotman Commerce officials describe the initiative as a cornerstone of applied learning. Associate Professor Catherine Barrette said the experience will strengthen students’ analytical skills, leadership development, and professional standards by connecting classroom theory to real financial decision-making.
Fidelity leaders say the partnership reflects a commitment to developing future investment professionals through practical training. By managing live funds under professional guidance, students gain exposure to the pressures and complexities of institutional investing before graduation.
Gies students declare their majors during Signing Day 2025. Jeremiah Cox/Gies College of Business
MORNINGSTAR COMMITS NEARLY $5M TO GIES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Morningstar is launching a five-year strategic collaboration with the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business that will bring real-world investment practice directly into the classroom. The nearly $5 million commitment combines technology access, hands-on learning, and industry engagement aimed at preparing students for careers in modern finance.
At the center of the partnership is professional access to Morningstar Direct, a platform widely used by institutional investors and analysts. Licenses and onboarding are valued at roughly $1 million per year, giving students the ability to analyze securities, evaluate funds, and work with market data using the same tools found on Wall Street. The software will be available in Gies’ Margolis Market Information Lab, a heavily used finance lab equipped with real-time data and financial news feeds.
The collaboration also includes experiential learning modules built with faculty, allowing students to tackle real business problems using Morningstar datasets. In addition, Morningstar professionals will provide guest lectures, workshops, and job-shadow opportunities across research, analytics, fintech, and product roles. The company will also contribute $25,000 to the Gies Scholarship Fund and serve as a strategic corporate partner to the school.
Morningstar frames the initiative as an investment in Midwest talent, while Gies emphasizes the importance of giving students early exposure to data-driven decision-making and ethical investing principles.
IE Tower, home to IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
IE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH CAMBRIDGE ON A LEVEL ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSE
IE University in Spain has signed an agreement with Cambridge University Press & Assessment to expand academic collaboration and introduce a new entrepreneurship course for Cambridge International AS & A Level students. The course will be designed by IE University and integrated into the Cambridge International A Level pathway.
A Levels are subject-based qualifications typically taken by students ages 16 to 18 outside the U.S. They are closer to advanced, college-level coursework than a broad U.S. high school curriculum and are often used for university admissions across the U.K., Europe, Asia, and Africa. Students usually study three or four subjects in depth over two years, with final exams determining results.
The new course brings university-level entrepreneurial learning into this pathway for the first time. Its aim is to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset as a durable skill while strengthening preparation for higher education and long-term careers. The partnership has the potential to reach more than 450,000 students each year across more than 3,600 schools worldwide.
“This collaboration reflects a shared belief in education as a driver of opportunity and societal progress,” says Manuel Muñiz, Rector of IE University. “By integrating entrepreneurship and university-level learning into the Cambridge International A Level pathway, we strengthen the bridge between secondary and higher education, equipping students with the mindset, skills, and global outlook needed to create impact in a rapidly changing world.”
The agreement also includes plans to explore executive training programs for secondary school principals and expanded use of Cambridge English assessments and learning materials. Together, the initiatives are designed to strengthen the link between secondary education and university study at a global scale.
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