Stanford University Establishes E-commerce Center - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, Jan 6, 2000

STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford University, spawning ground for many successful Silicon Valley businesses, is opening a new e-commerce center to provide research and courses about the booming industry.

Stanford officials said last month that they have received $20 million from brokerage Charles Schwab & Co., private equity firm General Atlantic Partners, and Internet auction company eBay Inc. to open a Center for Electronic Business and Commerce at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Business school dean Robert Joss says the new center will develop research and education initiatives needed to understand the impact of information and communication technologies on firms, industries and markets.

"The impact of electronic commerce on all aspects of business will be profound," Joss says. "Given our proximity to Silicon Valley -- the heart and origin of these changes -- the top priority for me is that we remain the leading school in the research and teaching of electronic commerce issues."

Joss says the business school's goal is to be the worldwide leader in research, curriculum development and the dissemination of ideas about conducting business electronically and about electronic commerce.

Stanford Business School is among a small number of leading business schools that have a required course on electronic business in the M.B.A. core.

The Center for Electronic Business and Commerce will act as a clearinghouse and library for faculty research and e-commerce case studies. In addition, the center will provide support for curriculum development and student activities related to e-commerce.