How ASU’s Thunderbird School can prepare you for business in a digital world

April 2022 marked the 75^th anniversary of the Thunderbird School of Global Management. With decades of history behind it, the time has come for Thunderbird to start a new chapter in its story. A new purpose-built facility will now be Thunderbird’s global headquarters and help the next generation of Arizona State University students embrace the future and prepare for business in a digital world.

The new Thunderbird School of Global Management building is on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. As the cutting-edge global headquarters for Thunderbird, the building embraces the future and redefines how a global management school should operate.

The advanced technology available at Thunderbird means that students can learn a new language in the immersive virtual reality language lab and visualize and interpret data using artificial intelligence. The latest immersive and virtual communications technologies can also be found throughout the building and allow students to connect with the greater global community.

Its Digital Global Forum is an impressive open rotunda event space that pioneers the latest presentation and telepresence technology. It’s a welcoming 21st-century gathering space with dynamic technology that provides a “physical and digital auditorium and amphitheater that’s open to everyone, everywhere.”

Moore Ruble Yudell and Jones Studio, the architects of the nearly $70 million new global headquarters for Thunderbird described the structure as:

In addition, the building’s new location close to other ASU academic colleges, including the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, will enhance the Thunderbird student experience.  
 
For example, Thunderbird students (known as T-birds) will have the opportunity to connect with the resources, professors, and intellectual property on offer at other ASU schools. During their studies, T-birds can gain immediate access to cross-disciplinary programs and broaden their research and experience.

In fact, 3 of Thunderbird’s MGM concentrations are STEM OPT certified, which means you could enjoy working in the USA for up to 3 years after you graduate.

At the heart of Thunderbird is its aim to bring the world together to create the new enterprises of the future and, ultimately, advance sustainable prosperity and peace. Over half of the current students are international, coming from countries all over the world, and global heritage is an important part of the new Thunderbird building.

Thanks to this focus on welcoming students from around the world, Thunderbird offers significant scholarship funding to international students.

Moreover, many Thunderbird students speak more than one language, so having an international outlook is a fundamental part of being a T-bird. And if students started their journey at Thunderbird without knowing another language, they are required to show proof of another language proficiency before graduation.

What’s more, its regional heritage lounges feature art donated by alumni and showcase artifacts from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and more. The collection is an impressive reminder of Thunderbird’s global reach.

While the future is the driving force behind the new Thunderbird building, its creators also made sure the past was not forgotten. The building embraces Thunderbird’s 75 years of history, with T-bird memorabilia and photographs displayed throughout the building, ensuring that Thunderbird’s international traditions and long history are honoured and respected.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Thunderbird School of Global Management and how you can become a leader of the future by studying the Master of Global Management, then get in touch! Our friendly education experts can advise you on your study options and help you start your journey to becoming a T-bird at ASU.