The Research Triangle Park, or The Triangle is the region southeast of USA, which has established itself as a research and development hotbed for hi-tech companies. The region houses more than 170 companies which include technology, biotech, cleantech and pharmaceutical companies. The Triangle has 3 major universities – North Carolina State University, Duke University- home to Fuqua School of Business, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – home to Kenan Flagler Business School. Each of the universities is within 20 miles of each other and flank the Research Technology Park on 3 sides. The Triangle was so-called because of its being a hub for research-driven universities; however, it has now grown to be a technology and innovation powerhouse.
Fuqua School of Business is located in Durham, which houses approximately 95% of the Research Triangle Park’s 170 organizations. Most of them represent the industries – healthcare, life sciences, technology and financial services. A huge 40% of the state’s biotechnology companies are located in Durham.
Academically, Fuqua students can take concentrations in Decision Sciences, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Leadership and Energy and Environment among others, to complement their learning for careers in these industries.
Other than this, candidates can do a certification in Financial Excellence or in Health Sector Management, which requires them to complete their Full-time MBA requirements in addition to the certificate course requirements.
Students have academic and career support from the research led Centres: Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE), Center for Financial Excellence (CFE) and Health Sector Management (HSM)
In addition, there are clubs like the Healthcare Club, the High Tech Club, the Energy Club and the Finance Club among others that help students network, socialize and explore job opportunities in the Triangle.
For example, The Fuqua Student Consulting Program (FSCP) provides consulting help to local companies in the Triangle Area, which do not have the resources to perform or pay for these services.
The second vertices of the Triangle, UNC Kenan Flagler, ranked at No.16 by Bloomberg Businessweek has excellent relationships with companies based in the Triangle Park and uses its strategic position to draw on the expertise of these firms. Some examples of its involvement in the Triangle are the b-school’s first annual Healthcare Conference organized in March 2012, the regular Speaker Series and career treks. The Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies helps students network and get mentored by executives working in the RTP.
On the recruitment front, students interested in technology marketing have landed jobs with IBM, Lenovo and with Dell, a core recruiter. Some other top employers of the Park are: Cisco, Credit Suisse First Boston, GlaxoSmithKline and Dupont.
In fact both Fuqua and Kenan Flagler have a “Club of the Triangle” for alumni living/working within the Research Technology Park. As many as 15.3% of Fuqua’s US based alumni work in the Triangle.