Indiana State University Newsroom

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana State University has become the first institution from outside the United Kingdom to join the Motorsport Knowledge Exchange, an academic consortium that provides education and training to the motorsports industry at a variety of levels.

The exchange is based in the Motorsport Valley, a region of central and southern England that is home to some 4,000 motorsports companies, including six Formula 1 teams and dozens of suppliers to teams competing in Formula 1, Indy Racing League, Champ Car, Grand Am, NASCAR, NHRA and other series.

The addition of Indiana State to the exchange's existing partnership of eight British colleges and universities was announced today (Friday, June 30, 2006) during the Motorsports Industry Association's seventh annual motorsports conference, in conjunction with this weekend's Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"A few weeks ago, Indiana State University announced that it is ready and able to serve an industry of growing importance to Indiana and the nation by rolling out a new minor in motorsports management," said C. Jack Maynard, ISU's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"Let me assure you there is nothing 'minor' about today's announcement. Our partnership with the Motorsport Knowledge Exchange sends a strong signal that we are serious about meeting the needs of this exciting industry - from the dirt track at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds to the 2 1/2-mile oval at Indianapolis and beyond. Racing is a global industry and ISU is proud to be the Exchange's first international partner," Maynard said.

Partner institutions of the Motorsport Knowledge Exchange offer courses with content pertinent to the industry, that take into account the time frames required for small companies, in particular, to engage properly and benefit fully. They also recognize the need for real-world training outside traditional classroom environments.

"We are delighted at the opportunity of welcoming Indiana State University as the first international institution to be part of the MKE," said Mike Meechan, manager of the Motorsport Knowledge Exchange. "We are excited about ISU's participation in educating the global motorsport community for success."

Guy Faulkner, visiting fellow in ISU's College of Business, said, "Education can only benefit the economic development and job opportunities for the motorsport community in Indiana and allow Indiana to fully contribute to the success of the global industry."

Faulkner, from the University of Westminster's Harrow College of Business and chair of the International Motorsport Education Forum, is spending six months at Indiana State assisting with the launch of its motorsports programming and with the development of state, national and international partnerships.

Other members of the Motorsport Knowledge Exchange are Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Cherwell Valley College, University of Hertfordshire, The Open University, Britain's National College of Motorsport, Cranfield University, Brunel University of West London and Brooklands College.

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Contact: Guy Faulkner, visiting fellow, motorsports program, College of Business, Indiana State University, (812) 237-2026 or gfaulkner1@isugw.indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Indiana State University, (812) 237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu