Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business announced yesterday the establishment of a private equity program that will include course work and networking events for students interested in the industry. Funding for the program comes from a fellowship established by an unnamed alumnus.

“Management education must keep pace with global business trends in order to prepare students for business leadership,” the school’s dean, Glenn Hubbard, said.

Private equity has been booming for a number of years, dominating much of Wall Street, and several schools have already implemented private equity programs for students.

In fact, Dartmouth established the Tuck Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship nearly a decade ago. The Johnson School at Cornell has a program on Entrepreneurship and Private Equity Immersion, and the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona has a Private Equity Center.

The director of the new program, Professor Laura Resnikoff, has been developing a number of private equity programs over the past several years, including an alumni advisory board, a series of alumni mentoring breakfasts, and a mentoring program between executive MBA and full-time MBA students who are interested in the private equity industry. Ms. Resnikoff, who teaches courses including Management of Turnarounds, joined the Columbia Business School in 1991.

“By providing points of access to the private equity industry and facilitating networking opportunities for students, alumni and practitioners, the private equity program reinforces Columbia Business School’s commitment to linking theory with contemporary business practice,” Mr. Hubbard said.