Traveling to the other side of the world is filled with new opportunities for learning, growing and exploring. Soon, Wilkes University students as well as students from schools in Egypt and Pakistan will have the opportunity to do just that.
In November, Abel Adekola, dean of the College of Business and Engineering (COBE), and Woojun Lee, associate dean and director of graduate programs for COBE, traveled to Egypt and Pakistan for an eight day trip to meet with institutions who saw the opportunity for collaboration with Wilkes. On the trip, they signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Alexandria, Egypt and the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, Pakistan. These two new partnerships enhance educational experiences and give students from each school the opportunity to broaden their perspectives.
Conversations about partnering with AASTMT and IBA started a few years ago, and it’s taken time and careful planning to ensure alignment.
“Entering into these new partnerships is the first step toward providing students with international opportunities because we did not have any partners like this in the past. We are giving our students an opportunity that will open doors,” said Lee. “This is so helpful for their careers and their development as young people.”
AASTMT
The MOU with AASTMT is a significant step forward in international academic collaboration. This partnership aims to foster educational exchange, research collaboration, student exchange and mutual growth opportunities for both institutions.
In the upcoming spring semester, Wilkes MBA students will engage in a collaborative research project with post-graduate students from the AASTMT. The primary objective of this partnership is to successfully organize a joint symposium under the auspices of both colleges. Additionally, Wilkes graduate students will have the opportunity to participate in a short-term study abroad program where they will present their research projects on an international stage.
IBA
This partnership with IBA sets the stage for students, faculty and industry leaders to collaborate, innovate and excel in the business industry, specifically collaborating with IBA to establish a sports ecosystem in Pakistan.
As one of Pakistan’s most prestigious institutions, IBA seeks to leverage Wilkes’ faculty and student expertise in business and sports management to further grow and develop the sports business and management industry in the country.
Wilkes, through this partnership, will offer non-credit bearing certificate programs to the general public in Pakistan, specifically targeting sports organizations and governing bodies.
“It is so important in the 21st century for business and engineering students to be globally connected, hence our partnership with other institutions across the globe,” said Adekola. “As products and services we consume have global implications, our students need to be aware of cultural differences and nuances. As educators in COBE, it is our responsibility to provide competencies needed for our students’ success in a changing global environment as we help them develop skills and dispositions needed to be effective in the global community.”
As for what’s on the horizon, Wilkes is eager to explore additional opportunities for collaboration and enhancement of educational experiences for students both here and abroad.
“In the future, we are looking to expand our partnerships across schools in South Asia, which includes Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh,” said Lee.
All business programs in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Less than 6% of the 16,000+ business programs worldwide have received AACSB accreditation.
