University of the Ozarks has recently forged academic partnerships with a pair of universities in France.
U of O President Richard L. Dunsworth and Director of International Programs Florence Galy Lebois traveled to France in October to sign international agreements with the Paris School of Business (PSB) and ISCPA, a journalism and communications university with campuses in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, France.
Under the agreements, U of O students will have the opportunity to earn academic credit at the two French universities through study-abroad programs. In addition, students at the French universities will be able to take courses on the Ozarks campus.
"We are excited to partner with such reputable and distinctive institutions," said Dunsworth. "This is another step in our goal to strengthen the study abroad options for Ozarks students and to expand the university’s academic reach through joint programs. In addition, increasing international student enrollment at Ozarks will enrich the educational experience of our U.S. students, who will be exposed to an even wider range of cultural perspectives and views on our campus."
Lebois said the new international partnerships will positively impact the entire Ozarks campus.
"International partnerships provide opportunities to attract a more diverse student body, and to promote greater mobility of staff and students," she said. "These partnerships also have the potential to make an impact on curriculum development, collaborative teaching programs and research networks. Our goal is to encourage and support international experiences for all members of our university. Through these partnerships, we create exchange programs that are ideal because they allow students to study at foreign institutions while paying tuition at Ozarks, keeping their financial aid and even receiving funds. We hope that studying abroad becomes an integral part of the Ozarks experience and that our community realizes it is accessible for all."
The Paris School of Business offers BBA, MBA, MSc, DBA and executive education courses taught in English. The school is part of Group ESG, a network of seven business schools in Paris with a combined alumni of more than 26,000. In 2012, CEO Magazine named the PSB as one of the leading business schools in the world.
Lebois said Ozarks students will be able to attend PSB either for a full semester in business or for a two-week hands-on immersion session in programs such as art & culture, event management, globalization & conflict and luxury brand management. Ozarks will welcome students from PSB for a one-year program. Lebois said that the two universities are working toward a dual degree program as well as opportunities for faculty-exchange and online international competition.
The agreement with ISCPA will allow Ozarks students to spend a semester in France studying journalism and communications and for French students to study for a semester on the Ozarks campus. There are also plans to begin a four-week summer institute at U of O next July for the French students and other international students who would like improve their English and get involved in a high quality program led by the U of O communication department.
A faculty-led study-abroad program in France is also being explored starting in 2017 for U of O communication students. In addition, the partnership will include online seminars between Ozarks and ISCPA to discuss global issues.
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