Halliburton move expected to benefit OSU program

Monday, April 23, 2007

Sheikh Al Nahayan, president of Zayed University greets Dean Sara M. Freedman with the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University. Freedman served as keynote speaker at the recent graduation of the latest Executive MBA class at Zayed.

Years before Halliburton announced it was moving to the United Arab Emirates, Oklahoma State University signed an agreement with Zayed University to establish an Executive MBA program in the same country.

The company’s decision is expected to be a potential boon for Zayed graduates.

“We anticipate that the proximity of the company and Zayed University will prove fruitful, especially if Halliburton is interested in MBA grads who already have practical experience in the industry,” said Sara M. Freedman, dean of the OSU Spears School of Business.

Freedman recently returned from graduation ceremonies at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, where she was keynote speaker. The dean told the 14 EMBA graduates, “You are graduating from an institution becoming more important by the day. And because of that, your degree will continue to be more valuable daily.”

Freedman pointed to the vision of Zayed University’s President as a reason for optimism.

“His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan says that ‘Zayed University shall become the leading university in the region, embodying the same rigorous standards and intellectual elements found in major universities throughout the world,” Freedman said.

Freedman challenged the graduates to begin their new careers by asking the right questions, including, “What is most important to me, given who I am and what I value? How can I add value to what is already being done? And, what else must I do to become a successful leader?”

After explaining each question, Freedman concluded, “You have learned. You are ready to lead. Make the world a better place. We are all counting on you.”

The Executive MBA program began in September 2000 when the Spears School and the School of International Studies at OSU signed an agreement with Zayed University in the UAE. OSU partnered with two other universities, the University of Kentucky and Clemson University, to provide the program's first cohort.

In the program's initial years, four faculty from each of the three universities taught courses designed to prepare executives for business in the global marketplace. The program consisted of 12 courses over 24 months and included on-site classes held at Dubai’s Internet City as well as coursework via distance learning. Over the years, about half of the program has been turned over to faculty members at Zayed University, with the remaining upper-level courses taught by the U.S. universities.

Through the Center for Executive and Professional Development, Spears Business was recently contacted to continue the partnership in its seventh year, with three separate sections of the program running simultaneously. Spears Business faculty from the economics and legal studies in business, management and marketing departments have taught in this program.

“The partnership works, and we hope to expand our relations with Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates. It is an exciting country with endless graduate education and executive development possibilities,” Freedman said.

Not only have OSU faculty been to the UAE, but students also come to Stillwater. The OSU School of International Studies administration has helped keep the partnership growing, as well, with a student from Zayed University in the UAE who recently graduated from the master’s program at the OSU School of International Studies.