For 14 German graduates of the Transatlantic Institute's MBA program, the goal was finally achieved after 22 months: they were awarded the academic degree of "Master of Business Administration (MBA) in General and International Business" in a festive ceremony on July 1, 2006. This is the second cohort of students to earn this internationally recognized degree within the cooperation between the Transatlantic Institute of the University of Applied Sciences Ludwigshafen am Rhein and the University of West Florida. Nine of the ten courses the students had to complete were taught by American professors from UWF and other American universities at the Transatlantic Institute in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, while the final, concluding course was held during a three-week stay on the UWF campus in Pensacola, Florida.
This year's graduates are (top row, from left to right): Nicole Finkeldey, Dr. Armin Ulonska, Birgit Leinhos, Mirko Strickler, Maria Elisabeth Dech, Tobias Rop, Michael Schäfer, José Irizar, Dietmar Hermes; (bottom row:) Patrick Schütz, Thomas Götz, Philipp Rebling, Tobias Kuder and Michael Seiler. Also in the picture: Prof. Dr. Tim O'Keefe, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Raab and Kathrin Paul.
"There are only 15 percent of colleges and schools of business that actually have the accreditation given by the AACSB. So a graduate of an AACSB program, particularly a graduate of a Master's program of an AACSB-accredited school is certainly in an elite group, and we are pleased to welcome this cohort into that elite group," said Tim O'Keefe, UWF Director of the MBA Program, in his speech. The seal of approval from the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business is the most internationally recognized proof of quality for an MBA program.
This program, which was launched three years ago in close cooperation between the German and American universities, enables an intensive exchange of knowledge and experience on an international level and thus effectively prepares students for management positions in a globalized working environment.
Watch the recording of the entire graduation ceremony here:
Graduation Ceremony Live Broadcast
