FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2009

Going Beyond Borders to Beat the Recession Battle

ST. LOUIS, June 26, 2009 - Last month, California's unemployment rate rose to its highest level since World War II. But Huntington Beach native Michael Douglas has a one-two punch solution to beating the recession battle. He has taken his education and professional outreach beyond California’s borders to Europe and Asia. 

“I’ve always considered myself open minded,” says Douglas.  “But being around the world this past year, living and studying in so many different countries has opened my eyes to so many things.”

Douglas graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in economics. But, it was his major emphasis work in global studies and minor in Latin American studies that stirred his passion to take his business career international.  Right now, Douglas is finishing his MBA degree at Webster University in Vienna, Austria, where he and fellow students have been known to cool off from classes with a swim in the Danube.  He started Webster’s 11-month Global MBA program studies last August in Geneva, Switzerland, and then spent the following semesters in The Netherlands, London and China.

Even grocery shopping abroad can be memorable so Douglas has a hard time narrowing his year down to a favorite experience.  However, he does say he will always remember Webster’s 30th Anniversary at its Geneva campus, where he was among guests from all over the world.

 “Talk about an international night,” remembers Douglas. “I remember looking around and saying ‘Where am I?’  We were able to meet everyone from the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to students from across the globe.”

Douglas knows living and studying in five different international countries this past year will show a future employer his versatility and adaptability.   With more businesses expanding their reach internationally, Douglas has expanded his global business knowledge to strengthen his competencies in logistics, brand development and international relations.

“You can prepare all you want and you can read the guide books but until you live and study abroad you won’t understand what it is like to be truly global,” he says.

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is a worldwide institution committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Founded in 1915, Webster offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools and colleges, and a global network of more than 100 campuses. Its 20,000-plus student population represents almost 150 nationalities. The University’s core values include excellence in teaching, joining theory and practice, small class sizes, and educating students to be lifelong independent learners, fully prepared to participate in an increasingly international society.

Since opening its first campus overseas in Geneva in 1978, Webster has become a recognized leader and innovator in global education, with an international presence that now includes campuses in London; Vienna; Amsterdam and Leiden, the Netherlands; Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu, China; and Bangkok and Cha-am, Thailand. Webster also has educational partnerships with universities in Mexico and Japan.

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A video profiling Michael Douglas is available at www.webster.edu/sbt/michaeldouglas. More information on the Webster University’s Global MBA program can be found at www.webster.edu/globalmba.