Webster University’s Inaugural Global MBA Class Graduates at Ceremonies in Budapest

ST. LOUIS, July 20, 2009 – The inaugural class of Webster University School of Business & Technology’s one-of-a-kind Global MBA program celebrated its commencement on Saturday, July 18 in Budapest, Hungary.

Former Prime Minister of Hungary Dr. Peter Medgyessy, who delivered the commencement address, challenged the graduates to confront what he characterized as the crisis of values that challenges our understanding of the relationship between management and humanity. “For this young generation to have a noticeable influence it must seek to change the power of relationship,” Medgyessy said.

The former Prime Minister also spoke about some of the most important challenges in the 21st century, including rearrangement of the balance of forces in world politics and world economy and its consequences: exhaustion of natural resources, limits of growth imposed by nature, and economic crisis. Medgyessy stressed the importance of changes and reforms, and, in this context, the significance of research and development, higher education and education in general. “The only resource in the world that can grow without limits is human intellectual capacity, so we have to rely on it,” he said.

Through Webster University’s unique 11-month Global MBA program, a cohort of 11 full-time graduate students spent nine-week terms at Webster campus locations in five international business capitals: Geneva, Leiden, London, Shanghai and Vienna. The students studied and shared ideas with current business students at each international campus, gained experiential knowledge by interacting with business professionals at corporate visits, and enhanced their understanding of multicultural business issues.

“We are proud to confer degrees on the first graduates of our extraordinary Global MBA program,” said Webster University President Elizabeth J. Stroble. “Having immersed themselves in the economic epicenters of five internationally recognized financial markets, our graduates have certainly achieved individual excellence and the status of global citizenship.”

“This is the beginning of a wonderful journey for these young globalists,” said George H. Walker III, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and life trustee of Webster University. “I have confidence that they will all meet with success.”

St. Louis native Patrick McHargue, who served as the Global MBA class speaker, said, “The Global MBA has made us all better and well-grounded people.”

In his address to the graduates, Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean of Webster’s School of Business and Technology, posed a provocative question: “On this 40th anniversary of the landing on the moon, what is your ‘going to the moon’ goal?

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University 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.

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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