College of Business Announces Partnership with University in Hungary

Contact: George E. Mauzy Jr., (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (April 9, 2001) -- Ohio's University's College of Business will announce its partnership with the University of Pecs (pronounced PAYCH) in Hungary by hosting a reception and fund-raiser on Wednesday, April 11, at The Union Club in Cleveland. A 5:30 p.m. reception will be followed by the announcement at 6:15 p.m.

The fundraiser serves as the inaugural event of a $1 million campaign designed to establish the Ohio University International Studies Center for Economics and Business Education to be located in the Zipernovszky Building at the University of Pecs. The project is part of Ohio University's Bicentennial Campaign, which aims to raise $200 million by 2004, the university's 200th anniversary.

The center, which is scheduled to open before the start of the 2002-03 academic year, will promote and enhance business and economic relationships between Ohio University and the University of Pecs through ongoing and innovative student and faculty exchanges. It also will focus on developing entrepreneurship, technology leadership and international understanding for business success in the competitive global economy.

"Globalization is a reality, so business students need international experiences within their education," Ohio University College of Business Dean Glenn Corlett said. "This program is worthy of support because of its many social and educational benefits."

Ohio University Professor of Finance Azmi Mikhail spearheaded the relationship between the College of Business and the University of Pecs in 1990, which led to a joint faculty conference on the economic transformation of Hungary. The conference led to a book, "Economic Restructuring in Hungary," read widely throughout the country.

Since 1991, more than a dozen Ohio University College of Business faculty have taught at the University of Pecs, and three faculty members from the Hungarian university have spent a quarter teaching and researching in Athens.

The College of Business annually awards at least one MBA scholarship to a University of Pecs graduate.

"The Ohio University MBA program has been a great complement to my education in Hungary because it is based around practical learning," said Bence Orlai, this year's recipient. "Another benefit of the MBA program is the extensive international business experience I have received. Business culture in the U.S. is more developed than in Hungary."

Two major players involved in the campaign and the Cleveland fund-raiser are alumna and former Ohio University Trustee Jeanette Grasselli Brown and Cleveland businessman Jozsef Debreczeni.

For more information about the fundraiser or campaign, contact the College of Business at (740) 593-2002 or the Ohio University Development Office at (740) 593-2636.