Dr. Terry Noel, College of Business associate dean, was awarded the Quality Leadership Award by Quality Leadership University (QLU) Panama, at their recent Commencement ceremony “For his consistent leadership in developing educational opportunities to strengthen excellent relations between Illinois State University and QLU, which resulted in improving the quality of higher education in Panama, benefiting students from Panama, Latin America, and the world.”
The Illinois State University MBA program partners with Quality Leadership University (QLU) in Panama City, Republic of Panama, to deliver the MBA program to students in that country. Students who complete the program earn an Illinois State MBA.
“Working with Quality Leadership University in Panama has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The partnership between QLU and ISU enables students in Panama to earn U.S. degrees while studying in their home country,” said Noel. “In turn, our professors find a welcoming and warm atmosphere when they go to Panama City to teach. This program exemplifies Illinois State University’s commitment to building its international presence, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Illinois State offers two programs at QLU: Bachelor of Science in International Business and Master of Business Administration. Professors travel (when there’s not a pandemic) to Panama to teach. QLU students have opportunities to visit Illinoi State as part of their program.
Dr. Barb Ribbens, director of the Carson and Iris Varner International Business Institute, spearheaded a program in which student teams in international business from Panama and U.S. class sections work together throughout the course.
Illinois State is working on a model for HyFlex (simultaneous in-person and online) classes so that students in more remote regions of Panama and even other Central and South American countries can earn their degrees through ISU.
This partnership is an example of how people from different countries and different cultures can learn to work and do business together.
