UNC Pembroke is expanding its global reach with the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Montpellier Business School––among the top French business schools in Europe.

The partnership provides the framework for future academic collaborations, including joint curricular programs, collaborative research student and faculty exchange opportunities.

As a result of the agreement, two UNCP students––Billy Thomas and Tonya Robertson––are currently participating in a month-long exchange study program at Montpellier.

“This umbrella agreement lays the groundwork and allows us to start working on a few specific programs on the MBA side and with potential undergraduate dual degrees,” said Dr. Mohamed Djerdjouri, dean of the Thomas College of Business and Economics, in a press release. “This partnership is very promising. It is a win-win for both institutions.”

Djerdjouri joined Dr. Oussama Ammar, dean of programs at Montpellier Business School, and Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings at a recent signing ceremony at Thomas Hall at UNCP.

“We are pleased to welcome UNCP among our partners as an outstanding institution with whom we share a common value of diversity and inclusion and to propose it to our students as a strategic destination to get a full American experience,” Ammar said in a press release.

The agreement offers students from both institutions a more global learning experience.

Associate Vice Chancellor of Global Engagement Dr. Dan Kulmala said the goal is to increase these types of international relationships with other partner universities.

“This agreement with Montpellier opens up a new opportunity for these kinds of programs in France, and we look forward to more opportunities with other partnerships across Europe,” Kulmala said in a press release.