Columbus, Ohio - Franklin University is proud to announce it will offer its MBA program to students in Poland beginning next year under an agreement with a Polish institution, the Wroclaw School of Banking (WSB). Additionally, Franklin is currently collaborating on the development of a Polish-language MBA degree offered by WSB, which is a fully accredited institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees in 25 areas of study. This agreement represents Franklin's first international program offering, and also WSB's first collaboration with an American institution.

Under the agreement, the Franklin MBA program will be made available to Polish students in the fall term of 2009 in classes held on WSB's campus in Wroclaw, a major industrial city in southwest Poland. Classes will be taught in English by a combination of Columbus-based Franklin faculty members traveling to Poland and European faculty members from WSB and other institutions.

The agreement also calls for Franklin faculty members to provide input to WSB counterparts in developing a Polish-language MBA program leading to a WSB degree. This new program, introduced in Wroclaw last month, attracted an initial cohort of more than 40 students. Franklin officials expect that the first class of Franklin MBA students next fall will be about the same size.

In a recent visit to Poland, Franklin President Dr. David R. Decker met with WSB Chancellor Dr. Marek Natalli and participated in a formal signing ceremony marking the collaboration.

"This agreement with the Wroclaw School of Banking will allow Franklin to participate in the rapidly growing Polish market for MBA programs, in collaboration with a highly respected and well-established institution," Dr. Decker said. "Our agreement is a partnership of equals, and allows Franklin to contribute in a small way to the further strengthening of the excellent relationship between Poland and the United States."

Franklin's Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Christopher Washington, pointed out that "this collaboration was a natural extension of Franklin's team approach to curriculum development. The addition of international scholars to our team approach to course design will enhance our global perspective and further our students' development as participants in a global economy."

Klaus Haberich, Franklin's Senior Vice President for Planning and Global Programs, emphasized the benefits which foreign collaboration will bring to Franklin. "Considerable opportunities exist for Franklin outside of the United States, in Poland and elsewhere, and these opportunities will contribute to maintaining the strong growth Franklin has experienced in recent years," Haberich said. "Franklin's growth has led to significant increases in full-time employment on the Columbus campus and our international growth strategy will help continue this healthy trend."

WSB was founded after the fall of communism with the mission of preparing a new generation of specialists in finance and banking needed to assist in Poland's transformation to a market economy. The institution has since expanded to include a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in professional areas. WSB is located in Wroclaw, a thriving city which is the economic and cultural center of the Lower Silesia region of Poland.

About Franklin University

Founded in 1902, Franklin University is central Ohio's leading and most experienced educator of adult students. Annually, more than 10,000 students attend Franklin, both on campus and online. Franklin offers 19 undergraduate majors and three graduate programs, and graduates more than 1,500 students annually. Further information regarding Franklin University can be found at www.franklin.edu.