Columbus, Ohio - Franklin University is proud to announce it will offer its MBA program to students in China beginning spring 2010 under an agreement with prestigious Sichuan University, ranked 13th nationally in China. This agreement represents Sichuan University's first MBA-focused collaboration with an American institution.

Once anticipated regulatory approval is granted, the Franklin MBA program will be made available to Chinese students in the spring term of 2010 in classes held on Sichuan University's campus in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Chengdu is a culturally and historically notable city of nearly 11 million people.  MBA classes will be taught in English by a combination of Columbus-based Franklin faculty members traveling to China and faculty members from Sichuan University.

In a recent visit to China, Franklin President Dr. David R. Decker met with Sichuan University's Vice President Dr. Shi Jian to participate in a formal signing ceremony.  Today's announcement marks Franklin University's fourth international program.  The University currently participates in agreements with the Wroclaw School of Banking in Poland, the University St. Kliment Ohridski-Bitola in Macedonia and Mangalore University in India.

Klaus Haberich, Franklin's Senior Vice President for Planning and Global Programs, emphasized the benefits which this collaboration will bring to Franklin, as well as the broader role Franklin's presence plays as an exporter of high value-added services.  "This agreement with Sichuan University will allow Franklin to participate in the rapidly growing Chinese higher education market, in collaboration with a highly respected and well-established institution," he said. "Our agreement is a partnership of equals and allows Franklin to contribute in a small way to the further strengthening of the excellent economic relationship between China and the United States. By providing Franklin's intellectual capital to students in China, we also assist U.S. companies achieve successful growth strategies of their own in China."

Sichuan University is one of the designated national key universities directly under the State Ministry of Education (MOE) in China and one of the government's "211 Project" universities. This projects calls for privileged government support for 100 universities to achieve superior status in the 21st century. With more than 60,000 students, Sichuan University has the widest coverage of disciplines and largest scale of operation in southwest China, with several hundred bachelor, master and doctoral programs.

Further information regarding Sichuan University can be found at www.scu.org.cn.

About Franklin University
Founded in 1902, Franklin University is central Ohio's leading and most experienced educator of adult students. Annually, more than 11,000 students attend Franklin, both on campus and online. Franklin offers 25 undergraduate majors and three graduate programs and graduates more than 1,500 students annually. Further information regarding Franklin University can be found at .