Broad College of Business, Michigan State University, Forms Strategic Relationship With University of Dubai for Executive Development Programs

February 25, 2019

Bisk, Online Program Management Leader, Leads International Collaboration

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 25, 2019 — Bisk, a global leader in digital learning, and the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University (MSU) announce a strategic relationship for the delivery of MSU’s executive education programs to businesses and professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through the University of Dubai (UD). The first phase of launches in the UAE will focus on supply chain management and business analytics certificate courses, two subject areas where MSU is recognized as a global leader.

“This is an exciting initiative for Michigan State University,” said Dr. David Frayer, Assistant Dean at the Broad College of Business, Michigan State University. “Michigan State University has long seen tremendous interest in these courses from the UAE and the wider Middle East region, so making them more accessible through an agreement with a great institution like the University of Dubai allows us to better meet the needs of the local market.”

Recognizing that the needs of a professional audience in the UAE have some differences with those in other markets, faculty from MSU will provide its globally recognized curriculum, while faculty from UD will work to ensure that curriculum is applied in a local context. “Michigan State University is a global leader in supply chain, business and management research,” said Dr. Vidya Nandagopal, Director, Centre for Executive Development, University of Dubai. “Its expertise is relevant all over the world; however, industry needs may be slightly different in the Middle East compared to the U.S. Our faculty is pleased to be working with Michigan State University to deliver even greater relevance for businesses in the region.”  As part of a global online program, participants enrolled through the UD will benefit from not only the expertise of faculty from the UAE and U.S. but also engagement with participants from other markets.

Bisk, the online education partner of Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, has worked alongside MSU to enable a program that allows for true global collaboration. “For many, the notion of an international classroom simply means having students from around the world studying together online,” said Mike Bisk, CEO of Bisk. “The problem is that the orientation of the curriculum is not always so ‘international.’ By bringing in academic experts from key regions of the world and having their faculty provide local context, we are delivering a true world view of the Michigan State University subject matter, with local application, to students in multiple markets.”

The programs being launched in the UAE through UD are the Global Master Certificate in Integrated Supply Chain Management and the Global Master Certificate in Business Analytics. Each program will comprise three courses and is designed not only for industry professionals to enhance and expand their knowledge of each field, but also contribute to the ongoing reskilling and upskilling needs of the markets. The first eight-week course in each of these programs will launch April 1, 2019.

About Bisk
Bisk partners with leading institutions to deliver online degree and certificate programs to learners around the world. We provide the resources, expertise and technology to help institutions grow and students thrive. Through our online program management services, we have supported more than one million enrollments for universities such as Villanova University, Michigan State University and the University of Notre Dame. Our mission is to amplify potential through transformational learning experiences. To learn more, visit bisk.com.

About Michigan State University 
One of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About University of Dubai 
University of Dubai is a leading academic institution in the UAE owned by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. University of Dubai is well known for its industry interface and international alliances in addition to providing quality education in business, engineering and IT in the UAE.