Larry Newman, dean of the College of Business Administration at Rider, and Jean-Michel Perrenot, Dean of CEFAM

Rider University’s College of Business Administration recently signed agreements with two institutions of higher education in France. Under the partnerships, fourth-year students from The American Business School in Paris and CEFAM (Centre d’études Franco americain de management) in Lyon, will be able to receive dual undergraduate degrees from Rider and their primary institutions.

Representatives from The American Business School and CEFAM met with Dr. Larry Newman, dean of the College of Business Administration, and Dr. Steven Lorenzet, associate dean of the College of Business Administration, in February to sign the agreements.

Rider could start enrolling students from CEFAM as early as next fall, said Newman. As both of the institutions are global schools, prospective students will not only come from France, but may also come from other countries in Europe and Africa.

“These partnerships should really expand our international presence. It’s very exciting,” Newman added. “Our vision is to build these partnerships around the world.”

The agreements follow in the footsteps of Rider’s successful partnership with Sanda University, a private university in Shanghai, China. That agreement was signed in 2002, and the first cohort of Chinese students enrolled at Rider for the spring 2005 semester. Through the educational partnership, more than 120 Chinese students have combined undergraduate and graduate studies at Rider over an extended two-year period. The students then return to China to complete their studies, subsequently earning either their Master of Business Administration or Master of Accountancy from Rider.

The visiting students will not only gain a global perspective, but Rider students will also benefit from these new partnerships, said Dr. Steven Lorenzet, associate dean of the College of Business Administration.

“Our students will have the opportunity to interact with classmates from Asia, Africa and France in a dynamic and diverse classroom setting,” Lorenzet said. “These interactions will allow our students to develop international and multicultural perspectives, which they will need to live and work in an increasingly interdependent and global world.”

The American Business School and CEFAM both approached the College of Business Administration about the possibility of partnerships. Newman said the University’s connection with The American Business School, which is already a study abroad site for Rider students, and Rider’s AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation made the University a desired partner.

Under the new partnerships, students from The American Business School will double major in General Business Administration and International Business, while students from CEFAM, an international school of business and management, will have the option of receiving dual degrees in Finance, Marketing, Business Administration, International Business, Human Resource Management or Global Supply Chain Management. Students from both schools will have the option of completing their M.B.A. at Rider.

While study in the United States is optional for students from Sanda and the American Business School, students from CEFAM are required to study in the United States during their fourth year.

The American Business School, which prides itself in having partnerships with the best American universities, has established a network of nearly 60 partner universities in 20 countries. With the addition of Rider, CEFAM now has five American partner universities. These include Temple University, Northeastern University, Siena College and Pace University.