Smith School and South Mediterranean University Business Schools Partner to Launch Masters in Management of Information Systems and Technology Program

The Robert H. Smith School of Business and the South Mediterranean University's Mediterranean School of Business (MSB) in Tunisia, announced a strategic collaboration and intent to deliver a Masters of Science Degree in the Management of Information Systems and Technology (MIST). The Smith/MSB MIST program is the first U.S. university degree of its kind to be offered in Tunisia, and will be targeted to information systems and technology professionals in the Middle East, Southern Europe and Northern Africa who aspire to senior management positions.

We are extremely pleased to embark on this strategic partnership with the Mediterranean School of Business, said Dr. Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. In addition to delivering the Smith/MSB MIST program and meeting a critical need in a key location, the Smith-MSB partnership will include collaboration on joint research, organization of conferences and events, and opportunities for faculty and student exchanges that will serve to further enhance the Smith Schools programming and global network.

Our developmental strategy relies on the excellence and the internationalization of our programs and activities said Dr. Mahmoud Triki, dean of the Mediterranean School of Business. The convergence of the objectives of our two institutions constitutes a major asset for the development in Tunisia of a regional educational hub that will become a reference in this emerging part of the world and beyond.

The Smith School is ranked among the worlds best for its information systems programs. U.S. News & World Reports Americas Best Graduate Schools 2006 Edition ranks the Smith School as No. 5 for information systems among its U.S. individual specialty rankings. The 2004 Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Guide to Business Schools named the Smith School as the No. 3 pick of corporate recruiters in the technology, telecommunications and Internet industry. Corporate recruiters from all industries rated Smith as No. 7 in the world in information technology.

The Smith/MSB MIST program, which is expected to begin in early April 2006, will be a one-year program, targeting professionals in the technology or management arenas across all industry sectors. Participants will benefit from education focused on the convergence of technology, globalism, entrepreneurship and business via bi-monthly, two-week modules held at MSBs centrally-located Tunis, Tunisia campus. The final module will be held at the Smith Schools College Park, Md. campus. The program has been developed jointly by the Smith School and MSB faculty. Graduates will receive a degree from the University of Maryland.

About the Mediterranean School of Business 
South Mediterranean University (SMU) is a regional Anglophone institution recently established (December 2002) in Tunis, Tunisia. It is conceived and managed along the lines of top U.S. universities. The Mediterranean School of Business (MSB) is the first specialized school of SMU. In 2004, MSB successfully launched an executive MBA of an international level. Presently, 80 students originating from six different countries are enrolled in this program. In addition to its management development programs, MSB is developing an ambitious exchange program with prominent North American and European universities.

MSB Web site: www.msb-online.org.