The University of Missouri St. Louis continues to broaden its international presence, signing new partnership agreements with three prominent Asian universities over the past year to create richer global experiences for its students.
In November, the Ed G. Smith College of Business established formal ties with Hong Kong Metropolitan University and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, commonly known as Taiwan Tech. Mid-March brought another addition: Nagano University in Japan. These collaborations join UMSL’s established network of global relationships, building on decades of successful international engagement.
Dean Shu Schiller of the College of Business described the agreements as a deliberate step in preparing graduates for an interconnected business world. “Student success is always our first priority, and we believe global experiences are an essential part of preparing students for today’s workforce”, Schiller said. The partnerships open pathways for joint degree programs, student exchanges, faculty research collaboration, and future study abroad initiatives.
Joe Rottman, Director of the International Business Institute and professor of Information Systems, emphasized the transformative potential. “These relationships create an avenue for students to have experiences that can shape the rest of their lives”, he noted. The agreements support two-way mobility, allowing UMSL students to study overseas while welcoming peers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan to St. Louis.
This reciprocal flow enriches campus classrooms. International students bring diverse perspectives that benefit all participants, even those who have never traveled abroad. “For our students, having international students next to them in the classroom increases their own international experience”, Rottman explained. “They get different viewpoints, different perspectives and different backgrounds".
The new partnerships align with UMSL’s long-standing commitment to global education. In June, Rottman traveled to Bremen, Germany, to renew a 30-year agreement with Hochschule Bremen City University of Applied Sciences, originally signed under former Chancellor Blanche M. Touhill. This summer, 17 UMSL students participated in a three-week program there, with many supported by the Smith Family Study Abroad Business Scholarship. For several, it marked their first international trip and in one case, their first airplane flight.
Schiller highlighted the profound personal impact of such opportunities. “Think about that kind of impact and transformation. This is part of my joy of being an educator.” Rottman echoed the sentiment: “We say that UMSL transforms lives, and I get to see it happening. For those students, their worldview is expanded exponentially by the experiences that they have in just a couple weeks".
Beyond short-term programs, deeper collaborations already exist. UMSL’s decade-long partnership with Taiwan’s National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology enables students to earn dual MBAs, combining rigorous academic training with cultural immersion and enhanced English proficiency.
Also Read: What No One Tells You about Asia's Education System
Developing these relationships requires careful alignment of curricula, standards, and institutional missions a process that often spans months or years. Ongoing communication, campus visits, and joint planning keep the partnerships vibrant. UMSL’s consistent top-25 national ranking for its undergraduate international business program by U.S. News & World Report helps attract partners and builds confidence in long-term success.
Trust forms the foundation. Rottman shared that faculty at partner institutions have even chosen to send their own children to UMSL, a powerful endorsement of the relationships.
With active conversations underway for additional partnerships across Asia, Europe, and beyond, Schiller sees a bright future. “Every new partnership creates another opportunity for our students to see the world, build global connections and prepare for careers that increasingly cross borders. That’s the future of business education, and that’s the future we’re building at UMSL”.
These initiatives reflect UMSL’s mission to deliver practical, globally minded education that equips students with cultural competence, professional networks, and adaptability needed in today’s economy. As the partnerships mature, they promise sustained benefits for students, faculty, and the broader university community.
