International Professional Associate Recognition

At a recent gathering in Zurich, Switzerland fifteen European alumni of the R.H. Smith MBA program were recognized for their contributions to education by their participation in a new “I Course” offered at the school.

The executives were honored as “International Professional Associates” (IPAs) for their direct involvement as team coaches and mentors to undergraduate students who were enrolled in the “I “course entitled, “Exploring Leadership: Are Hidden Forces at Work?” The course was taught by Dr. James D. Spina of the department of Management and Organization at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland.

Dirk Baquet receiving the award =>

The IPAs logged in from their locations in Europe each Friday afternoon to observe the class in action, contribute comments and questions through WIMBA technology, and work directly with student teams through video conferencing. They also had weekly contact with individual students between scheduled classes to address questions that arose about leadership and the “Big Question” that all “I” courses have as part of their curriculums.

The “Big Question” for this course was; “Does the Uncertainty Principle from Quantum Mechanics Have an Effect on Leadership Theory?” Students were expected to create a plan to research this question as part of their course requirements.

Those receiving recognition plaques were: Martin Ploom, Arne Raedke, Manfred Koehl, Joeri Gredig, Glenn Fischer, Albert Ganz, Sandra Haberthuer, Matthias Gantner, Alex Giroud, Frank Sierch, Dirk Baquet, Stephan Blobelt, Oliver Frudenthal, Massimo Fontana and Martin Kunz.

To quote one of the students who took the course, “The interaction with the IPAs was a unique experience that really made a difference on what I got from the course. I could not believe that such technology was available at this time”.

The course will be offered in Fall 2011 and IPAs will be invited to participate again.