EKU continues to break down boundaries.

Two recent international exchange agreements - one with the University of Pecs in Hungary and another with The Hogeschool Brabant in The Netherlands - have opened even more opportunities for EKU students and faculty and underscored the University's global emphasis in its business and economics programs.

The faculty and research exchange agreement with Pecs stems from a long-term relationship between the Hungarian institution and Dr. Norb Elbert, chair of EKU's Department of Management, Marketing and Administrative Communication. Elbert first visited Pecs as a Fulbright Scholar in 1991 and has made several visits since that time. Two years ago, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the comprehensive institution of about 25,000 students.

Last summer, Pecs Professor Jozsef Poor taught a graduate business class at EKU and was instrumental in the October signing of a formal agreement. "He made a very positive impression here and he convinced the administrators there that the two schools have a lot of similarities," Elbert said. "We're hoping we can bring him back this summer."

Dr. William Davig, a professor in EKU's Department of Management, Marketing and Administrative Communication, will reciprocate with a two-month visit this fall. "I teach an International Business class," Davig noted, "and this kind of experience helps greatly."

Davig, Elbert, Dr. Michael Roberson and Dr. Allen Engle visited the University of Pecs for a week-long conference in November.

"If we didn't take advantage of opportunities like this, it would be like someone writing about being a musician but never having picked up an instrument," Roberson said.

Fourteen EKU students are majoring in international business in the second year of the program.

"We have for the past several years made a concerted effort to globalize our program," Elbert said. "It's important for us to establish these opportunities and think in terms of the world being our backyard. This certainly adds to the perspective our students need if they are going to compete globally."

Hogeschool Brabant, in Breda, will host three EKU students this semester: economics majors Christopher Sterling of Crescent Hills and Jason Noll, Villa Hills, and business major Paul Foley, Richmond.

They are only the first Eastern students to take advantage of a cooperative student/faculty exchange agreement between the Dutch institution and EKU. Sterling, Noll and Foley will study international business at the top-rated international business program among the 18 Dutch hogeschools. The international business program draws students worldwide and is taught in English.

"We're all very excited and looking forward to immersing ourselves into another culture," said Sterling.

Under the exchange agreement, the three students pay tuition to EKU but attend the Hogeschool Brabant with full student privileges.

"These are three very good students," said Dr. John Wade, chair of EKU's Department of Economics. "They're going with their eyes open, willing to try new things."

The emphasis for the Eastern trio will be "solving real-world business problems," according to Wade. "The Dutch call it problem-based learning."

Wade expects several EKU students to attend Hogeschool Brabant each semester, and "we anticipate having some of their students next fall." Faculty exchanges could start in 2003.

Four EKU officials, led by Dr. Robert Rogow, dean of the College of Business & Technology, visited Hogeschool campuses in Breda and den Bosch last November to explore possible student and faculty exchanges in art and social work as well as business-related fields. Also on the trip were Elbert, Wade and Dr. Neil Wright, EKU's director of international education.

EKU students interested in studying in The Netherlands should contact Wright at 622-1478.