Romania makes history at Tiffin University, Ohio, USA
40 Romanians graduated in 2023 from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in business administration.
On Saturday, April 29, 2023, was held the 135th graduation celebration of Tiffin University, a private academic institution from Ohio, USA. Members of the University’s Board of Directors, as well as the entire teaching staff, attended the event. This year keynote speaker was Richard F. Wallman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, having extended experience in finance and business administration, serving on leadership positions at large American companies such as Ford Motor, IBM, Chrysler, or Honeywell.
“When I was younger, I thought compensation was the most important thing to obtain in a career, but I later realized that learning from smart, successful people is invaluable. The money will always follow when you emulate the behavior of the greats“, said Wallman.
In 2023, 709 students from 20 countries graduated from Tiffin University’s bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs, majoring in business administration, law and social sciences, arts and media, or science and technology. For Romania, this was the first year with business administration bachelor’s graduates, the 20th Cohort of EMBA students and the first Romanian to receive the PhD title.
The concept of “learning by doing” is the foundation of the master in business administration and represents a great teaching method that successfully combines the theoretical information with the practical aspects, offering each student the opportunity to apply what is being taught right away. Working in teams, with professionals from different industries, provided great chances to share experiences and debate ideas that otherwise would have not been possible.
“The curriculum is complex and diversified, including a wide spectrum of subjects, from management, leadership, economics and finance, to marketing, negotiation, law and ethics, addressing actual global problems, challenging critical thinking, and providing essential business education”, said Dr. Teresa Shafer, Dean of the Institutional Affairs at Tiffin University, and responsible for the academic activity within the campus in Romania for the last 20 years.
Tiffin University was founded in 1888 with the clear purpose of transforming people’s lives through education, creating an academic environment focused on student’s success and promoting values such as interdependence, communication, accountability, respect, and entrepreneurship.
These six behaviors ensure that everyone feels respected, valued, and inspired:
1. Show your commitment
Challenge the status quo
Hold others accountable
Make inclusion a personal priority
2. Practice humility
Be modest about your capabilities
Admit your mistakes
Create space for others to contribute
3. Know your biases
Be aware of your blind spots
Identify flaws in the system
Work hard to ensure meritocracy
4. Be curious about others
Demonstrate an open mindset
Listen without judgment
Show empathy
5. Learn about cultural differences
Be attentive to others’ cultures
Adapt your behavior when necessary
Value new perspectives
6. Encourage collaboration
Empower others
Pay attention to their mind-state
Focus on team cohesion
Adapted from “Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations, and How to Become One” by Juliet Bourke and Andrea Espedido.