University of Arkansas students and faculty in the Sam M. Walton College of Business will now have the opportunity to study business and conduct research at the WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar, Germany. Students from WHU will also have the opportunity to take business courses at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Dean Dan L. Worrell of the Walton College said, “I am very pleased with the agreement as an important step in increasing the global footprint of Walton College.”

Negotiations have been in process since early fall 2010 when William P. Curington, co-director of the global engagement office in the Walton College visited WHU in Germany. Stefanie Schweins, director of international relations for WHU, visited the University of Arkansas in November to meet with students, faculty and administration regarding the possibilities of the exchange. “We have a number of business students who study the German language who have not had the opportunity to study business in Germany. We are also looking forward to receiving high quality students from Germany,” Currington said.

Founded in 1984, the WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management is a leading private business school and was the first German university to be accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). All bachelor and master's programs at WHU were accredited by FIBAA. WHU is currently pursuing accreditation by AACSB.

WHU offers the following programs: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, German “Diplom-Kaufmann” program, Bucerius/WHU Master, Kellogg-WHU Executive M.B.A., and a doctoral program.

WHU has established a network of cooperation with many leading universities across all five continents, such as the CEIBS (China), IIM Bangalore (India), McMaster University De Groote School of Business (Canada), University of Queensland-Graduate School of Management (Australia). U.S. partners include Northwestern University-Kellogg School of Management, Carnegie-Mellon University-Tepper School of Business, University of Southern California-Marshall School of Business, Columbia University Graduate School of Business, University of Texas-Red McCombs School of Business.

In 2010, the Financial Times rated the Kellogg-WHU EMBA program (joint MBA program) the best German program in the Financial Times EMBA Ranking. Internationally WHU is ranked 14th. Also in the 2010, the Master of Science Program at WHU is rated in the Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking, where WHU landed in the top spot as the best German university. Compared to universities worldwide, it came in at 12th place overall. 

The Handelsblatt "Economics Ranking," published in March 2010, identified top economic faculties in German-speaking countries as well as outstanding scientists in the economic field in the categories of "lifetime achievement” (ranked 8th), "Top scientist below the age of 40," and "Present research output."

In all of the 11 assessed categories of the trendence Absolventenbarometer 2010, WHU received the best possible rating, "Top Performance." In five categories WHU was not only the best private Business School but the best in Germany overall.

Christian Hofer, assistant professor in transportation and logistics and also a native of Germany, shares his excitement, "Our new partnership with WHU brings excellent opportunities for our students. Admission as a full-time student at WHU is highly competitive as candidates must not only have the highest grades but also a go through a comprehensive assessment of analytical, writing and team skills. With a high-caliber body of students and a rigorous and relevant curriculum, it is not surprising that WHU graduates are in high demand by national and global corporations. Thus, our students will have the opportunity to live and learn with some of Germany's best and brightest business students and will benefit from WHU's unique industry connections."