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USF program in Peru graduates third cohort

President Genshaft signs the agreement to extend USF's partnership with USIL in Peru. President Genshaft signs the agreement to extend USF's partnership with USIL in Peru.

USF President Judy Genshaft, Provost Ralph Wilcox, and Muma College of Business Dean Moez Limayem all stood onstage at graduation, shook graduates' hands, and said a few words.

The graduates wore caps and gowns and received their USF degrees, much like any other USF commencement ceremony. But this one was held in Lima, Peru - for the third USF graduation ceremony at the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola.

When USF partnered with USIL in 2011, it was the first -- and is still the only -- U.S. business program to offer an undergraduate, AACSB-accredited degree program taught in English in South America. The degree, a Bachelor's in Business Administration with concentrations in marketing and international business, is the same degree students earn at the university's Tampa campus. Peruvian students have the opportunity to study for a semester at the Tampa campus, and Tampa faculty travel to Peru to teach classes in English. This year, the third cohort graduated, with 17 students earning their USF degrees.

While in Peru, President Genshaft spoke to the business community about the ins and outs of leading a large metropolitan university, while Provost Wilcox spoke about trends in higher education. Dean Limayem also spoke about the changing landscape in business education. Recently, President Genshaft also signed an agreement to extend USF's partnership with USIL, ensuring Peruvian students continue to be able to receive the USF degree.

USF and USIL leaders at commencement

At this summer's commencement in Tampa, former Peruvian Vice President Ra煤l Diez Canseco Terry, who is also USIL's founder, received the President's Global Leadership Award at the August 8 ceremonies. The award recognizes exemplary accomplishments in international leadership or global relations. Terry brought fast food franchises such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks to Peru.

You can see photos from the USIL ceremony on .