U.S. Commencement for International Graduates of Fairfield Dolan Shanghai MBA Program

The Dolan Shanghai MBA Program's Class of 2024, in partnership with Golden Education, traveled to Fairfield to receive their diplomas at the graduate ceremony held in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena on May 18.

For the first time in University history, graduates of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Shanghai MBA program received their diplomas in person at Fairfield's graduate Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2024. The MBA program has been available to professionals in Shanghai since 2019, in partnership with Golden Education — one of the largest management training companies in China.

The 14 students who traveled from Shanghai to the Fairfield University campus represent one of four MBA program cohorts at Fairfield Dolan. Aaron Zhao, program director at Golden Education in Shanghai, was also in attendance.

“It is a truly historical moment that the Shanghai MBA graduates attended Fairfield University's Commencement this year. The Shanghai MBA was the first Fairfield University degree program to be offered in a foreign country, starting in fall 2019,” said Zhan Li, DBA, dean of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

A competitive business school with nationally ranked degree programs, Fairfield Dolan has expanded its global footprint to teach business leaders across the globe. As a result of the expansion of the Shanghai MBA program, there are currently more than 200 Fairfield Dolan alumni in China. Led by Fairfield Dolan professors, students in Shanghai continue their professional careers while pursuing studies toward their Dolan MBA degree in the evenings and weekends.

Fairfield Dolan’s MBA program is ranked #53 among part-time MBA programs by U.S. News and World Report for 2024-25. With the flexibility to complete the program online or in hybrid format, this STEM-designated degree prepares students across multiple business functions. The cohort in Shanghai is taught by Fairfield Dolan professors and allows students to continue in their professional careers while pursuing the degree in the evenings and on weekends.

Since launching its partnership with Golden Education in 2019, Fairfield Dolan has enrolled seven cohorts into the MBA program and one cohort into the Master of Business Analytics (MSBA) program.The first MSBA cohort in Shanghai recently gathered for an in-person orientation. ”This is the fruit of the Dolan School faculty's efforts and the impact of Fairfield University's visionary geographical extension initiative,” said Dean Li.

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