SWOSU Press Release

Paris, France – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford is expanding its global reach with a new educational agreement signed at one of the world’s largest international trade shows. SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell represented the university at the 55th International Paris Air Show, where she signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PPA Business School in Paris. The signing took place at the Oklahoma booth inside the USA Pavilion, part of Oklahoma’s growing presence in the global aerospace industry.

The Paris Air Show, held June 16-22, 2025, at Le Bourget near Paris, is the largest aerospace trade event in the world. The show features more than 2,500 exhibitors from 48 countries, welcomes more than 300,000 visitors, and shows technological advancements in civil aviation, defense, and space exploration. The event is organized by SIAE, a subsidiary of the French Aerospace Industries Association, and is considered one of the leading platforms for business development, strategic partnerships, and global innovation in aerospace. Details about the event can be found at https://www.siae.fr/en/.

The new agreement establishes a formal pathway for graduates of PPA Business School to pursue SWOSU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Through this articulation agreement, PPA graduates will be able to transfer up to nine credit hours of graduate business coursework to SWOSU, applying that credit toward SWOSU’s MBA program. The remainder of the coursework will be completed in-person as traditional students at SWOSU’s Weatherford campus.

This partnership represents the third international articulation agreement established by SWOSU’s MBA program. Previous agreements have been signed with educational institutions in India and Belgium. SWOSU’s MBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), emphasizing its commitment to providing graduate students with high-quality, career-focused business education.

PPA Business School, one of France’s premier business and management schools, offers students a wide range of professional programs with an emphasis on combining academic coursework with real-world experience. With more than 5,000 students across 10 campuses in France, PPA is recognized by the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles, which affirms the career-readiness and professional mobility of its graduates. Additional information about PPA Business School is available at https://www.ppa.fr/ecole-commerce-alternance.html.

SWOSU’s MBA program has become a strong option for students seeking an affordable, flexible, and practical graduate business education. Offering both in-person and fully online courses, SWOSU’s MBA provides students with two specialized tracks: a Traditional MBA with coursework in business fundamentals like strategy, marketing, and accounting, and an MBA in Data Science & Technology with advanced coursework in analytics and business intelligence. The program is structured to provide value—requiring just 33 credit hours compared to 36 to 42 hours in many other MBA programs. More information about SWOSU’s MBA offerings can be found at https://www.swosu.edu/graduate-school/mba/.

The new partnership between SWOSU and PPA Business School highlights the university’s ongoing efforts to create meaningful connections on a global scale while providing students with access to quality graduate education. As SWOSU continues building partnerships with respected international institutions, it reinforces its role in preparing students for leadership positions in an increasingly connected world.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about SWOSU’s programs, visit www.swosu.edu.