Fulbright Student to Study Franchising at University of St. Thomas

Beligh Ghedira, a Fulbright scholarship recipient from Tunisia, will join the Institute for Franchise Management at the University of St. Thomas for one year beginning September 1. Mr. Ghedira's Fulbright mission is to research and study Franchising in the U.S. The Rev. Dennis Dease, president of the University, said that it is "an honor for St. Thomas" to welcome this Fulbright student.

Mr. Ghedira selected the University of St. Thomas for his Fulbright program because of its international reputation in franchising. Mr. Ghedira said "The very rich program on franchising offered by the Institute for franchise Management at the University of St. Thomas will be of great benefit for me and for my country."

Mr. Ghedira formerly served as counselor of Public Services in the General Direction for Competition Control and Internal Trade Development at the Ministry of Commerce in Tunisia. He plans to use the results of his study to introduce a distribution system based on franchising into the trade sector in Tunisia. Franchising is not yet regulated in Tunisia. His research will help him to prepare the legal framework that will lead to adoption of measures necessary to successfully introduce this new system into the Tunisian economy.

Institute Director Cheryl Babcock said "We welcome Mr. Ghedira in the spirit of international cooperation. His participation in our program furthers our goal of establishing an International Center for Franchise Studies, and we are proud to help him put franchising on a solid footing in Tunisia."