Intercultural Open University
Encyclopedia
The Intercultural Open University Foundation (IOUF) is an international non-profit charitable foundation that provides a mentored educational experience for post-graduate and graduate learners involved in social change programs around the world.
All IOUF staff and faculty contribute their time on a volunteer basis and a limited number of scholarships and subsidies for learners from developing countries are available where necessary, thanks to an endowment provided by the founder of the Intercultural Open University Foundation, Jan R. Hakemulder, PhD. Jan Hakemulder was a respected scholar with a global outlook who devoted his career to the development of programs designed to help the world's poor. He and his wife, Fay A.C. DeJonge, PhD, were educational consultants for UNESCO who wrote prolifically about journalism, the media and ethics, alternative education, distance education,i and peace and non-violence studies.
The Intercultural Open University Foundation is registered as a non-profit foundation in the United States
and maintains offices in Arden, Delaware
and Granada
, Spain
. Although it originally obtained registration as a foundation (stichting) in the Netherlands
, it no longer maintains offices in that country, having transferred its European headquarters to Spain in August, 2011, but still remains registered as a Dutch juridical person.
In October 2011, the IOUF signed an academic cooperation agreement with the Universidad Azteca
(UAzteca), a university with full Mexican accreditation
that is also listed in the International Handbook of Universities, 2012.
The agreement means IOUF PhD learners will have access to an international double degree program offered jointly by the Universidad Azteca and its partner, the Universidad Central de Nicaragua
(UCN). Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy, PhD degreefrom UAzteca and UCN in addition to the IOUF degree.
The IOUF has been assessed and validated by the European Commission's HEXTLEARN Peer Review and Study (particularly in respect to its use of ICT) and it is a member of numerous international educational organizations.
As a charitable foundation, the IOUF is an independent legal entity with a stated mission of serving the public interest through higher education and research. Its status as a not-for-profit organization confers favorable tax status on activities undertaken in pursuit of Foundation goals.
Distributed, or distance education
, was not a new concept. The idea blossomed in the 1960s and gained further popularity with the advent of the internet in the 1990s. What set the IOUF apart from other providers of distance education was the fact that it emphasizes adult education focused on peace studies, social change and environmental issues. As an alternative school
, the IOUF emphasizes self-directed, individualized curricula guided by core faculty advisors. As noted on its website, learners, generally complete a PhD in as little as 24 or as many as 48 months, depending on the motivation, focus and speed with which they devote themselves to their studies.
The Foundation was the subject of controversy when John Bear, a writer on educational institutions, questioned its status. The Foundation also came under attack in 2008 when CIMEA, the Italian Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence, claimed it had "dubious professors with dubious credentials that somehow (connected it) to UNESCO." CIMEA subsequently posted a letter from the Foundation's President, Board of Governors and Faculty protesting the reference.
In 2007, Skepsis, a Dutch magazine which aims to debunk pseudoscience, published an article stating that the founders of the Intercultural Open University Foundation held PhD degrees from distance learning institutions. The article also stated that the Foundation awarded degrees in India for about 250 Eurodollars while charging 8000 Eurodollars for students from developed countries as a part of the "Robin Hood" theory developed by the Hakemulders. The author stated that he doubted that the professors of the IOUF could legally bear the legally protected Dutch title doctor (dr.).
In 2010 the quality of education provided by IOUF was thoroughly examined in a European Commission
HEXTLEARN Peer Review and Study, which validated the organization and its credentials, particularly in respect to its educational use of information and communications technology.
IOUF Founder and President Jan Hakemulder, PhD, died in August, 2008, and from his estate an endowment was established to continue his work. That same year, the IOUF Board of Governors appointed distance education expert Sandra Hurlong, PhD, as President and requested that she coordinate an assessment of the Foundation's operations, methodologies and pedagogy; the end result confirmed the organization's original direction and determined that the Foundation should shift its focus to doctoral and post-doctoral programs exclusively.
Other Affiliations Include:
, economics
, healthcare science
(including Oriental medicine
), philosophy
, religious studies
, social change
(post-doctoral program only) and social studies
.
Graduates:
All IOUF staff and faculty contribute their time on a volunteer basis and a limited number of scholarships and subsidies for learners from developing countries are available where necessary, thanks to an endowment provided by the founder of the Intercultural Open University Foundation, Jan R. Hakemulder, PhD. Jan Hakemulder was a respected scholar with a global outlook who devoted his career to the development of programs designed to help the world's poor. He and his wife, Fay A.C. DeJonge, PhD, were educational consultants for UNESCO who wrote prolifically about journalism, the media and ethics, alternative education, distance education,i and peace and non-violence studies.
The Intercultural Open University Foundation is registered as a non-profit foundation in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and maintains offices in Arden, Delaware
Arden, Delaware
Arden is a village and art colony in New Castle County, Delaware, in the United States, founded in 1900 as a radical Georgist single-tax community by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect Will Price. The village occupies about 160 acres, with half kept as open land. According to the 2010 Census,...
and Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Although it originally obtained registration as a foundation (stichting) in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, it no longer maintains offices in that country, having transferred its European headquarters to Spain in August, 2011, but still remains registered as a Dutch juridical person.
In October 2011, the IOUF signed an academic cooperation agreement with the Universidad Azteca
Universidad Azteca
Universidad Azteca is located in Chalco, Mexico . Universidad Azteca de Chalco is affiliated with the Centro de Estudios Superiores Azteca. The private university was established in 1994 and recognized by the federal Secretary of Public Education of the United States of Mexico in 1997...
(UAzteca), a university with full Mexican accreditation
that is also listed in the International Handbook of Universities, 2012.
The agreement means IOUF PhD learners will have access to an international double degree program offered jointly by the Universidad Azteca and its partner, the Universidad Central de Nicaragua
Universidad Central de Nicaragua
Universidad Central de Nicaragua was founded in 1998. It is fully accredited and recognized by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Nicaragua via the Consejo Nacional de Universidades in official government session No. 10-1998 operating under the law No...
(UCN). Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy, PhD degreefrom UAzteca and UCN in addition to the IOUF degree.
The IOUF has been assessed and validated by the European Commission's HEXTLEARN Peer Review and Study (particularly in respect to its use of ICT) and it is a member of numerous international educational organizations.
As a charitable foundation, the IOUF is an independent legal entity with a stated mission of serving the public interest through higher education and research. Its status as a not-for-profit organization confers favorable tax status on activities undertaken in pursuit of Foundation goals.
History
The Intercultural Open University Foundation was established in 1981 by Jan R. Hakemulder, PhD, whose career as an educational advisor with UNESCO in Africa had alerted him to the need to develop long-term solutions to poverty in developing countries around the world. In 1980, he and his wife, anthropologist and distance education expert Fay A.C. DeJonge, PhD, convened a meeting of Dutch, German and English professors at Bosk House, a business and residential complex in Opeinde, Netherlands. After some discussion, the group decided to provide a distributed educational experience for learners that would focus on fostering the social changes that might alleviate global suffering; the Intercultural Open University Foundation was the result.Distributed, or distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
, was not a new concept. The idea blossomed in the 1960s and gained further popularity with the advent of the internet in the 1990s. What set the IOUF apart from other providers of distance education was the fact that it emphasizes adult education focused on peace studies, social change and environmental issues. As an alternative school
Alternative school
Alternative school is the name used in some parts of the world to describe an institution which provides part of alternative education. It is an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional...
, the IOUF emphasizes self-directed, individualized curricula guided by core faculty advisors. As noted on its website, learners, generally complete a PhD in as little as 24 or as many as 48 months, depending on the motivation, focus and speed with which they devote themselves to their studies.
The Foundation was the subject of controversy when John Bear, a writer on educational institutions, questioned its status. The Foundation also came under attack in 2008 when CIMEA, the Italian Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence, claimed it had "dubious professors with dubious credentials that somehow (connected it) to UNESCO." CIMEA subsequently posted a letter from the Foundation's President, Board of Governors and Faculty protesting the reference.
In 2007, Skepsis, a Dutch magazine which aims to debunk pseudoscience, published an article stating that the founders of the Intercultural Open University Foundation held PhD degrees from distance learning institutions. The article also stated that the Foundation awarded degrees in India for about 250 Eurodollars while charging 8000 Eurodollars for students from developed countries as a part of the "Robin Hood" theory developed by the Hakemulders. The author stated that he doubted that the professors of the IOUF could legally bear the legally protected Dutch title doctor (dr.).
In 2010 the quality of education provided by IOUF was thoroughly examined in a European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
HEXTLEARN Peer Review and Study, which validated the organization and its credentials, particularly in respect to its educational use of information and communications technology.
IOUF Founder and President Jan Hakemulder, PhD, died in August, 2008, and from his estate an endowment was established to continue his work. That same year, the IOUF Board of Governors appointed distance education expert Sandra Hurlong, PhD, as President and requested that she coordinate an assessment of the Foundation's operations, methodologies and pedagogy; the end result confirmed the organization's original direction and determined that the Foundation should shift its focus to doctoral and post-doctoral programs exclusively.
Professional Memberships
The Intercultural Open University Foundation is a member of:- the Alternative Education Resource OrganizationAlternative Education Resource OrganizationThe Alternative Education Resource Organization or AERO is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 to advance learner-centred approaches to education...
(AERO) - the European Distance and E-learning NetworkEuropean Distance and E-learning NetworkThe European Distance and E-Learning Network, abbreviated EDEN and originally named the European Distance Education Network, established in 1991, is an international educational association open to institutions and individuals dealing with e-learning, Open education, open and distance education...
(EDEN) - the European Foundation for Quality in eLearning (EFQUELEFQUELThe European Foundation for Quality in eLearning is a not-for-profit organisation which was legally established on June 30, 2005 and is based in Brussels, Belgium. It is a worldwide membership network with over 80 member organisations including universities, corporations and national agencies...
) - Higher Education Exploring ICT Use for Lifelong Learning (HEXTLEARN)
- the International Association of Educators for World PeaceInternational Association of Educators for World PeaceThe International Association of Educators for World Peace is a nongovernmental organization affiliated with the United Nations and engaged in the promotion of peace education....
(IAEWP) - the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE),
- the United States Distance Learning AssociationUnited States Distance Learning AssociationThe United States Distance Learning Association is a non-profit association that promotes the development and application of distance education. It was formed in 1987 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts....
Other Affiliations Include:
- Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies Group
- International Oriental College, Netherlands: IOUF supports International Oriental College through educational partnerships
- Universidad AztecaUniversidad AztecaUniversidad Azteca is located in Chalco, Mexico . Universidad Azteca de Chalco is affiliated with the Centro de Estudios Superiores Azteca. The private university was established in 1994 and recognized by the federal Secretary of Public Education of the United States of Mexico in 1997...
- Universidad Central de NicaraguaUniversidad Central de NicaraguaUniversidad Central de Nicaragua was founded in 1998. It is fully accredited and recognized by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Nicaragua via the Consejo Nacional de Universidades in official government session No. 10-1998 operating under the law No...
- University of RajasthanUniversity of RajasthanUniversity of Rajasthan is the oldest university in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was set up on 8 January 1947 as the University of Rajputana and was given its current name in 1956.- Introduction :...
, India: IOUF established the Padit Madhusudan Ojha Chair at the University of Rajasthan to facilitate study and research on the Vedas
Academics
Intercultural Open University Foundation offers programs in cultural studiesCultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, healthcare science
Healthcare science
Healthcare science is the applied science dealing with the application of science, technology, engineering or mathematics to the delivery of healthcare....
(including Oriental medicine
Oriental medicine
Oriental medicine is a collective term for several types of medicine practiced in the Orient and/or the East.Under Oriental medicine is understood:* Traditional Chinese medicine* Traditional Korean medicine* Kampo...
), philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
, social change
Social change
Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. It may refer to the notion of social progress or sociocultural evolution, the philosophical idea that society moves forward by dialectical or evolutionary means. It may refer to a paradigmatic change in the socio-economic...
(post-doctoral program only) and social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
.
Notable People
Faculty:- Leena Parmar, PhD in Sociology, University of RajasthanUniversity of RajasthanUniversity of Rajasthan is the oldest university in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was set up on 8 January 1947 as the University of Rajputana and was given its current name in 1956.- Introduction :...
. Indian sociologist noted for her long-standing connections to the Indian army and her knowledge of its complex operations in India’s sensitive border regions
- Rudolph J. (Rudy) Passler, Ph.D. International Affairs, University of DelawareUniversity of DelawareThe university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
- Marvin Surkin, PhD in Political Science, New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. Political scientist whose studies on race and ethnic studies informed his work as co-author of “Detroit: I Do Mind Dying: A Study in Urban Revolution”
- Muneo Jay Yoshikawa, PhD in Intercultural Communication, University of HawaiiUniversity of HawaiiThe University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. Creator of the Double-swing modelDouble-swing modelThe double-swing model is a model of intercultural communication, originated by Muneo Yoshikawa, conceptualizing how individuals, cultures, and intercultural notions can meet in constructive ways...
of inter-cultural communication
Graduates:
- Sohan L. Gandhi, PhD in Sociology, Intercultural Open University Foundation. Editor of the ANUVIBHA Reporter and Honorary President of the ANUVRAT Global Organization (ANUBIS), a transnational Center for Peace and Nonviolent Action associated with the UN-DPI.
- Gulab Kothari, PhD, IOU Foundation, 2002. Editor and Managing Director of Rajasthan PatrikaRajasthan PatrikaRajasthan Patrika is a Hindi language daily newspaper published from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Kota and other cities of Rajasthan and from major Indian cities such as Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur , Raipur, Ahmedabad, Gwalior, Kolkata, Chennai, New Delhi and Bangalore.-History:Rajasthan...
; Author of three volume series - " Manas - The Human Mind" - Serguei Krivov, PhD, IOU Foundation, 1999. Assistant Research Professor, University of VermontUniversity of VermontThe University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
; developed the multiagent ecological simulator LEM, based on his logic based conceptual framework for the modeling of complex systems. - Bremley W.B.Lyngdoh, PhD, IOU Foundation, 2008. Member of the Waldzell Institute, Founder and CEO of Worldview Impact; Co-Founder of the Global Youth Action NetworkGlobal Youth Action NetworkThe Global Youth Action Network is an international network of youth NGOs spanning 180 countries, and headquartered in New York, near the United Nations. GYAN is a youth-led not for profit organization that incubates global partnerships and increases youth participation in decision-making...