Irish International University
Encyclopedia
The Isles International University/Université (IIU), formerly called the Irish International University, is an unaccredited university
operating in the United Kingdom
, Ireland
and Belgium
.
Founded in 1996, the IIU has no campus of its own but works with unspecified partner institutions in Ireland and abroad. When talking about the IIU to a BBC reporter, its "Honorary Chancellor", Jeff Wooller, said that: "The whole thing's dodgy." According to its website the IIU is still in operation although, in response to the report shown on the BBC, it has removed some material.
The IIU is run by an "executive president," Hardeep Singh Sandhu, who has been described by Malaysian news media as "a Malaysian businessman" and by Verifile and Accredibase as a "Malaysian professor." Sandhu also set up IIU, according to Wooller.
, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute
(CMI), had been hoodwinked into attending and handing out certificates at a degree ceremony. Chapman agreed to be guest of honour at the ceremony held in the Divinity School
at the University of Oxford
. Pictures of her in attendance, which were posted on the university's website, have now been removed. The ceremony was also attended by an undercover reporter and actor from the BBC. The Times article referenced above states that the CMI has "severed all links" to the IIU and that the University of Oxford has banned the IIU from using its premises again. A Malaysian, described by the Sunday Star as a "prominent public figure" and "leading academic", who had received an honorary degree
from Irish International University in 2001 was surprised to be told (in 2009) that the university was considered to be a scam. He told a newspaper reporter that he had attended a graduation ceremony at the University of London
and that the school seemed "very credible."
A BBC London News investigation by reporter Angela Saini
discovered that at its advertised Dublin campus address there was only a mailbox. The investigation also found that the IIU was accredited by "Quality Assurance Commission UK Limited", owned by the IIU's executive president and nothing more than a mailbox and a small website.
says of the Irish International University that it is located in Malaysia and Switzerland
and that:
Irish International University (or Irish International University of Europa) was renamed Isles International University. As of 5 July 2011, the top page of the Irish International University (iiuedu.ie, with an Irish top-level domain
) said at its foot "Isles Internationale Universite [sic]" and had a link labeled "Enter Website" that pointed to the website of Isles International University (iiuedu.ac, with an Ascension Island top-level domain), which said at its foot "Isles Internationale Universite [sic] (European Union) Limited".
The Office of Degree Authorization of Oregon says of the Isles International University that it is located in St Kitts
and Malaysia.
Unaccredited institutions of higher learning
Unaccredited institutions of higher education are colleges, trade schools, seminaries, and universities which do not have formal educational accreditation....
operating in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Founded in 1996, the IIU has no campus of its own but works with unspecified partner institutions in Ireland and abroad. When talking about the IIU to a BBC reporter, its "Honorary Chancellor", Jeff Wooller, said that: "The whole thing's dodgy." According to its website the IIU is still in operation although, in response to the report shown on the BBC, it has removed some material.
The IIU is run by an "executive president," Hardeep Singh Sandhu, who has been described by Malaysian news media as "a Malaysian businessman" and by Verifile and Accredibase as a "Malaysian professor." Sandhu also set up IIU, according to Wooller.
In the news
It was reported in the press on 7 January 2008 that businesswoman Mary ChapmanMary Chapman
Mary Chapman has been the Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute in the UK since 1998.-References:*...
, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute
Chartered Management Institute
The Chartered Management Institute is a professional institution for managers, based in the United Kingdom.In addition to supporting its members, the organisation encourages management development, carries out research, produces a wide variety of publications on management interests, and publishes...
(CMI), had been hoodwinked into attending and handing out certificates at a degree ceremony. Chapman agreed to be guest of honour at the ceremony held in the Divinity School
Divinity School, Oxford
The Divinity School is a medieval building and room in the Perpendicular style in Oxford, England, part of the University of Oxford. Built 1427–83, it is the oldest surviving purpose-built building for university use, specifically for lectures and discussions on theology...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Pictures of her in attendance, which were posted on the university's website, have now been removed. The ceremony was also attended by an undercover reporter and actor from the BBC. The Times article referenced above states that the CMI has "severed all links" to the IIU and that the University of Oxford has banned the IIU from using its premises again. A Malaysian, described by the Sunday Star as a "prominent public figure" and "leading academic", who had received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from Irish International University in 2001 was surprised to be told (in 2009) that the university was considered to be a scam. He told a newspaper reporter that he had attended a graduation ceremony at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and that the school seemed "very credible."
A BBC London News investigation by reporter Angela Saini
Angela Saini
Angela Saini is a British science journalist and author. Her first book Geek Nation: How Indian Science is Taking Over the World was published on 3 March 2011 by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK, and by Hachette in the Indian sub-continent in April 2011.She has been published in Science, Wired, The...
discovered that at its advertised Dublin campus address there was only a mailbox. The investigation also found that the IIU was accredited by "Quality Assurance Commission UK Limited", owned by the IIU's executive president and nothing more than a mailbox and a small website.
Irish International University and Isles International University
The Oregon State Office of Degree AuthorizationOregon State Office of Degree Authorization
The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization is a unit of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission with responsibilities related to maintaining high standards in private higher education institutions in Oregon...
says of the Irish International University that it is located in Malaysia and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and that:
The Irish government has requested that Malaysia close this entity on grounds that it is neither Irish nor a university. It has obtained a business license in a Swiss canton, but is not a Swiss university.
Irish International University (or Irish International University of Europa) was renamed Isles International University. As of 5 July 2011, the top page of the Irish International University (iiuedu.ie, with an Irish top-level domain
Top-level domain
A top-level domain is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System of the Internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the name space. For all domains in lower levels, it is the last part of the domain name, that is, the last label of a...
) said at its foot "Isles Internationale Universite [sic]" and had a link labeled "Enter Website" that pointed to the website of Isles International University (iiuedu.ac, with an Ascension Island top-level domain), which said at its foot "Isles Internationale Universite [sic] (European Union) Limited".
The Office of Degree Authorization of Oregon says of the Isles International University that it is located in St Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
and Malaysia.
Isles Internationale Universite in Malaysia
Isles Internationale Universite in Malaysia (IIUM), also called Isles International University in Malaysia, describes itself as a non profit making international organisation dedicated to cross-cultural experience with a global perspective in leadership & enterpreneurialship [sic]. The IIUM website mentions the Accreditation Syndicate for Education and Training (ASET), whose sole address in Malaysia is identical to that of IIUM.European Business School Cambridge
The European Business School Cambridge, or European Business School (Cambridge), is an offshoot of IIU.See also
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- Diploma mills
- Accreditation millAccreditation millAn accreditation mill is an organization that purports to award educational accreditation to higher education institutions without having government authority or recognition from mainstream academia to operate as an accreditor. Implicit in the terminology is the assumption that the "mill" has low...
External links
- Isles International University website
- Irish International University website (archived version from 5 July 2011, 02:02 UTC)
- Isles Internationale Université School of Doctoral Studies
- European Business School (Cambridge)
- Quality Assurance Commission (accreditation company reportedly owned by the IIU's executive president)