The International University (IU), Vienna was an unaccredited private university located in Vienna, Austria, with a subsidiary in Kiev, Ukraine. According to IU, it was chartered in 1980 by the U.S. state of Alabama as a private degree-granting postsecondary institution.[1] The Vienna operation was founded in 1981 as "European Christian College". In 2003, IU's university accreditation was withdrawn by the Austrian Accreditation Council.[2] In 2011, IUV's sponsoring association went into bankruptcy and was shut down by court order. In June 2011, Serbian private university Megatrend University announced that it would take over the institution.[3]
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Active | 1981–2011 |
| Campus | Vienna, Austria |
| Website | http://www.iuvienna.edu |
Programmes
- Undergraduate:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Diplomatic Studies (BADS)
- Bachelor of Arts in Global Business & International Relations (BAGBIR)
- Graduate:
- Advanced/Master of Arts in Diplomatic & Strategic Studies (A/MADSS)
- Master of International Business (MIB)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Legal status of academic degrees
Academic degrees granted by IU Vienna within the period of private university accreditation (4 January 2001 through 31 July 2003) are legally recognized in Austria and other EU countries. Any degrees granted outside this period lack accredited status, and their use may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.
The institution stated that it was licensed to operate by the state of Alabama.[4] However, this license expired in November 2010[5][6] and is not related to accreditation.
The Office of Degree Authorization of Oregon lists International University Vienna as an unaccredited foreign degree supplier and advises "employers, potential students, potential clients and others doing business with users of these degrees" to "take appropriate steps to determine the true nature of the credentials ... in order to ensure that degrees are genuine and are being used legally".[7]
Withdrawal of university accreditation
Between January 2001 and July 2003, IU Vienna was accredited as a private university by the accreditation council of the Austrian government. The initial accreditation had been granted only for a period of three years due to concerns on some critical issues (recruitment of scientific staff, research, library). The accreditation was withdrawn by the council on the 31st of July 2003.[8]
Bankruptcy
In April 2011, bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against IUV. On 6 May 2011, the commercial court of Vienna ordered it shut.[9]
References
- ^ History, The International University website
- ^ International University: Akkreditierung aberkannt, ORF.at (German)
- ^ "Megatrend Univerzitet". Megatrend.edu.rs. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "License by Alabama, website of IU Vienna". Iuvienna.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Web Archive: AACS Private School Licensure, 2010". Replay.web.archive.org. 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "AACS Private School Licensure". Accs.cc. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Oregon Office of Degree Authorization: List of unaccredited foreign degree suppliers". Osac.state.or.us. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ Rainer Wahnsinn (2003-07-31). "Austrian accreditation council: Revocation of IUV's accreditation". Akkreditierungsrat.at. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "HG Wien, 5 S 55/11i - Bankruptcy file". Handelsgericht Wien. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-05-08.