Virtual Global University

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by zvavda, Jul 2, 2006.

Loading...
  1. zvavda

    zvavda New Member

    The Virtual Global University is based on knowledge, experience, and people from "real" universities in Europe. VGU's School of Business Informatics (SBI) has brought together top experts in the field. The school's faculty is a network of distinguished professors from reputable universities in Central Europe. SBI's unique feature is this concentration of high-level knowledge and expertise in one institution.

    Is this real??
     
  2. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    In my eyes they appear to be legit, now this is initial opinion from quick visit to web sites. But may not be quote GAAP because I'm not clear what is their home country? I understand what virtual university is.

    From their web site

    I'm not familiar with this agency and this is why I recommend to be
    cautious.

    Usually GAAP states that the degrees have to be accepted in the home country of the university - so what is the home country of the university in this case is it Germany? they state that they are virtual so no buildings etc.

    Also you can write to German ministry of Education or call them to find out the legal status and academic validity of the accrediting agency.

    I'm curious and will do some additional reading about this school.

    Maybe other readers / members of the forum will provide additional info.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 2, 2006
  3. isa53359

    isa53359 New Member

    Examination regulations for the MBI program were agreed on by the Board of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the European University Viadrina because it is this university that finally awards the master's degree.
    The European University Viadrina ist accredited from FIBAA and ACQUIN, also the Virtual Global University.
    FIBAA and ACQUIN are from State recognized Accrediting agency´s

    http://www.fibaa.de
    http://www.acquin.org

    http://www.akkreditierungsrat.de/ (that´s like in US www.chea.org)




    Q: Is the Master of Business Informatics (MBI) program an accredited program?

    A: Yes. All master programs by German universities must have official government accreditation. Otherwise they are not allowed to award a master's nor a bachelor's degree. The MBI program received accreditation in September 2001.

    In addition, accreditation by ACQUIN, the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute, was obtained on March 24, 2006 (ACQUIN certificate). Until this time, the MBI program was accredited by FIBAA, the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA certificates).



    Q: VGU is a virtual university. What is a virtual university?

    A: A virtual university provides higher education over the Internet. Such an institution does not have classrooms and buildings in the physical sense. VGU uses technology to reach students wherever in the world they are, so it is not constrained by geography nor does it have a traditional campus. Our campus is on the Internet. Courses are based on multimedia technologies and given via Internet. This means that you DO NOT NEED to go to lecture halls on a real campus. Instead you can attend from anywhere in the world at any time over the Internet.



    Q: Is the MBI program different from programs by other virtual universities?

    A: Many colleges and universities offer online courses nowadays but the MBI program is the first complete accredited online master program in Business Informatics. It is unique in that it is a top quality comprehensive program taught by the leading experts from well-known universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Among them are the leading academics in Business Informatics, like Prof. Dr. A.-W. Scheer from Saarland University, founder of a large consulting firm (IDS Scheer AG) and Prof. Dr. W. Stucky, president of CEPIS, the association of European computer science societies. Prof. Dr. K. Kurbel from the European University Viadrina in Germany has designed and implemented Business Informatics curricula which were adopted throughout Central Europe.



    Q: VGU has a "distributed" faculty. What does that mean?

    A: All courses are taught by a team of 17 well-known professors from reputable universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. VGU has "unbundled" the traditional faculty roles. VGU professors monitor and discuss the curriculum, a central examination board assures that the tests and measures are accurate and effective, and teaching assistants at many locations work with students to support their learning process over the Internet.



    Q: How can I be sure that courses offered by VGU are as high in quality as those offered by "real" universities?

    A: The MBI program is based on a formal cooperation between VGU and the European University Viadrina (EUV) in Germany. The latter one has the formal responsibility for ensuring that the academic and educational standards of the program are maintained at the same level as EUV's face-to-face programs. Apart from this formal responsibility, VGU is committed to high quality standards by its mission.



    Q: What does the curriculum for MBI look like?

    The curriculum is made up of mandatory course, electives, a master's thesis, and an internship or a project. See the curriculum table for details.



    Q: What are the requirements for admission to the MBI program?

    A: The main formal prerequisites are:

    - Bachelor's degree in business administration (or a business-related subject) or equivalent.

    - TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) for non-native English speakers. If you have not completed that test yet you may submit the certificate up to 6 months later. Equivalent certificates may be accepted upon request.



    Q: I have a bachelor's degree in a different area, not in business administration. Can I still participate in the MBI program?

    A: Yes, you can. Candidates with degrees in other fields may be admitted. However, they need to prove by the end of the first semester that they possess elementary business administration knowledge. There are several ways to provide this proof, for example:

    Two years of working experience in a typical business function (e.g. marketing, controlling, finance). Certificates by your employers have to be provided.

    You participate in the business track of the MBI program and pass the two courses Business I and II. This can be done as part of the MBI program or in addition.


    Take one or more business courses provided by any higher-education institution (university level) equivalent to at least 15 credit points in the MBI program. You are advised to check with us before registering whether the courses you are considering will be accepted.

    If you are in doubt whether you fulfil the formal requirements please contact the dean's office at [email protected]



    Q: I don't have a bachelor's degree but a ... degree. Can I still participate in the MBI program?

    A: It depends. For example, a German "Fachhochschul-Diplom" and in most cases a "Berufsakademie" degree will be accepted. Check with the dean's office at [email protected].



    Q: What are the admission requirements for VGU's certificate courses?

    A: No formal requirements like a university degree or similar. However, you should be aware that the course will be on the level of higher education (i.e. university level). If a course has prerequisites, they are listed in the course description. You are welcome to take advise from administration if you are not sure that you have adequate skills and knowledge to enrol. Likewise, sufficient command of English is a precondition although you will not be asked to provide formal proof. Some courses might presuppose that you possess basic business administration knowledge.



    Q: What if I don't have a computer or no access to the Internet? Can I still participate?

    A: No, unfortunately you cannot. For participation in any VGU course you need:

    State-of-the-art computing equipment, including a Pentium PC and MS Windows 98/2000/NT/XP

    A reasonably fast Internet connection

    MS Office programs, multimedia plug-ins (e.g. Windows Media Player 7.1), Web browser (Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher), e-mail

    Note that you should have at least 56 kbps Internet access or faster to participate in video courses. Less speed will suit for other courses but will be less convenient in any case.



    Q: When does the MBI program start, and how long does it take to complete?

    A: The regular MBI program starts each year in October (winter semester). Part-time students may begin in April (summer semester), too. For full-time students, it takes two years (four semesters) to complete, including one semester of internship or project. For part-time students duration is determined as appropriate depending on the number of courses taken per semester.



    Q: When do certificate courses start, and how long are they?

    A: In October and in April each year. Duration is one semester (4-5 months).



    Q: When do I have to apply for MBI?

    A: Application periods are May - August (for winter semester) and January - March (for summer semester). Exact dates and details are announced by the Admission Office on VGU's website.



    Q: When can I register for a certificate course?

    A: Registrations are invited from May to September (for winter semester) and from January to March (for summer semester). Exact dates and details are announced by the Admission Office on VGU's website.



    Q: What does part-time MBI mean?

    A: "Part-time" means that fewer than 5 courses per semester are taken. In this way, a maximum of individual flexibility is granted. In such a case the program will take longer to complete, depending on the number of courses per semester. Please note that some MBI courses are provided according to the MBI curriculum only every other semester. Tuition for part-time students is set individually.



    Q: Do I need to speak German if I want to study at VGU?

    A: No, you don't. All courses are taught in English.



    Q: How much do I have to pay for the MBI program?

    A: Tuition for full-time students is 2,150 Euro per semester, in semesters 1 to 3. Tuition in the fourth semester is 1,175 Euro if the option "internship" is chosen, otherwise 2,150 Euro.

    Tuition for part-time students depends on the number of courses taken per semester. The cost per semester is then 540 Euro for the first course plus 440 Euro for each of the next ones.

    Students living in third-world countries and transition economies may apply for a reduced rate of 1,290 Euro per semester. Part-time students in such countries are eligible for tuition of 365 Euro for the first course and 265 Euro for each of the next ones.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 2, 2006
  4. FLA Expatriate

    FLA Expatriate New Member

    According to Wikipedia, "European University Viadrina" seems to have a bit history behind it. Apparently, the university reopened fifteen years ago after closing the doors in 1811.

    Viadrina is located in Frankfurt an der Oder. For the vets who served in Germany, Frankfurt (Oder) should not be confused with Frankfurt (am Main) - noted for Rhein Main Airbase, Abrams Complex, Drake-Edwards Kaserne, etc. Instead, Frankfurt an der Oder sits on the German/Polish border, and was formerly part of East Germany. One of the jokes among West Germans during the Cold War referred to Frankfurt (Oder) as "Frankfurt on the other".

    At first glance, this looks like an interesting program for a reasonable cost. Graduation could be most interesting, needless to say. It appears VGU recruited some professors from Germanic-speaking Europe to instruct distance learning courses on the side. For greatest exposure, classes are conducted in English in order to reach a larger market. Europa-Universität Viadrina, one of the smallest universities in Germany, and situated in an economically-disadvantaged part of the country, confers the degree - a win-win scenario for multiple parties involved.

    When time permits, I'll research a few German sources for more background and legitimacy information.
     
  5. mineralhh

    mineralhh New Member

    please don't mix VGU with viadrina, which are still seperate entities. VGU is a fine institution, which I have personally done some work for in a cooperation agreement.
     
  6. isa53359

    isa53359 New Member

    Please read carefully the web site from VGU: a text from VGU web site.

    MBI Program

    International Master of Business Informatics (MBI)

    The MBI program is an accredited master program leading to the degree of an "International Master of Business Informatics". The master's degree is a recognized degree, approved by government and awarded by the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in Germany.


    You learn at VGU but you recive your Diploma from European University Viadrina.


    Q: How can I be sure that courses offered by VGU are as high in quality as those offered by "real" universities?

    A: The MBI program is based on a formal cooperation between VGU and the European University Viadrina (EUV) in Germany. The latter one has the formal responsibility for ensuring that the academic and educational standards of the program are maintained at the same level as EUV's face-to-face programs. Apart from this formal responsibility, VGU is committed to high quality standards by its mission

    Enrollment

    You will be officially registered as an MBI student at the Virtual Global University and formally enrolled at EUV automatically as soon your tuition is received. Note that you are not required to appear personally at the enrollment office!


    Examination regulations for the MBI program were agreed on by the Board of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the European University Viadrina because it is this university that finally awards the master's degree.
    Regulations are provided in English and in German. While only the latter ones are binding under German law, the English version is a translation of the German document to the best of our knowledge and belief.
     
  7. isa53359

    isa53359 New Member

    From VGU website:

    http://www.vg-u.de/acquincertificates.asp
    http://www.vg-u.de/fibaacertificates.asp

    The Master Degree is accredited from ACQUIN and FIBAA, but the accreditation is for the European University Viadrina

    Q: Is the Master of Business Informatics (MBI) program an accredited program?

    A: Yes. All master programs by German universities must have official government accreditation. Otherwise they are not allowed to award a master's nor a bachelor's degree. The MBI program received accreditation in September 2001.

    In addition, accreditation by ACQUIN, the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute, was obtained on March 24, 2006 (ACQUIN certificate). Until this time, the MBI program was accredited by FIBAA, the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA certificates).
     
  8. mineralhh

    mineralhh New Member



    again, please do not confuse them, as VGU and Viadrina are seperate entities. While degrees are awarded by Viadrina, this means basically very little in a country with an educational system like Germany or Austria with the majority of universities being public. For VGU, teachings are primarily done by faculties from other schools, the idea of a "cluster of excellence" how it is commonly called, is to combine teachings from well known researchers from seperate universities especially in the field of information systems in order to offer one integrated course program. All schools involved are public and well-respected, courses are mostly accredited or in the process of becoming so. as said, it's a fine institution.
     

Share This Page