Another 'Ghost'?

Some students from Malaysia have asked me if this is a genuine outfit or a 'ghost university'. As I do not knbow, though I have not heard of it, it reads suspicious to me (unnamed 'reputable academicians', meaningless 'central Executive Board', spurious reference to the 'European Union' and the 'Open University', and allusions to unnamed low level 'London Executive Schools'. But the first principle of speaking about something you know nothing about is research.

Could anybody give me a definitive answer, please? Meanwhile, I have suggested they hold onto their money.

"Born of a European origin, the University was established by a faculty of reputable academicians. In early 1995, a consortium was formed to study the concepts and plans to set up an Open University of the European Union. Approved by the Central Executive Board, the formation of an educational institution of the European Union, was named IRISH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

The University operates via a federation of on-campuses located in London. These are mainly the London Executive Schools and the London School of Law. The University has three distinctive features, namely an On-Campus, Off Campus and Virtual Campus.

With the high expectations of employers in the global market, it is essential to equip one’s experience and education. Studying an MBA will not only boost your educational background, but it helps to advance the level of maturity and enhance a better career prospect.

FEDU is proud to be associated with the IRISH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (IIU). At FEDU, our mission is to provide students with solid knowledge; undertaking thorough research and promoting breadths of educational opportunity. Here at FEDU, we train and develop, individuals to cultivate a business intelligence mindset.

In alliance with this progressive and dynamic university, FEDU provide active seminars, workshops, one-to-one and on-line facilities for your benefit and offers affordable course in, IMBA that will enhance your marketability, increase your competence and challenge your intellectual mind.

With the variety of electives that are offered, the IMBA is customized to your choice and decision. After which you may wish to direct to an area of specialization or graduate in UK with full confidence from the acquired knowledge gained from IIU’s IMBA.

Leap on to a whole new interactive and action learning experience. IMBA is not an ordinary MBA! It is your customized MBA with an International validated recognition! Kindly log on to www.f-edu.com or call (603) 76652000 for more in-depth information.

Our Next Intake is on the 18th January 2003. Registration Deadline is on the 13th January 2003 "

 

Search and telephone calls link the Irish (IIU) to several Malaysian agents. I like the reference in the FEDU site to the term "Certified". A certificate will buy you a cup of coffee.

Confirmation that Knightsbridge is the place for the on-off campuses. This is usually the place that the IIU does its UK dealings, including the graduation ceremonies.

Several other places that are affiliated with the IIU.

http://www.e-smartlearning.com/e-smart/mba.asp.

http://www.tiu.com

http://www.iiuedu.ie/view.php

DIPLOMA MILL...tell your Malaysian parties..to save their money.

 

Diploma Mills start to invade ASIA - Malaysia, China including Hong Kong....any more.... Mills from USA, Ireland...

Monkey

 

Irish International University is operated by Jeff Wooller from his tiny office in the back corner of a rundown hotel lobby in London* -- along with his 4 or 5 other universities.

Wooller was also a Heriot-Watt MBA agent for England for a number of years, until someone, can't imagine who, pointed out his other activities to the university and the course publisher.
_______________

*at least when I visited the
spot a couple of years ago

 

Thanks for the info

Thanks to all for the info you provided on the 'Irish International University'. I have passed it on, alonmg with several e-mails I received about this strange scam.

Its web site is really disheartening with phots of its 2000 graduation year, all dressed up in flamboyant gowns and weird hats, and by now surely aware that their 'degrees' are worthless. It is so sad to see people duped in this manner. No wonder DL has a poor image with many an institution.

That IIU has no campus - the images from John Roberts of a 'Knightsbridge' base and John Bear of a back corner in a run down hotel presided over by 'Jeff Wooler' are particularly shameful - should warn us that it has no substance.

I do not buy the 'no campus needed' arguments from some people using the 'on line technology does not need physical presence' as cover for lack of substance in their projects. The on line world of DL requires as much physical presence as any campus degree programme, probably more if it is successful and attracts a large student body. No academic institution, on or off line, can operate without a footprint on the ground somewhere to accommodate the faculty preparing the inputs and the administration processing them, and an IT function that operates, maintains and enhances the necessary systems. The EBS building is the largest on the Heriot-Watt campus and we are now cramped for space.

When so-called 'universities' up camp and cross borders, particularly to islands (Norfolk, Cayman, etc.,), alarm bells should ring. Web sites without addresses and phone numbers are implausible.

As one correspondent from Canada has pointed out the IIU has set a closing date for registration on 13 January (a Sunday) for an 'intake' on 18 January - presumably just long enough to cash the cheques and move on! I hope there is a special corner in Hell for the perpetrators of such frauds.

 

Smaller islands, anyway.

 

Re: Thanks for the info

Whence they will undoubtedly set up shop selling apostilled certificates of redemption printed on quality A3 stock, complete with raised seal and accompanied by a copy of the originator's certificate of good standing. Before moving to the opposite corner, of course.

 

Prof Kennedy, I like your reference to the diploma mills having a corner in hell, unfortunately and especially on this side of the pond people are gulible enough to believe a 'Fake Degree' for a $100 or so will buy the academic ecstasy.

For the diploma mills, they wont burn in in that special corner of hell, unfortunately..maybe basking in the sun on some tropical beach counting the millions that they rake in (note most are in the Caymans & Norfolk), and if John Bear could ever shut every single one down (I doubt, but a good try anyway), they like a cancer keep on festering.

The diploma mills are today what was lingering around in the prohibition of the 20s/30's. Can you imagine what Al capone would have done with this one?

If you could kindly keep a watch on that intake date in mid January, and I presume at least one of your Malaysian contacts will be registering, it will be interesting to see exactly which location the school is actually operating from?.

BTW. a link to the Malaysian office as follows:

Ms. Olivia
Irish International University
Unit 213 Block F
Phileo Damansara 1
Section 16
46350 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 7960 2611 / 7960 2908
Fax: 7960 2613

J.R(ic)

 

Thanks for your help and information. I reported yours and John Bear's statements to the Malaysian students who had asked the question of me and recommended that they complain to the Malaysian Ministry of Education. This they said they would consider doing.

Given that the Malaysian Ministry is actively intervening in the education sector at present (as are the Thai, South African and Chinese governments) I would expect the IIU, a blatant scam, to fall on a complaint even just on its web site messages let alone whatever else it conducts. One feature appears to be an on-line option that probably is designed by lack of a territorial base and the reference to 'diploma' not 'degree' to escape from retribution (not that this would stop the governments concerned for long).

I know Petaling Jaya, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, and would consider it most unlikely that the address you gave contained much more than a tiny office space.

 

In Ireland, when is a school not a school

A follow up to that IIU Diploma Mill story in the attached link.

http://www.dcu.ie/business/research_papers/no39.html

 

Response to criticisms

I am the Dr Jeff Wooller who Dr John Bear has commented on adversely.

I am aware of the immense reputation of Dr Bear and truly believe that he has done a great job in highlighting many degree mills.

However, his comments in my case were a little wide of the mark. He has said that I was running the Irish International University out of a small office in a squalid building.

It is true that I used to be Vice Chancellor of the Irish International University. However, that was an honorary position and I never had any hand in the running of the university or any share of its profits. That University is accredited by reputable organisations such as the British Learning Association. It runs courses which are approved by Cambridge University Distance Learning. Some of their degree courses are run in collaboration with Judge College, Cambridge. Students are required to attend Judge College as part of the course.

As for the building in which I was alleged to be running this university we are talking of a building designed by the famous architect Edwin Lutyens. The building was opened by the Queen Mother and she also came back for an anniversary celebration at which I had the pleasure of meeting her.

The building was valued at £15 million. It was used by a variety of organisations to run their examinations. These included 'A' levels and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW).

I had 3,500 square feet of accommodation. When the building was sold I received £500,000 pay off to vacate the premises. The building is now one of the top hotels of the Jewry Group.


__________________
Dr Jeff Wooller

 

Re: Response to criticisms

Thank you, Dr. Wooller. For the record then, could you please inform us who actually ran the university and shared in its profits? Does the same individual (or group) still run it today? If not, who currently runs Irish International University and profits from its operations?

 

In 1997, when I visited Dr. Wooller's office at 25 Old Glouceser St., London WC1N, it was in a building that I found large but squalid. I even took photos in the lobby of peeling paint, sagging ceiling, garbage in lobby, etc. Perhaps it had seen better days. It seemed primarily in use as a youth hostel. Dr. Wooller's office was found by walking down a long hallway off the lobby. There was a small ante-room with a couple of chairs, leading to one more room, in which Dr. Wooller sat talking to someone. I would have estimated about 250-300 sq. ft. I believe (but haven't searched for my photos yet) that the sign on the door said Jeff Wooller College, or perhaps Accounting. Perhaps he had other space in the building. Perhaps he has subsequently moved to this elegant building.

My notes show that at various times, Dr. Wooller was Vice Chancerllor of Irish International University, an agent for the Heriot-Watt University DL MBA, the president of the London campus of St. Clements University, Vice Chancellor of the Irish University Business School as well as founder of the Institute for Professional Financial Managers (which awarded Doctorates), and of Jeff Wooller College.

I am delighted that he has joined this forum.

 

Response to Dr John Bear

I have never had an office at Jeff Wooller College at 25 Old Gloucester Street. But the person to whom I sold Jeff Wooller College in 1993 did - but he is Nigerian!

I did visit the college at times, but only at weekends as I had a full-time job with a firm of consultants. When I did visit I always used a computer in the lobby and I would have seen Dr Bear if he had made a visit while I was there.

I do not understand his reference to the building being used as a youth hostel. The building has planning permission only for educational use, has no bedrooms and no student has ever stayed there overnight.

The elegant building to which Dr Bear refers is presumably the building which he previously described as squalid. However, this does not make sense because the college moved from the Great Russell Street Building to 25 Old Gloucester Street and not the other way round. At no time was the college in two buildings at the same time.

The Institute of Professional Financial Managers does not award doctoral degrees but has a doctorate level for members who hold a doctoral degree from a university.

 

Thank you, Dr. Wooller; you are being very informative. If it is not too much trouble, could you please answer my questions? I would appreciate that very much.

 

Response to Gus Sainz

I am not trying to avoid your questions but trying to master this web site! I keep getting email messages that there is a response but then not finding the response. Please bear with me.

As to the Irish International University I do not know whether or not it makes profits. The person that I have always dealt with is CEO Sandhu. He has two offices in Kuala Lumpur and they certainly give the impression that the operation is profitable. All the furniture has been imported and everything is laid out in best Feng Shui traditions.

My understanding is that there are others involved in the operation but other than his wife I have not met them and do not know their backgrounds.

What I do know is that for the years that I was Vice Chancellor I got only one complaint and that related to the quality of English rather than to educational standards. Still the English leaves much to be desired if you look at website www.iiuedu.ie.

The students themselves that I have met at the convocations have often been outstanding members of the Malaysian Society. Some of them have even brought their theses to the convocation and they have been impressive.

Those attending the convocations in London will have paid thousands of pounds for their courses and are charged four hundred or so pounds for the convocation package which includes flight, accommodation and superb photographs from Ede & Ravenscroft and a video of the event.

The dinners that follow the the convocations are quite spectactular with professional performers strutting their stuff after the formal speeches. The Malaysians have added a dimension to traditional convocations.

I have never met anyone who has criticised the standards of the university.

 

I posted this in another thread but it was unanswered and this thread is probably more appropriate.

I have a few more questions about "Irish International University". There is an Irish Examiner article which alleges that

May I ask for your comment on these allegations?

Also, neither Irish International University, or the European Business School appear to be recognised by either the Irish or UK governments (I presume your European Business School is distinct from the European Business School, London mentioned). On whose authority do you grant the degrees? By the way, you mention that you are accredited by "ChrisThomas Consortium London" (or is it Commission for Continous Learning?) but it is not mentioned on the Institutional Accreditation page. Is it a new developement, has accreditation been lost or simply forgotten?

Could you also please provide some information about the "Quality Assurance Commisison"? You claim endorsement from them but there appears to be little information about them - I have yet to find anyone else aware of them.

It also appears that some doctoral and masters theses have been posted. Would someone with a little more knowledge of the subject area and doctoral level work please give their opinion as to quality (as a comparison, here are the St Clements doctoral theses. In particular, the one by this chap works out at 17 singlespaced pages including 10 pages of appendicies (Times New Roman, 12pt, default margins).)

 

How odd. The Nigerians I've known all wrote standard English.

 

I was not aware of the article in the Irish Examiner. If it were untrue I would have thought that the university would have sued.
I was not involved in the setting up of the university and have no knowledge of the claims being made. If I had known that false claims were being made I would not have agreed to become Vice Chancellor.

I am aware of a rift between the Irish International University and ChrisThomas or as it became CCL but understand that it did not relate to accreditation problems. This is the reason for the switch to the little known Quality Assurance Commission.

As for the the PhD theses on the St Clements University website I can assure you that none of the ones I have read are up to a standard that I would find acceptable. There was one that I read that I thought was worthy of an MPhil. The University is aware of past problems which is why no student can now start until I have evidence of a suitable hypothesis, suitable methodology and acceptable statistical testing.

A recent applicant who said that he would develop the hypothesis during the course of the PhD got short shrift!