“Neither Irish, nor a university” – Some observations on the Irish International University controversy

by John Kersey

This week, the BBC has been broadcasting an investigative feature on the Irish International University that has been revealing to say the least. The candour with which its honorary chancellor, Professor Jeff Wooller, now a tax exile in Monte Carlo, openly admitted that the university was “dodgy” was refreshing, if somewhat worrying.

The BBC is right to highlight the poor quality and misleading practices that are characteristic of some private sector institutions. In the case of IIU, its claim of independent “accreditation” was shown to be by a body of its own creation, while its governing council, by the admission of its honorary chancellor, did not exist. Nor did the claimed campus in Ireland, which was in fact a mailbox.

There has been extensive negative publicity concerning IIU on the Internet for several years now, particularly emanating from Malaysia, where the university has been active. In the UK, IIU has operated through making arrangements with private residential colleges which have then offered courses that lead to IIU degrees. It is not an offence to offer overseas degrees in the UK provided it is made clear that they are not from a UK institution, and it is not suggested anywhere in the BBC’s report that IIU has been acting illegally.

Read more