Bircham International University
Encyclopedia
Bircham International University is a private independent institution of higher education
via distance education
that offers adult degree programs at professional, undergraduate and graduate levels. It is registered in Spain
and Delaware
. It formerly operated from the Bahamas, or the United Kingdom
. It has no recognized educational accreditation
in these places.
, US, Spain, and the Bahamas. According to the 2003 edition of John Bear
's guide, Bircham was founded in 1992 in the United Kingdom
as Oxford International University (no connection to the Oxford University in Great Britain), but changed its name in 2000. In 2008 it was reported to be operating in Nairobi, Kenya. As of 2010, it is registered in Spain
as a business in the "regulated educational services" and "post-graduate educational services" sectors and in Delaware
as a "nonprofit or religious" organization.. The 2011 edition of the DICES guide includes Bircham International University in its selection of academic institutions. It explains that BIU offers an innovative method of instruction and a commitment to fulfill the needs of the adult professional student. Bircham offers degree programs and student services in English, Spanish, French, Portugues, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic.
by any recognized accreditation agency. BIU claimed accreditation from an organization called Educational Quality Accreditation, which the 2003 edition of Bears' Guide describes as "the unlocatable and unrecognized accreditor for the nonwonderful Bircham International University." As of July 2010, its website contains a list of accreditations from entities that are not recognized as educational accreditors. Some of these entities, including the Academy for the Promotion of International Culture and Scientific Exchange and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, also list Bircham among their membership or have listed Bircham in this manner in the past. Neither of these is a recognized accreditation agency. As of 2010, BIU is listed as a member of the European Foundation for Quality in eLearning, a membership organization that does not engage in educational accreditation
, and also the International Accreditation and Recognition Council, an unrecognized accreditation agency.
According to IAU Universities List
of accredited schools, Bircham is not accredited in Spain. Other sources explicitly listing it as "unaccredited" include The Maine Department of Education
and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
, which state that Bircham has "No degree-granting authority from Spain (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers[AACRAO] evaluation)". The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization considers BIU an unaccredited foreign degree supplier. Bircham's website acknowledges that the institution is not accredited by any agency recognized by the U.S. Council on Higher Education Accreditation, but it states that "as a provider of non formal education, ... no further authorization from a Ministry of Education is required."
Because BIU is not accredited by a recognized accreditation body in the countries where it operates, its degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.
courses and training modules in several topics. The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) lists BIU as an authorized provider of continuing education
and training. The European Adult Education Training Database includes a listing for a BIU course on adult education
by distance learning.
. A 2003 article in South Florida's CityLink magazine reported that Oregon education officials had said that Bircham was "totally bogus" and quoted former FBI agent Allen Ezell, who investigated diploma mill
s as part of the agency's Operation Dipscam
, as describing some of Bircham's promotional claims as "pure hokum
".
In July 2007 a Mexican newspaper reported that the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) of Mexico
had issued a warning against Bircham International and ten other foreign institutions identified as having committed academic fraud.
In April 2008 the Nairobi Business Daily reported that Bircham International University was operating in Kenya
without authorization, "wooing unsuspecting students to its distance learning classes". An official of Kenya's Commission for Higher Education was quoted as warning that BIU degree certificates would not be recognised. In March 2010 the same newspaper published a correction, stating that the April 2008 story had been provided by a person "who at the time of publication had a partnership dispute with Bircham over rights to represent the university in Kenya". The correction stated that BIU "is a Spanish institution of distance learning and is in good standing with Spanish authorities that offers alternatives to formal adult higher education specifically aimed at adult working professionals" and that its programmes "can be legalized and validated by the Embassy of Kenya in the USA or Spain despite the institution not being registered by the Commission for Higher Education in Kenya".
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
via distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
that offers adult degree programs at professional, undergraduate and graduate levels. It is registered in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It formerly operated from the Bahamas, or 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...
. It has no recognized educational accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
in these places.
History and location
According to its website, Bircham was established in Europe in 1992 and is registered in DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, US, Spain, and the Bahamas. According to the 2003 edition of John Bear
John Bear
John Bjorn Bear is an American authority on distance education and a writer of creative reference works. Bear holds bachelor and master degrees from University of California, Berkeley and a doctorate from Michigan State University...
's guide, Bircham was founded in 1992 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...
as Oxford International University (no connection to the Oxford University in Great Britain), but changed its name in 2000. In 2008 it was reported to be operating in Nairobi, Kenya. As of 2010, it is registered in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as a business in the "regulated educational services" and "post-graduate educational services" sectors and in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
as a "nonprofit or religious" organization.. The 2011 edition of the DICES guide includes Bircham International University in its selection of academic institutions. It explains that BIU offers an innovative method of instruction and a commitment to fulfill the needs of the adult professional student. Bircham offers degree programs and student services in English, Spanish, French, Portugues, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic.
Accreditation status
Bircham is not accreditedEducational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
by any recognized accreditation agency. BIU claimed accreditation from an organization called Educational Quality Accreditation, which the 2003 edition of Bears' Guide describes as "the unlocatable and unrecognized accreditor for the nonwonderful Bircham International University." As of July 2010, its website contains a list of accreditations from entities that are not recognized as educational accreditors. Some of these entities, including the Academy for the Promotion of International Culture and Scientific Exchange and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, also list Bircham among their membership or have listed Bircham in this manner in the past. Neither of these is a recognized accreditation agency. As of 2010, BIU is listed as a member of the European Foundation for Quality in eLearning, a membership organization that does not engage in educational accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
, and also the International Accreditation and Recognition Council, an unrecognized accreditation agency.
According to IAU Universities List
IAU Universities List
The International Association of Universities is the UNESCO-based worldwide association of higher education institutions. It brings together institutions and organisations from some 150 countries for "reflection and action on common concerns and collaborates with various international, regional...
of accredited schools, Bircham is not accredited in Spain. Other sources explicitly listing it as "unaccredited" include The Maine Department of Education
Maine Department of Education
Maine Department of Education is the state department of education in the U.S. state of Maine. It is headquartered in the Burton Cross State Office Building in Augusta.The Maine Department of Education is responsible for Maine's public education....
and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is an agency of the Texas state government that oversees all public post-secondary education in Texas. It is headquartered at 1200 East Anderson Lane in Austin....
, which state that Bircham has "No degree-granting authority from Spain (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
Because BIU is not accredited by a recognized accreditation body in the countries where it operates, its degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.
Non-degree training and courses
BIU's offerings include non-degreeAcademic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
courses and training modules in several topics. The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) lists BIU as an authorized provider of continuing education
Continuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
and training. The European Adult Education Training Database includes a listing for a BIU course on adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
by distance learning.
Criticism and controversy
Bircham is listed as a questionable non-accredited school by QuackwatchQuackwatch
Quackwatch is an American non-profit organization founded by Stephen Barrett with the stated aim being to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and with a primary focus on providing "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere."...
. A 2003 article in South Florida's CityLink magazine reported that Oregon education officials had said that Bircham was "totally bogus" and quoted former FBI agent Allen Ezell, who investigated diploma mill
Diploma mill
A diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
s as part of the agency's Operation Dipscam
Operation Dipscam
Operation DIPSCAM was a series of investigations carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the General Accounting Office, the Committee on Education and the Workforce and other agencies in the United States in the 1980s...
, as describing some of Bircham's promotional claims as "pure hokum
Hokum (disambiguation)
Hokum may refer to:*Hokum, a type of song in American blues music.*A euphemism for "bullshit"*The NATO code name for the Kamov Ka-50, a Russian attack helicopter.*The Bell-Bristol Aerospace Hokum-X, a target drone for the U.S. Army...
".
In July 2007 a Mexican newspaper reported that the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
had issued a warning against Bircham International and ten other foreign institutions identified as having committed academic fraud.
In April 2008 the Nairobi Business Daily reported that Bircham International University was operating in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
without authorization, "wooing unsuspecting students to its distance learning classes". An official of Kenya's Commission for Higher Education was quoted as warning that BIU degree certificates would not be recognised. In March 2010 the same newspaper published a correction, stating that the April 2008 story had been provided by a person "who at the time of publication had a partnership dispute with Bircham over rights to represent the university in Kenya". The correction stated that BIU "is a Spanish institution of distance learning and is in good standing with Spanish authorities that offers alternatives to formal adult higher education specifically aimed at adult working professionals" and that its programmes "can be legalized and validated by the Embassy of Kenya in the USA or Spain despite the institution not being registered by the Commission for Higher Education in Kenya".
See also
- Educational accreditationEducational accreditationEducational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
- Degree mill
- 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...
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning