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C U I t u I. C

Interview with

E r ic

Willu sen

President and founder of

the International University
in Geneva

Double degrees

Swiss and British university degrees - an education

It's a well-known educational institution in Geneva, and each Last year, we achieved a benchmark, completing accreditation
year the University's international recognition as well as its by the Britain Accreditations Council, and we also reinforced
world rank has risen. We had a chance to meet with Eric our partnership with the University of Plymouth one of the
Willumsen recently to learn more about their mission and largest public institution in the UK. Now, since September 2018,
vision, their new programmes and hear what they have to we have been providing double degrees at the bachelor level.
offer to their students. So now we will leave the floor to him. As of September 2019, all our bachelor degrees will be double
degrees with Plymouth in four different areas. So, over the
Q: Could you please tell us a little about how it all started? years we have moved more and more over to the British
Our five founding members wanted to provide an higher education system. It's in line with our vision, and it
international education in Geneva and to establish a network represents a sign of quality. It's also known around the world,
of quality educational institutions. Our first partners were and we try to provide the best of the two worlds.
the Institut Superieur de Commerce in Paris and Fordham
University in New York. Q: What kind of studies do you offer?
Over the years we have expanded our network, so, now We are active in four areas - digital media, business, international
we have 25 partners. We just renewed our agreement with relations, and computer science at the bachelor and master level.
Boston University for another two years and we added We also offer since 2012 for working professionals two doctorates
Shanghai Jiao Tong University two years ago. The students programs from the University of Plymouth - they are the ones
have the possibility of studying in different places, and we also who award the degree - in Business Administration and Public
welcome students from partner institutions, from Mexico to Administration. New courses such as digital diplomacy will be
China, from Africa to Europe... Casablanca to Helsinki... taught for the first time this summer.
In 2003, we became a Swiss not-for-profit foundation. That
was also in line with our mission and vision, for we wanted We have faculty members form different international
to provide the best of education but also send a responsible organizations like UNCTAD, UNECE, ITU, WHO... They
message to parents. bring their knowledge and experience from their respective

34 DIVA - INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT