The Irish International University is an unaccredited university operating in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1996, the IIU has no campus of its own, but works with unspecified partner institutions in Ireland and abroad. When talking about the IIU to a BBC reporter, its "Honorary Chancellor", Jeff Wooller, said that: "The whole thing's dodgy."[1] According to its website, the IIU is still in operation, although in response to the report shown on the BBC, it has removed some material.[2]
It was reported in the press on 7th January 2008, that businesswoman Mary Chapman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) had been hoodwinked into attending and handing out certificates at a degree ceremony[3]. Chapman agreed to be Guest of Honour at the ceremony held in the Divinity School at the University of Oxford. Pictures of her in attendance, which were posted on the university's website, have now been removed. The ceremony was also attended by an undercover reporter and actor from the BBC[4]. The Times article referenced above states that the CMI has "severed all links" to the university and the University of Oxford has banned the institution from using its premises again.
A BBC London News investigation by reporter Angela Saini[5] discovered that at its Dublin campus address, there was only a mailbox. The investigation also found that the IIU was accredited by a non-existent accrediting organisation owned by the IIU's Executive President.
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