Landegg International University
Landegg International University (LIU) was an independent, legally registered, private university in Switzerland from September 1992 to December 2003, offering Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level programs in Conflict Resolution, International and Community Development, Global Governance, Business Administration, International Leadership and Management (MBA), Sales and Marketing Management, Hospitality Management, Psychology, and Information Technology.
History[edit]
Landegg's evolution into a full-fledged university was a gradual process. Located on some 31 acres on a hillside overlooking Lake Constance in the rustic Swiss village of Wienacht, Landegg International University was previously known as Landegg Academy, and it was used primarily as a conference center. [1]
In that role, Landegg was the venue of a number of significant meetings, including a series of "International Dialogues on the Transition to a Global Society." The first such Dialogue was held in September 1990 and included the participation of Federico Mayor, then UNESCO's Director- General; Karan Singh, a leading Indian author and diplomat; and Bertrand Schneider, then secretary-general of the Club of Rome. [1]
In addition to such high-level gatherings, Landegg was also host to a number of international programs, focusing on peace and world order studies for young people. [1]
The campus was acquired in 1982 and the properties were donated to a newly established Landegg International Foundation, operating under the aegis of the Bahá’í community of Switzerland, which undertook the renovation of its main buildings and established it as a conference center. [1]
In the mid-1990s, the Foundation decided that Landegg's role as a center of learning should become formalized, and Landegg's functions were transferred to an independent board, whose charter states that the university will be operated as an independent university, directed by an international governing board. Among the most important responsibilities of the board was to ensure the academic excellence and independence of the university. [1]
In September 1993, Landegg formally inaugurated a new program of graduate studies, offering Bachelors and Masters of Arts Degrees in several areas, including conflict resolution, psychology, hospitality management, sales and marketing management, education, and religion.[1]
On 20 September 1994, Landegg received an important new level of recognition, when it was formally registered by the cantonal and federal authorities as a private university in Switzerland. To achieve this status, the university had met the rigorous criteria set by the government at both the canton and federal levels. [1]
Legal Status of Landegg International University[edit]
Landegg International University was legally registered with the cantonal Ministry of Education of Canton Appenzell-Ausserrhoden (Registration No.CH-300.6.013.105-2), and the Federal Registry, (in accordance with Articles 44, par.2 and Article 21), following five requirements of the Federal Department of Justice: [2] (p79)
- The University must be an institution of higher education (tertiary), with clearly defined admissions requirements (i.e. high school diploma or its equivalent);
- The University must offer a multi-disciplinary program and have at least two departments;
- The University must be self-administered and managed;
- The University must be recognized by the government or at least collaborate with governmentally-recognized universities or polytechnical colleges;
- Apart from teaching activities, the University also must be engaged in research, as a basis for teaching.
Upon concluding that the University met these requirements, the Ministry of Education, Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden), in its letters of recommendation, dated 13 November 1998, and 10 May 2001, wrote: [2] (p80)
…Landegg’s professional and academic programs are properly established, and function according to all the laws and regulations that pertain to private universities in the Canton…. “The Ministry of Education (canton Appenzell AR) has been in contact with the above institution since its inception [and they have] kept us informed at various points of its aims and activities. According to our judgement, it is a respectable private educational institution in the area of tertiary education, with strongly developed international contacts, and is self-financing.”
Vision and Mission[edit]
During the period of its existence (1992 - 2003), the following vision and mission statements guided the development of Landegg International University:
A Universal Vision: The greatest challenge before humanity today is to create a civilization that is peaceful and just, united and diverse, prosperous and benevolent, technologically advanced and environmentally healthy, intellectually rich and ethically sound. The primary objective of the curriculum of Landegg International University is to assist students to make fundamental contributions to the creation of such a civilization. All programs at Landegg International University are formulated according to the parameters of the nobility of human nature, the unity of humankind, and the harmony of scientific and spiritual principles. Landegg International University is continually evaluating its curriculum in light of new research and experience in order to anticipate the needs and challenges of humanity in the emerging global world order, and to prepare its students to meet those needs and challenges with insight, dedication, and expertise. [2] (p6)
A Global Campus: Landegg International University has both a physical and virtual global campus. The physical campus, which overlooks Lake Constance in Switzerland, aims at bringing together students from every country and territory of the world. Landegg students have come from more than thirty countries. The virtual campus, employing the latest information technology and lifelong education principles, will gradually bring the university to every interested and eligible student, thus connecting a large and diverse number of people in a universal web of knowledge and learning. The objective is to make the virtual campus universally accessible, affordable, and relevant. [2] (p6)
A Service Mandate: The ultimate aim of all knowledge is the betterment of the condition of human life, the nurturing of the nobility of human beings, the safeguarding of the principle of unity in diversity, and the creation of a civilization based on the fundamentals of the oneness of humanity. Landegg International University, through the agency of its Education for Peace (EFP) program and other similar projects, involves the entire university community of students, faculty, parents, and friends of Landegg in a global program of community development and service in pursuit of the above objectives. [2] (p6)
Academic Programs[edit]
By 2003 most non-research Degree and Certificate programs had finished their tenure. The taught Degree and Certificate programs offered at the time the university closed were: [2] (p3)
- Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution
- Master of Arts or Certificate in Global Governance
- MA/MBA in International Leadership and Management
- Master of Arts or Certificate in International and Community Development
- Certificate in Advanced Psychological Studies
Faculty, Staff and Students[edit]
International faculty: Landegg International University’s courses were taught by an international faculty, holding appointments at recognized institutions, including Carleton College, Franklin & Marshall College, George Mason University, Lewis & Clark College, University of California (Los Angeles), and the University of Michigan, in the United States; Laval University, the Universities of Alberta, Toronto, Victoria and Winnipeg, in Canada; the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in China; the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Israel; the Universities of Melbourne and Tasmania, in Australia; the European University Centre for Peace Studies, in Austria; the London School of Economics, and Oxford University, in the UK. In addition, many faculty members had extensive experience with the United Nations, and with international development agencies, governments, and businesses. [2] (p79)
The faculty of Landegg was similarly global in its diversity. Of its more than 70 professors, many whom were affiliated with other colleges and universities around the world, only about 10 were on campus at a given time. Nevertheless, the ability to draw on well-respected academics from more than 20 countries contributed greatly to the internationalism of the educational process at Landegg. [1]
Although the Landegg campus was relatively small, with a capacity of approximately 100 full-time, on-campus students, its reach was global. At any given time, only about one third of the school's students were on campus. The rest studied from afar, using an array of distance-learning technologies but principally email and the World Wide Web. [1]
Statistics[edit]
One thousand one hundred sixteen Landegg students earned degrees or graduate certificates from Landegg International University. [3]
Governance[edit]
The following outlines the management structure of the university under the direction and guidance of Landegg’s Governing Board: [2] (p85)
Office of the President
- Office of Communications – Director
- Office of Publications – Managing Editor (Editorial Committee)
- Office of Development
Faculty of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies
- Office of Academic Affairs – Director
- Academic Council – Chair
- Office of Graduate Studies – Director
- Office of Undergraduate Studies – Director
- University Library – Librarian (Library Committee)
- Department of Social and Economic Development – Chair
- Department of Psychology and Education- Chair
- Department of Conflict Resolution – Chair
- Department of Global Governance - Chair
- Department of Leadership and Management - Chair
- Distance-Learning Services - Coordinator
- Youth Certificate Programs – Coordinator
- Instructional Technology
Division of Financial Affairs - CFO
- Office of Finance
- Student Account Services
- Special Conferences – Coordinator
Division of Human Resources – Manager (Personnel Committee)
- Office of Operations – Coordinator (House Committee)
- Office of Accommodations
- Health Education Services - Coordinator
- Safety Services – Coordinator (Safety Committee)
Division of Information Services (Information Services Committee)
- Information Systems – Manager
- Websites Services – Web Master
- Academic Database Services – Manager
Division of Admission and Registration
- Office of the Registrar
- Office of Admissions (Admissions and Financial Aid Committee) and (Student Recruitment Committee)
Special Projects[edit]
The former president of Landegg International University developed a new model of conflict resolution called 'conflict-free conflict resolution (CFCR). [1]
Based on the CFCR model, Landegg developed a subsidiary program, called "Education for Peace," which sought to help war-torn communities incorporate peace education into the standard public school curriculum. Education for Peace (EFP) was implemented across Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2000-2012, winning high praise from government and international officials. EFP trainings were also conducted in a number of other countries on a smaller scale. [1] [4] [5]
Collaborative Relationships: Landegg established collaborative, contractual and bilateral academic relationships with other academic institutions, including the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, USA, and with major corporations, including Sun Microsystems, and Macromedia. Landegg also has academic relationships with Beijing University in China, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Israel, and the State University of Sergipe in Brazil. [2] (p79) [1]
Alumni[edit]
Acceptance of former Landegg students by other universities: Distinguished universities, including American University, Catholic University, Harvard University, and Stanford University, in the USA; Leicester University, the London School of Economics, and Warwick University, in the UK; Dalhousie and Queens Universities, in Canada, and Jagiellonian University, in Poland, have accepted Landegg graduates and transferred their academic credits. [2] (p79)
Some reflections by several Landegg students were recorded in an article about Landegg International University in One Country: The Online Newsletter of the Baha’i International Community, Volume 13, Issue 2/ July – October 2001 available at http://www.onecountry.org/e132/e13201as_Landegg_story.htm.
Notable alumni include Dr. Mina Yazdani, Associate Professor of History at Eastern Kentucky University and author of numerous articles and publications on the Baha'i Faith and modern Iran.
Bahá’í Historical Note[edit]
In May 1997 Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum made her last trip outside the Holy Land when she came to visit Landegg in order to establish the Rabbani Chair for Bahá’í History. The events of this visit were recorded in the film Making History.
The Closing of the University[edit]
In the fall of 2003 the Governing Board of the University made the decision that because of the worstening financial condition of the University it would have to close the University at the end of 2003. The last formal convocation was held in December 2003. Every effort was made to transfer all undergraduate students who had not completed their degrees to other universities most with the credits they had already earned at Landegg. Graduate students who had completed all course lectures were assisted to complete written assignments and theses with the help of their professors via the Internet through the Registrar’s office which was transferred to Canada. Those with enough credits were awarded either their master‘s degree or their Graduate Certificate. The Governing Board arranged to have the complete academic records of the University preserved and that the registrar functions for transcript inquiries overseen into the future.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 In Switzerland, Landegg International University wins increasing attention. One Country: The Online Newsletter of the Baha’i International Community Vol 13, Issue2 / July – October 2001. Office of Public Information of the Baha’i International Community.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Landegg International University Academic Undergraduate and Graduate Calendar. Fall 2003. Office of the Registrar, Landegg International University, Wienacht/AR, Switzerland.
- ↑ Graduated Students List, Office of the Registrar, Landegg International University
- ↑ http://www.friedenspaedagogik.de/english/topics_of_the_institute_s_work/peace_education_projects/education_for_peace_bosnia_and_herzegovina
- ↑ http://www.efpinternational.org/faculty-2
External links[edit]