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.

Legal status

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:^[1] (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.

Vision and Mission

During the period of its existence (1992 to 2003), the following vision and mission statements guided the development of Landegg International University:

A Universal Vision: 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.^[1] (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.^[1] (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.^[1] (p6)

Academic programs

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:^[1] (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

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.^[1] (p79)

Statistics

One thousand one hundred sixteen Landegg students earned degrees or graduate certificates from Landegg International University.^[2]

Governance

The following outlines the management structure of the university under the direction and guidance of Landegg's Governing Board:^[1] (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

The former president of Landegg International University developed a new model of conflict resolution called 'conflict-free conflict resolution (CFCR).^[3] The theory of conflict-free conflict resolution indicates that the best way to overcome conflict is by seeking higher and higher levels of unity.^[3]

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.^[3][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.^[1] (p79)^[3]

Alumni

Acceptance of former Landegg students by other universities: Distinguished universities, including 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.^[1] (p79)

In 2001 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.^[3]

Bahá’í historical note

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.

Closure

In the fall of 2003 the governing board of the University took the very difficult decision that because of the worsening 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. 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

External links

• In Switzerland, Landegg International University wins increasing attention
• In Switzerland, Landegg International University passes an important milestone, winning a new level of recognition from the Gove