ANOTHER phantom university is doing the higher ed rounds. The Australian International University, with its catchy slogan, "More Better Education" is at Alice Springs, according to its spoof website. Its bumph says the profit-driven university is a "business-oriented, customer-focused tertiary institution" where teaching is only ever referred to as the "T-word". Various mottos include "Non Compos Mentis" for the business faculty. For more corporate inspiration and a great laugh go to www.aiu.name.

While The Guardian's Matthew Taylor and Polly Curtis report it this way:

The Australian International University website - www.aiu.name  - was launched last week, boasting a revolutionary system with no need for staff and no one allowed to mention teaching, referred to as "the t-word". It is based in Alice Springs, described as a "bustling international metropolis" and was established in 2005 as a "200-year-old institution". It warns: "We would like to point out that this site is not to be taken seriously. If you haven't realised that, you are probably (a) completely stupid (b) totally gullible (c) a non-native English speaker (d) a manager at another Australian university (e) all the above, or (f) one of our AIU business graduates."

The media release put out by the perpetrators on April 26 says:

(I-Newswire) - Alice Springs, Australia 26th July 2005 – The new Australian International University ( AIU ) opened for business today in central Australia. The AIU is a business-oriented, customer-focused tertiary institution. The Australian International University is the first of its kind: a university that puts its clients ahead of everything else.

 

The AIU’s new approach to tertiary education will de-emphasise non-commercial skill acquisition. Instead, its graduates will be equipped with a full set of marketable business skills in marketing and business. Time is a valuable commodity these days, and no student wants to waste their time learning non-income generating concepts such as useless historical or theoretical information. Modern tertiary education consumers demand a highly targeted and efficient model of pragmatic information transfer that will empower them to become the business dynamos of tomorrow.

 

The Australian International University offers all of its students a guaranteed passport into the world of the future.

But  here's the rub -- http://www.aiuni.org/ Australian International University Pty Ltd (ABN 48 061 101 488). Australian International University  (Non-profit virtual university registered in the State of California, USA, No.2672853). [As of  Noon on 050808  http://www.aiuni.org/ was not accessible.]

So far TFW has not determined if the Minister for Education, Science and Training is a patron of one or the other or both or neither of the virtual universities.

[Note added 050808] According to an article by Sophie Morris in the August 8 Australian Financial Review the president of the Australian International University registered in California is Ali Jaafari who retired from The University of Sydney last year where he was professor of Civil Engineering. He currently enjoys the title of Honorary Professor at Sydney University. By registering his "virtual university" in California where there are no restrictions on calling an entity a university Jaafari avoided those currently in place in Australia.

He told Ms Morris, "There is no intention to convey that the Australian International University is an Australian university."

Ms Morris also reports that Jaafari "has also set up an Australia-based website for the 'Asia Pacific International College' and applied to the NSW Education Department on Friday for accreditation of its postgraduate courses in project management, which he plans to on-sell to the AIU.

    "Despite the fact that education authorities are yet to consider whether the courses meet the required standards, the website of the AIU was last week promoting its courses as 'conforming fully to the Australian Qualifications Framework'.

    "Professor Jaafari removed this reference after an inquiry from The Australian Financial Review" telling Ms Morris that it was never meant to suggest students could attain a recognised Australian qualification.