ThoseHigher education
Geneva will remind you of Webster that she is not a university
The Geneva antenna of the Webster University (USA) had to abandon the term “university”. But compliance is not complete.
The Webster Geneva Campus in Bellevue.
Georges Cabrera
- The Geneva antenna of the Webster University had to change its name to abandon the term “University”.
- However, this appellation was not completely deleted.
- The Geneva Department of Public Instruction intends to recall its obligations to the private institution.
- Diplomas are issued by the American seat and the term university is there.
- The DIP wants to analyze the legality of this practice. A specialist sees it as a flaw, but the federal authority delivering accreditations to universities judges it in the nails.
The Geneva antenna of the Webster University based in Saint-Louis in Missouri (USA) continues to partially and abusive the term “University” (University). Since January 2023, in fact, a federal provision has conditions the name “University” and its translations to obtain accreditation from Swiss accreditation council.
This change in the law on the encouragement and coordination of high schools (Lehe) aims to strengthen the protection of the credibility and the image of the Swiss Hautes, while offering guarantees to students.
Accreditation imposes on institutions a process making it possible to regularly assess their teaching or their governance and to do research that feeds the teachings.
In October 2023, the “tribune of Geneva” informed that the Geneva Department of Public Education (DIP) had launched a criminal fine procedure Against the private institution located in Bellevue for its illicit use of the term university.
New appellation: Webster Geneva Campus
But the procedure did not give rise to sanctions. Because “after different exchanges, Webster did the steps to comply”, informs the DIP. Since February 2024, the Webster University Geneva has renamed Webster Geneva Campus. On site, panels and brands have been changed. On its website and social networks, the Geneva campus uses the new name.
Photo taken from the outside of the hall of the Les Berges du Rhône residence at the junction.
DR
However, compliance is not complete. For example, at 2-4, rue des Deux-Ponts at the junction, we find the Résidence les Berges du Rhône Webster University, according to the external brand of this student residence of the institution. In the hall, a television screen displays “Webster University Geneva”. There is still the mention on advertisements on Google, but also on the institution’s website.
On the website of the Webster Geneva Campus, it is said for example that it “is the only private university in all Geneva having received institutional accreditation”.
The text does not refer to Swiss accreditation, since the institution withdrew its request to obtain it from the Swiss accreditation council. However, she explains to be for the benefit of that granted by the Higher Learning Commission, an American body.
On this page, we read that “at the Webster Geneva Campus, American students can study in Switzerland while continuing to work to obtain their American diploma”.
Diploma issued in the USA, not in Geneva
Besides, we were able to see a master’s degree obtained by a student from the Webster Geneva Campus. This is not issued by the local antenna, but by the headquarters in Saint-Louis. It stipulates in large: “Webster University”, without any mention of the Geneva campus. According to our information, it was already the practice before the Geneva antenna changes its name.
Left at 7,454 km, the Missouri University Webster; 50 m on the right, Geneva Campus. A skillful way of respecting the prohibition to use the university appellation?
Georges Cabrera
Is it now legal? Does this go around the ban on using the term university? You should know that the diplomas issued by private institutions in Switzerland, which are not accredited according to Swiss law, are in principle not recognized for the continuation of studies in a Swiss high school. They also do not give access to regulated professions.
For the DIP, “edition of a title in the United States, to certify a course made in Geneva, in a branch of an entity located in the United States, is complicated to analyze. The work is underway. It is impossible at this stage to say if it is an offense. ”
But according to the Swiss accreditation council, Webster is in the nails: “that a private institution based in Switzerland collaborates with an establishment located abroad and delivers, in this context, diplomas does not constitute an offense with regard to Swiss law.”
“A fault”
According to Swissuniversitiesthe umbrella of the Hautes écoles, the diploma that we have seen is considered foreigner and must be examined according to the criteria applicable to countries of origin.
The University of Geneva informs that it recognizes foreign diplomas issued by the Webster University in the United States. And that she therefore admits students with such diplomas.
“There is a flaw there, because the objective of the law aimed at protecting the university appellation is bypassed,” said a connoisseur of the governance of universities who wishes to remain anonymous. For him, the question is whether foreign universities more prestigious than Webster will try to rush into it.
The Webster Geneva Campus did not answer our questions, despite our many emails, phones and SMS.
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