This is to inform everyone who is looking to study at Thierry Graduate School of Leadership at http://www.thierryschool.net/ or http://www.thierryschool.eu/ or http://www.thierryschool.org/ (founded by Jean-Pierre Bal), based in Brussels, that this is an unaccredited school which is very close to being a proper diploma mill.

Only in the past 2 weeks have students been able to reveal the fact that the school never had been accredited. Mr Bal kept this fact secret for about 10 years, and every student who questioned this fact was dismissed for "gross misconduct". He came up with several bodies that are supposed to accredit the school but it's all made up.

The latest proof about this fact has been provided by the Informatie Beheer Groep, The Netherlands (let me know if you want to see the letter) and the school ist also listed on the OSAC website (http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx).

Despite having offered PhD degrees and Masters degrees, he does not have a PhD himself, only an MBA from many years ago. There is no library, no active faculty member apart from himself but an extensive, ever-changing website with lots of dubious information on it.

As of last week, he changed the school's set up completely because he cannot provide Masters and PhD degrees anymore. For existing students, these programs have simply been amended and are "Post Graduate Diplomas" at "Masters or PhD LEVEL" now. Students who paid for the original MA and PhD degrees will only receive part of their money back. And no degree just a diploma.

His way to operate an educational institution has caused considerable damage to many students. If you have any more information on this school or want to share experiences, please let me know!

turtelina

Résumé de constat. Par voie d’huissier de justice, avons en ce jour du 04 Mai 2009, 12:47 UTC+1, fait enregistrer la présence, le contenu, et le media et lieu de publication (http://online.degree.net) en rapport à l’intention de dépôt de plainte, par cinq plaignants, contre X utilisant le nom d’écran "Turtelina", et poursuites judiciaires résultantes contre X ayant tenu propos publics, par le canal de l’internet, et qualifiés de diffamatoires et calomnieux à l’égard des plaignants; X ayant également publié des informations erronées, incomplètes ou fausses; le tout causant préjudice et dommages considérables aux plaignants. Dont acte sur le lieu de ladite publication, par le présent résumé de constat, par lequel le propriétaire ou exploitant du media et du lieu de publication également se voir ainsi informé, par voie électronique.

Summary of record (translation from French). By means of a process server bailiff, on this day 04 May 2009, 12:47 UTC+1, have made a record of the presence, the content, and the media and location of publication (http://online.degree.net), in relation to the intention of lodging a complaint, by five plaintiffs, against unknown person using screen name “Turtelina”, and legal proceedings resulting against unknown person having publicly expressed libellous and slanderous remarks to the address of the plaintiffs, by means of the internet; and unknown person having also published erroneous, incomplete, or false information; the whole causing considerable prejudice and damages to the plaintiffs. Herewith acted, on the location of the said publication, by this summary of record, by which the owner or operator of the media and site of publication also be informed in this way, by electronic means.

p-s_bailiff

I love threats designed to intimidate. Be careful or I'll sic Gollin on you. George, if you read this, why don't you and your G-Men friends research Thierry School?

I'm aware of the difference between lack of accreditation and diploma mill, but thanks anyway. The problem is, that Thierry School, apart from not being accredited anywhere in the world, shows the following signs of a diploma mill:

- worldwide lack of accreditation despite repeated claims of accreditation
- any reference to the original accreditation body "Brexgata" (http://www.brexgata.org/home.htm) has been deleted from the schools website since it was added to the OSAC list in April; the address of Brexgata was the same as Thierry's. Brexgata still mentions that it is compliant with UNESCO and OECD norms and guidelines (http://www.brexgata.org/coalescence.htm)
- no active faculty member I know of. The only person you are currently coached by, or can get in touch with, is the executive director. He does not hold a PhD despite having coached PhD candidates. All other 'faculty' on the website have their 'PhD's' from Thierry or are at this moment enrolled in the program of this school.
- past 'PhD' defenses happened all without external faculty members
- fee structure per degree as opposed to per course taken (http://www.thierryschool.org/PhD_leadership_tuition.htm)
- no library
- no published research by members of the school or the executive director
- exchange of student's work such as 'PhD thesis' or "MA' thesis is strongly discouraged; work of previous students cannot be looked at by other students
- website changes happen on a daily basis, with new 'degrees' and 'diplomas' popping up.

That's why I wrote Thierry is 'nearly' a diploma mill.