Botswana Gazette - The Northern Ireland Institute of Business and Technology

There’s a story in the Botswana Gazette this week headlined “BAC’s ‘Dr Fake’ wants to silence The Botswana Gazette” that includes references to comments I’ve made in the past regarding the so-called “Northern Ireland institute of Business and Technology British”.

I can obviously make no comments about the person who is threatening action against the Gazette other than he claims to have obtained a qualification from that establishment. I don’t know him or anything about him.

However, I do know this. The “Northern Ireland institute of Business and Technology British” is a ridiculous, insane, bogus educational establishment.

Accreditation

The most important aspect of the NIIBT, in fact the most important aspect of any educational establishment, is their accreditation. NIIBT claim to be accredited by an organisation called the “International Accreditation and Recognition Council” (IARC) but this is not a recognized accreditation body.

They also claim to be a “member” of Open Education Europa, but this isn’t a recognized accreditation body either.

Finally they claim to be an “Associate Member” of the Asian Association of Open Universities but again that’s not an accreditation body.

So no actual accreditation.

Place of business

Then there's the title of the organisation. They’re not British. Not even slightly. Despite implying on their web site that they are a registered UK company (Company number: 1452174), I can find no trace of such a company registered in the UK.

They offer an address, 20 Adelaide St, Belfast, Northern Ireland but that’s nothing more than a virtual office address which you can rent. They’re not actually based there. In fact there are records of many other companies being based at that address.

So they’re not British at all.

In a footer on their web site they say that they are "registered with the Government of British Virgin Islands". That may or not be true because there's no way to search online for BVI companies. But it's further evidence that they're not really "British" and they have nothing whatsoever to do with Northern Ireland.

Their faculty

Any reputable educational establishment will proudly list their staff and their accomplishments. Not NIIBT.

Their "President cum Chairman of Board of Examiners", "Dr. R. Hempfing (Lawyer)., BA(Law)., MBA., PhD., Mgt.FNIIBT British" doesn't appear to exist. He has a photo but other than that I can find no trace of him or his accomplishments.

The same applies to their "Director General", "Prof. Dr. E.C. Now". Again no actual evidence that he exists.

It's the same with their "Advisory Council". They don't seem to exist either.

So what about all their academic staff, the professors, lecturers and researchers?

They don't seem to have any. If they exist, they're secret.

Reputation

What reputation? They don't have one.

Why not?

Their conduct

They're completely bonkers.

In the past, when I've had the nerve to criticism their reactions have been "strange" to say the least.

They called me "Internet Terrorist Richard Harriman" and accused me of "an ill intention to tarnish the reputation of the institute". They then said they had been forced "to lodge an Interpol police report against you of your wrong doing" and best of all there was this unhinged series of comments:

"Action will be taken against internet terrorist of foul international law."

"FBI and Interpol are alerted on Internet Terrorists: Actions will be taken against internet terrorists soon who foul the international law."

"YOU HAVE REALLY GONE OVER BOARD RETRACT ALL YOUR FALSE CLAIMS OR FACE THE MUSIC."

"FBI is watching your uncorrectable behavior. You better watch out!!!"

"To avoid unforeseen serious consequence will come after you"

"Mr. Richard Lim, Senior Manager for International Affairs is alerted on your remark [...] He will use it as evidence to sue you for slander and defamation. You will have to pay for a high price of your silly actions."

"This is my advice to you. DO NOT LABEL US AS FAKE. LUNATIC, SCAM ETC. YOU HAVE REALLY GONE OVER BOARD RETRACT ALL YOUR FALSE CLAIMS OR FACE THE MUSIC."

Their final email to me included this threat:

"Our claim for damage on slandering and defaming on Northern Ireland Institute of Business and Technology (British) and its agent is going to be USD6 millions. You are urged to treat this matter as serious and removing all slanderous and defamation articles on NIIBT, unlawfully using the NIIBT logo, unlawfully interference of the internal affairs of NIIBT and its agent in your blogs, etc from the internet and wikipedia instantly."

Of course no such legal action ever occurred because nothing I said was incorrect, malicious or not in the public interest. My $6 million is safe (mainly because I don't have it).

The conclusion

This is a bogus establishment that sells bogus qualifications.