Registration, Recognition & Professional Memberships
 

(UPDATED JANUARY 2008)
 

Calamus Extension College Ltd.

Calamus Extension College Ltd. is a registered learning provider with the UK Register of Learning Providers (see www.ukrlp.co.uk ) - registration number 10001088. The UKRLP is a learning portal set up by the UK government's Department for Education and Skills, in association with the National Learning Directory.  The UKRLP does not itself evaluate the quality of courses.

Calamus Extension College degree programmes are validated by Calamus International University (see below).

Various specific courses offered via Calamus Extension College Ltd. are recognised as  Approved by The Counselling Society, a UK body for professional counsellors and psychotherapists which is open to international members.  Approval is on a points system depending on the courses taken. For further information see the Society's website on www.counsellingsociety.com and also our information page on this link.

Calamus International University

Calamus International University, unlike many other unconventional institutions, confines itself to scrupulously honest statements about issues of accreditation or recognition. Being legally registered and/or licensed outside the UK does not comprise accreditation or recognition by the British government.

Important Statement on Accreditation

Calamus International University is not a UK university & therefore does not have UK accreditation or recognition by the Department of Education and Skills. CIU is not a US university and so cannot come within the official US regional accreditation system. CIU is not an EU or Australian university. CIU is an international private distance-learning university.  There is no government-approved accreditation system for such universities.

Calamus International University degrees are not designed to meet any particular statutory occupational licensing or other requirements of any single state or country, and it is the prospective student’s responsibility to ensure that the degree sought meets all desired requirements in terms of acceptance by local employers, educational institutions, professional bodies and for the purpose of local vocational or employment licensing laws. Prospective applicants are directed to carry out local enquiries in their own country concerning such matters by contacting whichever local bodies the applicant deems relevant to his or her purpose. Calamus International University cannot undertake to do so on the applicant’s behalf. Calamus International University students tend to value individuality, flexibility, love of lifelong learning and a holistic approach more than the restrictive conventions of traditional higher education. Most students are professionally qualified, or will already be pursuing routes to professional credentials, and will be interested in a distance learning degree primarily to acquire an academic qualification.

Calamus International University was founded
in the British West Indies in 2001

The University’s corporate location in the British West Indies was established in 2001 through becoming licensed as Calamus International University Ltd, enabling the institution to accept students from all continents.  The University was given a certificate of registration from the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies.  However, further developments have taken place and, having become registered in two other countries (see below), Calamus International University will no longer have its corporate presence in the Turks and Caicos after December, 2007.

Registration of CIU in the Republic of Vanuatu
from September 2007

flag of Vanuatu - image courtesy of www.3dflags.com

In September 2007, Calamus International University became registered in the Republic of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, under the International Companies Act No. 32 of 1992, Republic of Vanuatu. To honour the original foundation of CIU in the West Indies in 2001, the university company registered in Vanuatu was given the name of Calamus International University (British West Indies) Ltd.  The company is limited by Guarantee and its registration number is 34088.  

The address of CIU in the Republic of Vanuatu is:  Calamus International University (British West Indies) Ltd., PO Box 1487, Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu. (Please note that all routine correspondence, including all student and academic matters, should be sent to our International Office at Calamus Extension College Ltd., LONDON, United Kingdom.  This applies to enquiries from ALL COUNTRIES.) 

In the Republic of Vanuatu, no government approval or accreditation is necessary in order for a private university company to award its own degrees. A similar situation exists in various other countries, including Denmark and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

From Wikipedia: In 1906, the United Kingdom and France officially claimed [Vanuatu], jointly managing it through a British-French Condominium as the New Hebrides. An independence movement was established in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was created in 1980.

Click here for full Wikipedia entry on Vanuatu

Additional Registration and Licensing in Australasia

In September 2007 Calamus International University also became registered in the Hutt River Province Principality, Australasia, as Calamus International University Ltd. (Company no. 1225). This registration was an essential part of receiving a University Licence from Hutt River Province Principality, which was also granted to CIU in September 2007. The Licence permits the University to grant academic qualifications and degrees.

The Hutt River Principality, formerly Hutt River Province, has been a self-proclaimed independent sovereign state in Western Australia since 1970 - a state which is older than various other, more well-known independent nations and territories.  Although the Australian government does not officially recognise HRP as a separate state, it has avoided legal challenges with HRP. The Principality has, over the years, enacted its own laws and since 2004, allows company registrations, providing licences for various activities including higher education.  HRP is a firm supporter of independent distance learning initiatives.  A number of international distance learning universities has chosen to register in the Principality.

Further information about Hutt River, including university licensing, can be found on the official Registrar's website which is at www.huttriverprovince.biz 

Also see http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/ 

and the Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutt_River_Province_Principality

To avoid misunderstanding, please note that CIU is not regarded as an Australian university, because it has no authority from the government of Australia.  Therefore we point out that it is registered in Australasia, not Australia.

Australian residents who are considering our courses are welcome to ask us for advice, since CIU is also registered in the Republic of Vanuatu. For Australian graduates we can provide, on request, a document explaining that the degree is a Vanuatu award conferred by the Vanuatu legal entity, Calamus International University (British West Indies) – see above.

The address of CIU in Hutt River is:  Calamus International University Ltd., Government Buildings, Nairn, Hutt River Province Principality, Australasia.  (Please note that all routine correspondence, including all student and academic matters, should be sent to our International Office at Calamus Extension College Ltd., LONDON, United Kingdom.  This includes any enquiries from Australia.)

Professional Bodies and Societies

Through Calamus Extension College Ltd., the University offers access to membership of certain UK professional bodies for students/alumni who have taken appropriate courses. Counselling-related study is approved by The Counselling Society towards membership requirements. Management-related degree courses are approved by The Institute of Management Specialists and certain other UK and Irish management bodies. CIU degrees in South African History are approved by the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society. (These approvals are not degree accreditations.)

CIU is an international member of the National Association for Multicultural Education (USA), advocates for educational equality and social justice, founded in 1990. 
( www.nameorg.org )

Other Memberships

Calamus International University is a member of:

• The Holistic Education Network (Toronto, Canada)

• The Adult Higher Education Alliance (USA)

• The Vocal Coach Association  (UK)

• The World Interfaith Congress

• The European Commerce Association

The society and organisational memberships on this page reflect CIU’s ongoing participation in, and support of, the communities of non-traditional educators and international commerce, and are not intended to imply accreditation or recognition.

Routes to Professional Accreditation for Counsellors, Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists

Calamus International University, through Calamus Extension College Ltd., can assist students and graduates to apply for memberships of certain professional societies with whom we have arrangements.  Further details, which may change from time to time, will appear on the Calamus website and/or in brochures concerning specific CIU degree programmes.  In particular, we can advise students of counselling, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy in the UK and other suitable jurisdictions on acquiring professional and/or accredited status in their fields from reputable bodies suitable for private practice in conjunction with Calamus qualifications.

Authentication/legalisation of CIU degree certificates
and transcripts by Apostille

You can now apply for an Apostille for your CIU degree or transcript. The Apostille is not a form of accreditation, but it helps to establish that you have a genuine degree. 

The Apostille is an official government seal which, when affixed to a document, automatically renders it legal in any country which is a signatory of the Hague Convention (1961).  Some countries that did not sign the Convention will also respect the Apostille, though additional attestation might be necessary in some cases.

We can recommend a reliable agent who can apply for an Apostille for your degree after authenticating it via a Notary Public, Solicitor (lawyer) or person of similar standing. This process will be carried out in a separate country (not the UK).  Details of the agent are available to CIU graduates (please quote your student ID number with all enquiries).

European Educational Databases

Calamus Extension College courses that lead to Calamus International University degrees may be listed in some UK (and some European) post-secondary education databases alongside the degrees of traditional universities. These databases are government-sponsored and are part of a Europe-wide initiative to promote lifelong learning. Though these database entries do not imply official approval or recognition, and private as well as public education providers can participate, Calamus is proud to be part of this initiative to promote UK-based adult and distance education.

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This page last updated January 2008.  All information is subject to change at any time.