Shaping Minds for the 21st Century
Renowned Faculty with Strong Professional Background
Central to the success of our students is decades of leadership and industrial knowledge that our faculty brings to the classroom. UBI's programmes are based on the inputs of academics, professionals and industry experts who are dedicated to bringing the best of out of our graduates.
UBI EDUCATION PRINCIPLES
United Business Institutes (UBI) was established on 4th April 1992, as a not-for-profit establishment of higher education, by Mr. Lucien van Dievoet and Mr. Francois d’Anethan who together decided to work on starting an English-language Business School that develop graduates competent in management as a discipline while at the same time possessing the necessary abilities to navigate in a professional environment that is constantly changing.
The applicable frameworks for education activities at UBI are the Flemish Qualifications Framework and the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area; within them, the EQUAL guidelines for business education.
Within these frameworks, the teaching in UBI’s programmes is based on student-centred learning guided by educators, tutors, and mentors to understand, practise, reflect and apply both subject-specific knowledge and transferable skills. The aim is to create a virtuous cycle of action-feedback-analysis-action for participants in the programmes.
Situated in Brussels, UBI offers the opportunity to study in English in a non-English speaking country and allows students to benefit from an international, intercultural and dynamic environment. This successful recipe was extended to opening new campuses. UBI – Luxembourg was opened in 2013 to operate a campus in Wiltz, Luxembourg. UBI – China was opened in 2018 in Shanghai (China).
Development of critical thinking
UBI teaching activities aim at developing in students informed opinions to make business decisions based on evidence, on conceptual tools, and following a systematic approach to deal with managerial challenges.
In so doing, students will refine their problem-solving ability and become more confident in dealing with complex and unpredictable events. As part of this, we also encourage lateral and forward-thinking, a key skill in a business setting.
Encouragement of independent learning
We promote the development of the individual (both personal and professional). Students are expected to take ownership and control of their learning process to learn by their own actions, as well as direct, regulate, and assess their own learning.
The main objective is to provide students with opportunities to explore their interests more deeply and make important decisions about how and where they will direct their talents in the future.
Promotion of collaborative learning
We create opportunities for collaborative learning, such as peer learning or peer instruction where students working in pairs/small groups discuss concepts and/or find solutions to problems, address misunderstandings and clarify misconceptions. Collaborative learning at UBI supports the development of higher-level thinking, communication, self-management and leadership skills, as well as preparation for social life and employment situations.
Provision of professional and academic guidance
UBI educates with a professional orientation grounded in academic management concepts. Students are trained to relate these concepts to the business environment and are expected to be familiar with reputable business media, relevant journals, market/company reports, blogs, weblinks, etc.
In this context, we provide students with the opportunity to learn how to improve their skills and talents to continue doing this in lifelong learning cycles.
Demonstration of achievements
As a critical element in UBI’s education activities, the demonstration of achievements is expected to assess a critical understanding of management/business as a result of a combination of personal experience, relevant literature, motivation and guidance that leads to an improvement of practice.
Middlesex University London
UBI and the University of Middlesex signed a Memorandum of Co-operation on the delivery of the Programme. Middlesex University validates UBI's academic programmes and oversees their quality assurance. For more information on the quality assurance process, students should refer to the section of their programme handbook on quality assurance.
Although students enrol at and attend the United Business Institutes Bachelor in Business Studies or Master of Business Administration programme, it is validated by Middlesex University and therefore they are students of both institutions. At Middlesex University, the programme is part of the Middlesex University Business School.
Being a Middlesex student on this validated collaborative programme means that when students successfully complete the programme, they receive the Bachelor in Business Studies or/and Master of Business Administration degree qualification from Middlesex University, London (UK). Students may attend the appropriate Middlesex University graduation ceremony.