Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations
The Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations is a for-profit, unaccredited school located in Geneva, Switzerland, that offers educational programs in international relations, diplomacy, and business. The school has been the subject of controversy in Swiss mainstream media following investigations into the quality of its services, amid a lack of federal accreditation.
History
GSD was established in 2003 by a former diplomat with the aim of offering training in diplomacy and international relations. It is located in Geneva's diplomatic quarter, close to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organisations.
Media investigations
A media investigation by the Geneva Observer revealed in 2022 that the Geneva School of Diplomacy was one of a dozen fake universities and diploma mills in Geneva characterized by "unrecognized diplomas, poor management and shady business practices." A second investigation also published in 2022, this one by Swissinfo, also casts a shadow over the reputation of the Geneva school. A third media investigation by the Radio Télévision Suisse found that GSD was among Swiss enterprises providing "expensive training courses not recognized by Swiss academic authorities."
Reputation
Chinese scholar Xiang Lanxin has called GSD a "wild chicken school", a Chinese-language expression used to refer to something that is not licensed.
Incorporation
GSD is incorporated as an S.A. (corporation) in Switzerland. GSD is not recognized as a university by Swissuniversities, the Swiss government's umbrella organization of universities and colleges in Switzerland.