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{{Infobox university {{Infobox university
| name = Megatrend University | name = Megatrend University
| native_name = Универзитет Мегатренд<br>Univerzitet Megatrend | native_name = Универзитет Мегатренд<br />Univerzitet Megatrend
| native_name_lang = sr | native_name_lang = sr
| latin_name = | latin_name =
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| free = | free =
| affiliations = | affiliations =
| website = {{url|http://www.megatrend.edu.rs}} | website = {{URL|http://www.megatrend.edu.rs}}
}} }}
'''Megatrend University''' ({{lang-sr|Универзитет Мегатренд|Univerzitet Megatrend}}) is a private university located in New Belgrade, the city of ], Serbia. It was founded in 1989 as the '''Megatrend Business School''', which later became Megatrend University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.megatrend-edu.net/o_univerzitetu.php?bs%3Do_nama |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-11-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118025733/http://www.megatrend-edu.net/o_univerzitetu.php?bs=o_nama |archivedate=2012-11-18 }}</ref> In 2015, the Council of Megatrend University changed the name of the institution to '''University John Naisbitt'''. The name was changed back to Megatrend University in 2017. '''Megatrend University''' ({{lang-sr|Универзитет Мегатренд|Univerzitet Megatrend}}) is a private university located in New Belgrade, the city of ], Serbia. It was founded in 1989 as the '''Megatrend Business School''', which later became Megatrend University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.megatrend-edu.net/o_univerzitetu.php?bs%3Do_nama |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-11-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118025733/http://www.megatrend-edu.net/o_univerzitetu.php?bs=o_nama |archivedate=2012-11-18 }}</ref> In 2015, the Council of Megatrend University changed the name of the institution to '''University ]'''. The name was changed back to Megatrend University in 2017.


With around 3,500 enrolled students as of 2018–19 school year, it is the fourth largest private university in Serbia. The university has a negative reputation in Serbia for series of controversies and claims that its study programs offer "express acquisition of worthless diploma"; also there are numerous claims that its international universities network is nonexistent and that the list of its lecturers is false.<ref name="nyt13">{{cite news |last1=Brownell |first1=Ginnane |title=A Testing Time for Private Schools in Eastern Europe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/world/europe/a-testing-time-for-private-schools-in-eastern-europe.html |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=nytimes.com |date=13 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miletić |first1=Natalija |title=Megatrendovi Potemkinovi univerziteti |url=https://www.dw.com/sr/visoko-%C5%A1kolstvo-srbije-bez-moralnog-kompasa/a-18022721 |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=dw.com |date=13 June 2014 |language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miletić |first1=Natalija |title=Megatrendova perionica diploma |url=https://www.dw.com/sr/megatrendova-perionica-diploma/a-50558524 |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=dw.com |date=24 September 2019 |language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Santovac |first1=Adam |title=Stefanović studirao "na fakultetu bez profesora", Megatrend mu priznao diplomu |url=http://rs.n1info.com/Vesti/a547264/Dokumentarni-film-o-diplomi-Nebojse-Stefanovica-i-Megatrendu-Mega-diplomac.html |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=n1info.com |date=26 November 2019 |language=Serbian}}</ref> With around 3,500 enrolled students as of 2018–2019 school year, it is the fourth largest private university in Serbia. The university has a negative reputation in Serbia for series of controversies and claims that its study programs offer "express acquisition of worthless diploma"; also there are numerous claims that its international universities network is nonexistent and that the list of its lecturers is false.<ref name="nyt13">{{cite news |last1=Brownell |first1=Ginnane |title=A Testing Time for Private Schools in Eastern Europe |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/world/europe/a-testing-time-for-private-schools-in-eastern-europe.html |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=nytimes.com |date=13 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miletić |first1=Natalija |title=Megatrendovi Potemkinovi univerziteti |url=https://www.dw.com/sr/visoko-%C5%A1kolstvo-srbije-bez-moralnog-kompasa/a-18022721 |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=dw.com |date=13 June 2014 |language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miletić |first1=Natalija |title=Megatrendova perionica diploma |url=https://www.dw.com/sr/megatrendova-perionica-diploma/a-50558524 |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=dw.com |date=24 September 2019 |language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Santovac |first1=Adam |title=Stefanović studirao "na fakultetu bez profesora", Megatrend mu priznao diplomu |url=http://rs.n1info.com/Vesti/a547264/Dokumentarni-film-o-diplomi-Nebojse-Stefanovica-i-Megatrendu-Mega-diplomac.html |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=n1info.com |date=26 November 2019 |language=Serbian}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
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== Organization == == Organization ==
These are the 11 institutions in 6 cities: These are the 11 institutions in six cities:

{{col-begin}} {{col-begin}}
{{col-2}} {{col-2}}
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:*The Institute for New Technologies :*The Institute for New Technologies
:*Megatrend ] University :*Megatrend ] University
:*Faculty of ] ] :*Faculty of ]
{{col-2}} {{col-2}}
* ] * ]
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The university is said to have a relatively low reputation in the eyes of the Serbian public due to its allegedly dubious programs and low standards,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/world/europe/a-testing-time-for-private-schools-in-eastern-europe.html|title=A Testing Time for Private Schools in Eastern Europe|date=16 December 2013|work=The New York Times|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> as well as due to its perceived mutually beneficial connections with politicians and government officials who have been awarded Megatrend diplomas. Those connections supposedly ensured its accreditation, which helped the University to somewhat silence its critics who have been accusing it of being a ]. According to Megatrend's representatives, such criticism can not apply to a "University where the prime minister of Serbia had given four lectures in one year, and two ministers of education are employed at it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/Megatrenduse-sa-crvenog-univerziteta.lt.html|title="Мегатрендуше" са црвеног универзитета|first=Сандра|last=Гуцијан|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> In an opinion piece in '']'' about problems in Serbian higher education, Zorana Suvakovic described Megatrend as "essentially a degree mill where diplomas can be obtained for cash."<ref>"Serbia's degree mills: A recent scandal over plagiarism involving PhD theses of top politicians has exposed a collapsing education system." Zorana Suvakovic, Al Jazeera: 25 July 2014. </ref> The university is said to have a relatively low reputation in the eyes of the Serbian public due to its allegedly dubious programs and low standards,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/16/world/europe/a-testing-time-for-private-schools-in-eastern-europe.html|title=A Testing Time for Private Schools in Eastern Europe|date=16 December 2013|work=The New York Times|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> as well as due to its perceived mutually beneficial connections with politicians and government officials who have been awarded Megatrend diplomas. Those connections supposedly ensured its accreditation, which helped the University to somewhat silence its critics who have been accusing it of being a ]. According to Megatrend's representatives, such criticism can not apply to a "University where the prime minister of Serbia had given four lectures in one year, and two ministers of education are employed at it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/Megatrenduse-sa-crvenog-univerziteta.lt.html|title="Мегатрендуше" са црвеног универзитета|first=Сандра|last=Гуцијан|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> In an opinion piece in '']'' about problems in Serbian higher education, Zorana Suvakovic described Megatrend as "essentially a degree mill where diplomas can be obtained for cash."<ref>"Serbia's degree mills: A recent scandal over plagiarism involving PhD theses of top politicians has exposed a collapsing education system." Zorana Suvakovic, Al Jazeera: 25 July 2014. </ref>


Megatrend University has awarded an honorary doctorate to ], the former leader of ], in 2007.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118181423/http://www.megatrend-edu.net/vest_strana.php?v=542&language=1 |date=2012-01-18 }} megatrend-edu.net</ref> When asked to comment on this subject, the deputy minister of education, prof. ] said that "this is not a deed of which any University should be proud, but taking into account the quality of the university, it is not surprising that the doctorate was awarded to the dictator."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/drustvo/aktuelno.290.html:468882-Njujork-tajms-Megatrenduse-opste-prakse|title=Njujork tajms: "Megatrenduše" opšte prakse|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.24sata.rs/vesti/aktuelno/vest/njujork-tajms-o-privatnim-fakultetima-megatrenduse-studiraju-sve-od-medija-do-ekonomije/118106.phtml|title=Njujork Tajms o privatnim fakultetima|accessdate=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310112145/http://arhiva.24sata.rs/vesti/aktuelno/vest/njujork-tajms-o-privatnim-fakultetima-megatrenduse-studiraju-sve-od-medija-do-ekonomije/118106.phtml|archive-date=10 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Megatrend University awarded an honorary doctorate to ], the former leader of ], in 2007.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118181423/http://www.megatrend-edu.net/vest_strana.php?v=542&language=1 |date=2012-01-18 }} megatrend-edu.net</ref> When asked to comment on this subject, the deputy minister of education, prof. ] said that "this is not a deed of which any University should be proud, but taking into account the quality of the university, it is not surprising that the doctorate was awarded to the dictator."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/drustvo/aktuelno.290.html:468882-Njujork-tajms-Megatrenduse-opste-prakse|title=Njujork tajms: "Megatrenduše" opšte prakse|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.24sata.rs/vesti/aktuelno/vest/njujork-tajms-o-privatnim-fakultetima-megatrenduse-studiraju-sve-od-medija-do-ekonomije/118106.phtml|title=Njujork Tajms o privatnim fakultetima|accessdate=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310112145/http://arhiva.24sata.rs/vesti/aktuelno/vest/njujork-tajms-o-privatnim-fakultetima-megatrenduse-studiraju-sve-od-medija-do-ekonomije/118106.phtml|archive-date=10 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In 2010, the magazine '']'', commenting on the ], showed that the ] were employed at the Megatrend University as professors cathedra of cosmology, and that they used this to increase their credibility with the French public. The magazine commented that this was a mutually beneficial deal between rector Jovanović and the Bogdanoffs: the brothers gained the titles of professors; and Megatrend two foreign professors on the staff.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/Kako-je-Mica-rektor-postao-kosmolog.sr.html|title=Како је Мића ректор постао космолог|first=Ана|last=Оташевић|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> Alain Riazuelo, an astrophysicist at the '']'', has shown that Megatrend does not have cathedra of Cosmology, because the main focus of the University is on economics and management studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/une/des-scientifiques-refutent-leurs-theses-17-10-2010-1112320.php|title=Des scientifiques réfutent leurs thèses|date=7 December 2016|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> There is no trace of the Bogdanoffs' courses or lecturing scripts. Rector Jovanovic (owner of Megatrend) published their pseudoscientific book and wrote the foreword for it, which gave him a kind of prestige in the eyes of the general public in Serbia.<ref name="auto" /> In 2010, the magazine '']'', commenting on the ], showed that the ] were employed at the Megatrend University as professors cathedra of cosmology, and that they used this to increase their credibility with the French public. The magazine commented that this was a mutually beneficial deal between rector Jovanović and the Bogdanoffs: The brothers gained the titles of professors and Megatrend gained two foreign professors on the staff.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/Kako-je-Mica-rektor-postao-kosmolog.sr.html|title=Како је Мића ректор постао космолог|first=Ана|last=Оташевић|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> Alain Riazuelo, an astrophysicist at the '']'', showed that Megatrend does not have cathedra of Cosmology, because the main focus of the University is on economics and management studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/une/des-scientifiques-refutent-leurs-theses-17-10-2010-1112320.php|title=Des scientifiques réfutent leurs thèses|date=7 December 2016|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> There is no trace of the Bogdanoffs' courses or lecturing scripts. Rector Jovanovic (owner of Megatrend) published their pseudoscientific book and wrote the foreword for it, which gave him a kind of prestige in the eyes of the general public in Serbia.<ref name="auto" />


On June 1, 2014, a group of Serbian academics based in the UK published an article claiming that parts of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia ]'s doctoral dissertation were plagiarized.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://balkanist.net/getting-a-phd-in-serbia-has-never-been-easier-the-case-of-minister-of-internal-affairs-nebojsa-stefanovic/|title=Getting a PhD in Serbia has Never Been Easier: The Case of Minister of Internal Affairs Nebojša Stefanović – Balkanist|accessdate=7 December 2016|date=June 2014}}</ref> The controversy escalated further when other academics raised serious doubts as to whether Megatrend's rector and Stefanović's mentor ] was ever awarded a doctorate himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pescanik.net/rektor-mica-baron-minhauzen-ili-kako-je-ministrov-mentor-zagubio-doktorat/|title=Rektor Mića, Baron Minhauzen, ili kako je ministrov mentor zagubio doktorat|accessdate=7 December 2016|date=2014-06-07}}</ref><ref name="archive.org">{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/breaking-megatrend-rector-mica-jovanovic-does-not-have-london-phd-minister/ |title=Megatrend rector Mica Jovanovic does not have London PhD – Minister – InSerbia News |date=9 September 2014 |accessdate=7 December 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909182703/http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/breaking-megatrend-rector-mica-jovanovic-does-not-have-london-phd-minister/ |archivedate=9 September 2014 }}</ref> The original story in the Serbian media reported a statement by him that he had obtained his doctorate studying under the "famous professor Stephen Wood of the London School of Economics."<ref name="Notts">{{cite web|last1=Grusic|first1=Ugljesa|last2=Milanovic|first2=Marko|title=The fight for academic integrity in Serbia|url=http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/newsroom/2014/06/13/the-fight-for-academic-integrity-in-serbia/|website=University of Nottingham/Newsroom|publisher=University of Nottingham|accessdate=8 September 2016}}</ref> Wood confirmed that a dissertation had been submitted but that it had been rejected.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stefanović|first1=Nebojša|title=Serbia: A plagiarism case for satire|url=http://diepresse.com/home/politik/aussenpolitik/3818416/Serbien_Ein-Plagiatsfall-wird-zur-Realsatire|accessdate=8 September 2016|publisher=]|date=9 June 2014}}</ref> On June 1, 2014, a group of Serbian academics based in the UK published an article claiming that parts of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia ]'s doctoral dissertation were plagiarized.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://balkanist.net/getting-a-phd-in-serbia-has-never-been-easier-the-case-of-minister-of-internal-affairs-nebojsa-stefanovic/|title=Getting a PhD in Serbia has Never Been Easier: The Case of Minister of Internal Affairs Nebojša Stefanović – Balkanist|accessdate=7 December 2016|date=June 2014}}</ref> The controversy escalated further when other academics raised serious doubts as to whether Megatrend's rector and Stefanović's mentor ] was ever awarded a doctorate at all.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pescanik.net/rektor-mica-baron-minhauzen-ili-kako-je-ministrov-mentor-zagubio-doktorat/|title=Rektor Mića, Baron Minhauzen, ili kako je ministrov mentor zagubio doktorat|accessdate=7 December 2016|date=2014-06-07}}</ref><ref name="archive.org">{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/breaking-megatrend-rector-mica-jovanovic-does-not-have-london-phd-minister/ |title=Megatrend rector Mica Jovanovic does not have London PhD – Minister – InSerbia News |date=9 September 2014 |accessdate=7 December 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909182703/http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/breaking-megatrend-rector-mica-jovanovic-does-not-have-london-phd-minister/ |archivedate=9 September 2014 }}</ref> The original story in the Serbian media reported a statement by him that he had obtained his doctorate studying under the "famous professor Stephen Wood of the London School of Economics."<ref name="Notts">{{cite web|last1=Grusic|first1=Ugljesa|last2=Milanovic|first2=Marko|title=The fight for academic integrity in Serbia|url=http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/newsroom/2014/06/13/the-fight-for-academic-integrity-in-serbia/|website=University of Nottingham/Newsroom|publisher=University of Nottingham|accessdate=8 September 2016}}</ref> Wood confirmed that a dissertation had been submitted but that it had been rejected.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stefanović|first1=Nebojša|title=Serbia: A plagiarism case for satire|url=http://diepresse.com/home/politik/aussenpolitik/3818416/Serbien_Ein-Plagiatsfall-wird-zur-Realsatire|accessdate=8 September 2016|publisher=]|date=9 June 2014}}</ref>


On June 12, 2014, the Serbian Ministry of Education confirmed that Megatrend's rector had forged his PhD at LSE. In the wake of these findings the ministry called on rector Jovanović to resign.<ref name =Notts /><ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Matt|title=The minister, his mentor and the fight against a suspect system in Serbia|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-serbia-education-fraud-idUKKBN0EY1EV20140623|accessdate=8 September 2016|work=Reuters|date=23 June 2014}}</ref> It also called on relevant authorities to determine whether there were elements of criminal offense.<ref name="archive.org" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2014&mm=06&dd=12&nav_id=90654|title=Serbia heading toward opening three new chapters next week - - on B92.net|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> Jovanovic resigned the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/mica-jovanovic-resigns-over-fake-phd-claim/ |title=Mica Jovanovic resigns over fake PhD claim |accessdate=2014-09-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909091514/http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/mica-jovanovic-resigns-over-fake-phd-claim/ |archivedate=2014-09-09 }}</ref> More recently, he has been reported to have left Serbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alo.rs/vesti/aktuelno/mica-napustio-sam-sps-i-srbiju/67507|title=Mića: Napustio sam SPS i Srbiju!|accessdate=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214005109/http://www.alo.rs/vesti/aktuelno/mica-napustio-sam-sps-i-srbiju/67507|archive-date=14 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-novine.com/entertainment/entertainment-vesti/109102-Spona-Tadievih-prepona.html |title=e-novine.com |accessdate=7 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320160934/http://www.e-novine.com/entertainment/entertainment-vesti/109102-Spona-Tadievih-prepona.html |archivedate=20 March 2015 }}</ref> On June 12, 2014, the Serbian Ministry of Education confirmed that Megatrend's rector had forged his Ph.D. at LSE. In the wake of these findings the ministry called on rector Jovanović to resign.<ref name =Notts /><ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Matt|title=The minister, his mentor and the fight against a suspect system in Serbia|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-serbia-education-fraud-idUKKBN0EY1EV20140623|accessdate=8 September 2016|work=Reuters|date=23 June 2014}}</ref> It also called on relevant authorities to determine whether there were elements of criminal offense.<ref name="archive.org" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2014&mm=06&dd=12&nav_id=90654|title=Serbia heading toward opening three new chapters next week - - on B92.net|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref> Jovanovic resigned the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/mica-jovanovic-resigns-over-fake-phd-claim/ |title=Mica Jovanovic resigns over fake PhD claim |accessdate=2014-09-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909091514/http://inserbia.info/today/2014/06/mica-jovanovic-resigns-over-fake-phd-claim/ |archivedate=2014-09-09 }}</ref> More recently, he has been reported to have left Serbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alo.rs/vesti/aktuelno/mica-napustio-sam-sps-i-srbiju/67507|title=Mića: Napustio sam SPS i Srbiju!|accessdate=7 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214005109/http://www.alo.rs/vesti/aktuelno/mica-napustio-sam-sps-i-srbiju/67507|archive-date=14 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-novine.com/entertainment/entertainment-vesti/109102-Spona-Tadievih-prepona.html |title=e-novine.com |accessdate=7 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320160934/http://www.e-novine.com/entertainment/entertainment-vesti/109102-Spona-Tadievih-prepona.html |archivedate=20 March 2015 }}</ref>


== See also == == See also ==
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* {{official website|megatrend.edu.rs}} * {{official website|megatrend.edu.rs}}


{{Universities in Serbia}}
{{Serbian universities}}
{{Danube Rectors Conference}} {{Danube Rectors' Conference}}
{{List of educational institutions in Belgrade}} {{List of educational institutions in Belgrade}}



Revision as of 00:24, 9 January 2022

Megatrend University
Универзитет Мегатренд
Univerzitet Megatrend
Main building in New Belgrade
Former namesUniversity John Naisbitt (2015–17)
TypePrivate
Established1989; 35 years ago (1989)
RectorMića Jovanović
Academic staff186 (2018–19)
Students3,526 (2018–19)
Undergraduates3,210 (2018–19)
Postgraduates187 (2018–19)
Doctoral students129 (2018–19)
LocationBelgrade, Serbia
44°49′52.6″N 20°24′56.3″E / 44.831278°N 20.415639°E / 44.831278; 20.415639
CampusUrban
Websitewww.megatrend.edu.rs

Megatrend University (Template:Lang-sr) is a private university located in New Belgrade, the city of Belgrade, Serbia. It was founded in 1989 as the Megatrend Business School, which later became Megatrend University. In 2015, the Council of Megatrend University changed the name of the institution to University John Naisbitt. The name was changed back to Megatrend University in 2017.

With around 3,500 enrolled students as of 2018–2019 school year, it is the fourth largest private university in Serbia. The university has a negative reputation in Serbia for series of controversies and claims that its study programs offer "express acquisition of worthless diploma"; also there are numerous claims that its international universities network is nonexistent and that the list of its lecturers is false.

History

Belgrade's Megatrend Business School, which was established in 1989 was the predecessor of all institutions which comprise the present Megatrend University.

During 1991, Megatrend Business School, together with the Technical Faculty of Bor, introduced a management graduate studies introduction course. This project, which was the first one of this type in Southeast Europe, was financially supported by the European Union TEMPUS Fund which was specifically intended for the development of business education. Later the Faculty of Geo-economy was the first institute of its kind in the region.

In June 2000 the Serbian Ministry of Higher Education approved the formation of the Megatrend University of Applied Sciences in Belgrade. Similar agreements were made with Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli from Italy, with Berlin University of Applied Sciences from Germany, and later with Yanbian University of Science and Technology from China, Bournemouth University from the United Kingdom, Academy Eliteâ from Moscow, European School of Business, Rome, Italy and Faculty of Economics, Donetsk National University, Ukraine.

In 2008, Megatrend University claimed to have 26,000 enrolled students, making it by far the most popular private university in Serbia.

In 2011 Megatrend purchased the operations of the failed International University Vienna, creating Megatrend International University Vienna which did not achieve accreditation before insolvency in 2013.

Megatrend University is a member of the Euro-Asia Management Studies Association (EAMSA), which runs annual conferences in Europe and Asia to discuss economic and management issues as well as promoting research and publishing.

In 2015, the Council of Megatrend University changed the name of the institution to University John Naisbitt after controversies arose surrounding Megatrend University. The name was changed back to Megatrend University in 2017.

As of 2019, Megatrend University has 3,526 enrolled students which makes it the fourth largest private university in Serbia. In November 2019, Megatrend's founder and owner Mića Jovanović revealed that the university was sold, allegedly for 56.1 million euros to Dejan Đorđević, who leads the undisclosed German fund consortium, for which Jovanović said that he is not sure if it exists.

Organization

These are the 11 institutions in six cities:

  • Megatrend School of Agriculture
  • Faculty for Business Studies
  • Faculty of Management
  • Faculty of Management

Notable alumni

Controversies

The university is said to have a relatively low reputation in the eyes of the Serbian public due to its allegedly dubious programs and low standards, as well as due to its perceived mutually beneficial connections with politicians and government officials who have been awarded Megatrend diplomas. Those connections supposedly ensured its accreditation, which helped the University to somewhat silence its critics who have been accusing it of being a diploma mill. According to Megatrend's representatives, such criticism can not apply to a "University where the prime minister of Serbia had given four lectures in one year, and two ministers of education are employed at it." In an opinion piece in Al Jazeera about problems in Serbian higher education, Zorana Suvakovic described Megatrend as "essentially a degree mill where diplomas can be obtained for cash."

Megatrend University awarded an honorary doctorate to Muammar Gaddafi, the former leader of Libya, in 2007. When asked to comment on this subject, the deputy minister of education, prof. Srbijanka Turajlić said that "this is not a deed of which any University should be proud, but taking into account the quality of the university, it is not surprising that the doctorate was awarded to the dictator."

In 2010, the magazine Marianne, commenting on the Bogdanov affair, showed that the Bogdanoff brothers were employed at the Megatrend University as professors cathedra of cosmology, and that they used this to increase their credibility with the French public. The magazine commented that this was a mutually beneficial deal between rector Jovanović and the Bogdanoffs: The brothers gained the titles of professors and Megatrend gained two foreign professors on the staff. Alain Riazuelo, an astrophysicist at the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, showed that Megatrend does not have cathedra of Cosmology, because the main focus of the University is on economics and management studies. There is no trace of the Bogdanoffs' courses or lecturing scripts. Rector Jovanovic (owner of Megatrend) published their pseudoscientific book and wrote the foreword for it, which gave him a kind of prestige in the eyes of the general public in Serbia.

On June 1, 2014, a group of Serbian academics based in the UK published an article claiming that parts of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia Nebojša Stefanović's doctoral dissertation were plagiarized. The controversy escalated further when other academics raised serious doubts as to whether Megatrend's rector and Stefanović's mentor Mića Jovanović was ever awarded a doctorate at all. The original story in the Serbian media reported a statement by him that he had obtained his doctorate studying under the "famous professor Stephen Wood of the London School of Economics." Wood confirmed that a dissertation had been submitted but that it had been rejected.

On June 12, 2014, the Serbian Ministry of Education confirmed that Megatrend's rector had forged his Ph.D. at LSE. In the wake of these findings the ministry called on rector Jovanović to resign. It also called on relevant authorities to determine whether there were elements of criminal offense. Jovanovic resigned the following day. More recently, he has been reported to have left Serbia.

See also

References

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