{{Short description|Educational institution in the UK}} {{distinguish|text=the Revans Institute (formerly the Revans Centre for Action Learning and Research) at Salford Business School, the Revans Academy at Alliance Manchester Business School}} {{update|date=October 2017}} '''Revans University''', also known as '''The University of Action Learning''' ('''UAL'''), is the unaccredited degree-awarding body for the UK-based International Management Centres Association (IMCA or IMC Association).<ref name="tes">{{cite web |url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6003546 |date=October 10, 2008 |title=Cyber university's credibility in question |publisher=Times Educational Supplement (London) |accessdate=February 1, 2014}}</ref> Revans University's registered address is in Port Vila, Vanuatu,<ref name="tes"/> though it has also been associated with Boulder, Colorado.<ref name="DETC" /> It has no physical campus and all its activities take place online.<ref name="tes"/><ref name="Robin 2020 b773">{{cite web | last=Robin | first=Myriam | title=For a doctor he is: Roots' newest director has unusual PhD | website=Australian Financial Review | date=3 Mar 2020 | url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/for-a-doctor-he-is-roots-newest-director-has-unusual-phd-20200303-p546ib | access-date=21 Nov 2023}}</ref><ref name="Edmonstone 2017 p. 174">{{cite book | last=Edmonstone | first=J. | title=Action Learning in Health, Social and Community Care: Principles, Practices and Resources | publisher=CRC Press | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-351-97090-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DkPEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA174 | access-date=21 Nov 2023 | page=174}}</ref> As of 2005, Revans University's partner organization IMCA was based in Buckingham, UK.<ref name="DETC" /> IMCA provides accreditation of the Action Learning program of Gaia University and possibly others. (See Accreditation below).
==Foundation== According to Revans University and IMCA's jointly-issued literature from 2004, IMCA founded Revans University in 1999 after IMCA's own degree programmes were about to be made illegal by the Education Reform Act 1988;<ref name="IMCA_2004">{{cite web| url=http://www.g-a-r-c.org/history/archives/history_salford_may_23rd_2003.pdf| title=Action Learning Around the World 1964-2004| publisher=International Management Centres Association with Revans University - The University of Action Learning| year=2004| accessdate=February 6, 2014}}</ref> IMCA made unsuccessful approaches to UK's Council for National Academic Awards and several universities in the UK and Australia before deciding to found Revans University in the US under IMCA's own sponsorship.<ref name="IMCA_2004" />
==Methods of study== Revans University and ICMA are proponents of action learning, pioneered by Reg Revans.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
Rather than requiring a traditional thesis, Revans University and IMCA award doctoral degrees on the basis of an "explication" – a short, 10,000-word document describing a candidate's professional experience and original contributions to knowledge.<ref name="tes" />
==Accreditation== Prior to 2005, Revans University and IMCA were accredited by the US Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), but this accreditation was removed by DETC in 2005.<ref name="tes"/><ref name="DETC">{{cite journal| journal=DETC News |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612214226/http://detc.org/publications/DETCNews/DETC%20News%20-%20Spring%202005.pdf |url=http://www.detc.org/publications/DETCNews/DETC%20News%20-%20Spring%202005.pdf |url-status=dead |title=Report from the Accrediting Commission |page=26 |archivedate=June 12, 2010 |accessdate=February 2, 2014 |location=Washington, DC |date=Spring 2005}}</ref> Neither Revans University nor IMCA is recognised as a UK degree-awarding body or course provider.<ref name="tes"/> As of 22 May 2021, neither Revans University nor IMCA have regained certification by DETC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DETC|title=Directory of Accredited Institutions|url=https://www.deac.org/Student-Center/Directory-Of-Accredited-Institutions.aspx |publisher=DETC |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>
According to ''The Times Educational Supplement'', British universities are not accepting qualifications accredited by Revans University;<ref name="Milne1">{{cite news| url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6003545|title=Teachers' wasted study on popular emotional literacy course|newspaper=Times Educational Supplement |location=London |date=October 10, 2008|accessdate=February 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Milne2">{{cite web|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6003528|date=October 12, 2008|accessdate=February 2, 2014|publisher=Times Educational Supplement (London)|title=Emotional literacy course proves 'worthless'}}</ref> this has led to complaints from former students.<ref name="Milne1" /><ref name="Milne2" />
Gaia University states that its degree programmes are accredited through "International Management Centres(IMC) of the UK and New Zealand".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gaia University |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://gaiauniversity.org/faqs/#1517816098268-7cb52b1c-697f |publisher=Gaia U International |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>
Gaia University States in it Living Mandala website: "IMC, through its wholly owned Revans University, is authorized by the Education Reform Act of 1988 and its amendments to grant degrees in the UK."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gaia University Bachelor of Science Degree Program|title=Living Mandala |url=http://www.livingmandala.com/Living_Mandala/Gaia_University_Bachlors_of_Science_Degree_Program.html |publisher=Gaia U International |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>
== Notable alumni ==
* Merilyn Tahi - women's rights activist * Paul McKenna - British hypnotist
==See also== * Reg Revans * Action learning * Unaccredited institutions of higher education
==References == <references/> {{refbegin}} * {{cite news | url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/12/05/bus15.html | location=Colombo, Sri Lanka|title=Action learning MSc for professionals | newspaper=Sunday Observer | date=December 5, 2004 | access-date=February 4, 2014}} {{refend}}
Category:Universities and colleges in Oceania Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning Category:Unrecognized accreditation associations