Former State Secretary of Greece Holds Bogus Online MBA

A former state secretary of Greece, who held two influential positions between 2007 and 2009, is also the holder of a bogus online MBA degree from an unaccredited US institution, a Channel 4 News investigation has found.

George Anastasopoulos held two state secretary positions (communications and industry) for Greece’s government, during which time he led multi-billion euro projects, including a recession plan designed to support SMEs.

It seems a little strange that a man who legitimately holds a PhD in engineering (as well as a master’s in applied and theoretical mechanics) from Northwestern University, would also cite an online MBA qualification from the unaccredited ‘Chadwick University’ on his online résumé, but this appears to be Anastasopoulos’ only grounding in business.

‘I knew that it was unaccredited’ Anastasopoulos says of Chadwick University

Indeed, in responding to the findings of Channel 4 News, Anastasopoulos said he was aware of Chadwick University’s status, or lack thereof, and was simply supplementing his graduate studies in taking its online MBA courses:

"When I took Chadwick courses through distance learning, I was already a graduate student at Northwestern University, USA. I knew that it was unaccredited but I wanted to enhance my knowledge on business issues.”

This was in 1990, but Chadwick University’s bogus reputation has gained a little currency since then and, in Texas, use of its degrees to gain employment is illegal, according to Channel 4 News. At one time, Chadwick University did hold a license from the State of Alabama as a private school, but this expired in 2007 when regulations were tightened. However, it was never recognized as a government-sanctioned university. It is believed to have ceased operations last year.

This is by no means the first educational intrigue to beset a political figure. A man once voted as Germany’s most popular politician, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, had to resign his position as defense minister in 2011 after confessing to plagiarism accusations that led the University of Bayreuth to revoke his PhD title. Two years later, the same thing happened to science and education minister, Annette Schavan, for a thesis submitted to the University of Düsseldorf as far back as 1980.