Primary Job Title President Primary Organization 
EU Business School
Location Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland Regions Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Gender Male
Website dirkcraen.com/ Facebook View on Facebook LinkedIn View on LinkedIn X (Twitter) View on X
Dirk Craen, President of European University, has seen the institution through many changes since he took over 15 years ago. What began as an idea to provide quality business education has now become a multicampus, triple-‐accredited, international business school.
Students from around the globe are attracted by its teachers, guest speakers,
and highly sought after courses and degree programs. European University programs are accredited by the ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs), IACBE (International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education) as well as CEEMAN (Central and East European Management Development Association).
Dirk Craen had been busy working as a salesman when he began teaching as an adjunct faculty member for European University in 1977. Dirk continued to work in sales, teaching on the side, with an ever-‐growing passion for education. In 1985 he moved into academia full time and opened the EU Montreux campus as professor and Dean.
The following decade brought about even more change when European University management was looking to sell the network in 1998. Dirk Craen took advantage of the opportunity and became president of EU that year. What followed was a clear and guided direction for EU, which would grow to include four main campuses in Europe and over 70 institutional partners around the globe.
Today the university has celebrated over 40 years in business education and in 2013-‐2014 was recognized as Europe’s 34th best business school according to the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report.
Dirk Craen was awarded the title of honorary professor by the Rostov State University of Economics (RSUE) in 2012 as well as the prestigious Order of the Crown in 2014.
Dirk Craen was born and raised in Belgium to a family that was already in the world of business. His father worked as a coated abrasives importer and as soon as he was able to work, he followed his father’s footsteps, entering the field as a salesman.
Although successful in the role, Dirk Craen was eager to enter education, providing business students insight into his experiences and wisdom.
