Dirk Craen : About Dr. Dirk Craen

Dr. Dirk Craen is the man who helped transform European University. He was immensely influential in helping the university grow from a small, unrecognized university in Belgium to a business school of global proportions. Under his able leadership, European University has become a respected, sought-after, international business school.
As of 2013, European University was ranked as the 34th best university in the European category by the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report. The same publication also ranked European University as the third best business school of Switzerland. Under Dr. Dirk Craen’s management, the university has also been recognized and accredited by various national and international organizations.

Beginnings and early life

Although he has made a name for himself in the Swiss education sector, Dr. Craen was born in Belgium where he spent his early years. His father worked in the import industry of coated abrasives and when Dr. Craen was old enough, he followed his father into the chemicals industry as a salesman.
After graduating college, Dr. Dirk Craen admits that he used to be rather brash and impatient, but always passionate and ambitious. He continued to work in sales until the opportunity to teach as an adjunct faculty member with European University was presented to him in 1977.

Dirk Craen and European University

Dr. Dirk Craen continued to teach at European University until 1985, when he set out to open the Montreux campus. There he acted as dean and professor, also playing an influential role in European University’s global expansion. In 1998 existing management was looking to leave EU and Dr. Craen decided to take on the challenge, becoming President of EU. He saw an opportunity to create a world-class institute for students seeking quality business education. With his strong work ethic and passion, the university rose in the ranks within a decade of Dr. Craen’s leadership. Today European University attracts international students by the hundreds.
Dr. Craen was one of the first educators to realize that global exposure was imperative to successful business studies and ensures European University students are given this opportunity through various collaborations with business schools around the world. In 2012, he was rewarded with the position of an honorary professor by the Rostov State University of Economics (RSUE).

Family life

In all his success and business, Dr. Craen admits to spending most of his free time with his family. It is also important to him that his family stays involved with European University. His three children, Carl, Luc and Ann work within the European University network, Carl and Luc mange the Barcelona and Swiss campuses respectively and Ann is the Head of Accounting for the network.