Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam

The Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam (IUASR; Islamitische Universiteit Rotterdam) is a vocational university founded in 1997. It is a member of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World. The Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam received her first accreditation in 2010 for her master's degree programme Islamic Spiritual Care (Chaplaincy) and in 2013 for Bachelor program Islamic Theology; both degree programmes are accredited by the  NVAO (the official accreditation organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders). According to a news article from 2010 the university has close religious ties with the Turkish Nurcu movement. The IUASR offers accredited Bachelors and master's degrees and is called Islamic University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam.

Location
From 2003 the university is located in the North of Rotterdam, in a characteristic stately building on the Bergsingel 135. The building previously belonged to Zadkine MLO and provided practical science education and was known as van 't Hof Instituut.

Education
The IUASR has been accredited as an institute of Higher Education. In June 2010 the Master's degree programme Islamic Spiritual Care (2 years) was accredited at University of Applied Sciences level, in March 2013 accreditation was given to the Bachelor programme Islamic Theology (4 years). The IUASR staff consists of 15 academics. The IUASR is a member of the Erasmus+ Mobility programme.

Funding
The institute is a private school, and thus has no state funding and is mostly reliant on donations. "These have been forthcoming from private individuals, foundations and Turkish religious entrepreneurs, most of them part of the personal contact network of principal Prof. Dr. A. Akgündüz".

Controversies
The heads of the university have been accused of money laundering and firearm offences and are currently under investigation by the Dutch authorities.