Founded in 1964 by Dr. Walter Leibrecht, Schiller International University was created as a private American University dedicated to the active development and encouragement of international understanding. As a philosophy professor in the United States, Dr. Leibrecht was so impressed with the personalized instruction in the American college system that he sought to create something similar back in Europe. The realization of this concept was Schiller International University, named after German writer and human rights advocate Friedrich Schiller and established in a 16th century castle in Ingersheim, Germany with 35 students enrolled.
The educational mission of Schiller International University (SIU) is to prepare students, personally and professionally, for future leadership roles in an international setting. In its undergraduate and graduate degree programs, SIU provides students with the competencies they need for professional careers as well as for further academic study. The educational process puts particular emphasis on developing international and cross-cultural competencies through foreign language training, intercampus transfer, or other international academic opportunities, and intense interaction among people with diverse backgrounds.