The California International Business University’s philosophy has a unique history. It had its inception in the pioneering work of CIBU’s founders, Professor Dr. Klaus Evard of Germany and Dr. Michael McManus of the United States. Professor Dr. Klaus Evard, whose Ph.D. degree in Finance and Economics is from the prestigious Sorbonne in Paris, created the European Business School (EBS) in 1971, one of Europe’s premiere business schools. He led EBS through its first twenty-two years as its founder and president. In 1990, he founded a second business school in Germany, the International School of Management in Dortmund, which currently enrolls over 500 students in a four-year undergraduate degree program. For his pioneering work as an educational entrepreneur in business schools, Professor Evard received the esteemed Bundesverdienstkreuz, Germany’s Medal of Honor for national and international achievements.

Dr. Michael McManus was educated at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Nijenrode School of Business (Netherlands), and Cornell University where he was awarded his Ph.D. in Human Resource Management. He has been a faculty member at a number of business schools in the United States including San Diego State University, Pepperdine University, and at the European Business School (EBS) in Germany.

Dr. McManus and Professor Evard first met in 1988 and conceived the model of a transnational business school. To further this goal, a board of CIBU Ambassadors was formed to guide The California International Business University. Their members included the former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Vernon Walters, well known television personality and entrepreneur Art Linkletter, and former Minister of Finance for Taiwan, Robert Chien.

California International Business University has been located in downtown San Diego since the summer of 1995.  Growth continues in both student enrollment and number of countries represented by international students.