Overview of BBI

An institution in which the programmes would be taught entirely in English, and structured to enable students to pursue a career in the major international hotel groups.

The “Brussels Business Institute for Higher Education” was established as a non-profit association and in its early days delivered the accredited programmes of the AH&LA Institute in the United States. In 2006, by Royal Decree, the Institute was recognised as a "Foundation" with a public mission in higher education, in accordance with Article 24 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Belgium. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) TEDQUAL certified BBI in 2008. 

In 2011, due to the success of its programmes, BBI was approached to open a campus in Luxembourg. Sponsored by the City of Wiltz, the founders decided to create "BBI-Luxembourg" in accordance with the laws of the country as a non-profit institution of higher learning. The City of Wiltz offering full lodging facilities for international students.

In 2012 and 2015, the Bachelor and Master programmes were respectively accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Thus, since its creation, the Luxembourg Institute has delivered the BBI Brussels programmes in keeping with the traditions of quality, rigour and excellence.

In order to regroup all students in the most important campus, namely the one in Wiltz, the teaching activity in Brussels was discontinued in 2018 by decision of the Board of Directors. However, the Belgian Foundation is still active with a new specific mission to focus its activities in the field of practical research and consulting for the service industries.

In 2020, as part of its development and by decision of the Board of Directors, BBI-Luxembourg became "BROOKINS BUSINESS INSTITUTE - University of Applied Sciences" (BBI-UAS). The choice of this patronymic as the name of the institute is not insignificant as it has a historical basis; this choice is also supported and approved by the authorities of the City of Wiltz, which have always sponsored BBI.

 This choice is to honour and perpetuate the memory of a kind-hearted man who, in the difficult circumstances of wartime, was able to bring to the children of Wiltz a moment of happiness and joy. Richard W. BROOKINS, a young American corporal of the 28th US Infantry Regiment, then 22 years old, was one of those who liberated the town of Wiltz during the Battle of the Bulge.

On 6 December 1944, he dressed up as St. Nicholas and, with the help of his fellow GIs, gave sweets to the children of Wiltz, thus continuing the tradition of this festival.

Since then, every year, the authorities and the inhabitants honour his memory in his presence, by organising a traditional parade through the town, and then gather in front of the plaque commemorating his action, located at the entrance of the castle of Wiltz, our CAMPUS.

This change from a name of origin to a patronymic represents an important step in the continuity of BBI, and allows us to integrate further ourselves into the cultural landscape of the City of Wiltz.