I didn't forge the certificate!

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Jack Tracey, Sep 17, 2005.

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  1. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    As with the previous thread regarding George Weah, my primary motivation in posting this story is to illustrate that countries all over the world are taking a very hard look at claimed academic credentials.
    http://allafrica.com/stories/200509160039.html
    Jack
     
  2. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    I, for one, Jack, appreciate your posts on this topic as it is of distinct interest to me. The psychology of credentialism fascinates me, and there is a distinct paucity of contemporary research into the 'sheepskin effect'. Quite a bit of work was done in the 80's, however with the rapid rise in higher education participation, one questions the reasons behind this - learning for the joy of learning and investment in human capital, or 'playing the game' in order to comply with the screening effect. Africa is a perfect case - desperation, poverty and the desire to be better than others, at whatever cost to credibility.

    I recently read a paper in which Indonesians have their qualifications actually inscribed on their tombstones. In a similar vein, in some towns in South America, poor people drive around in more affluent suburbs and use replica mobile phones to pretend they are wealthy and 'important'. Fascinating stuff. The desire to be something we are not is also prevalent on some other fora, as we well know! Credentialism is all around us, and I'm, just like many others, playing the game too.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  3. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    As do I! Thanks, Jack.

    And good points, George.
     
  4. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    baie dankie

    Indeed, to all of you.
     
  5. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    By the way, I have just finished Alison Wolf's 'Does Education Matter?'. A great read, as she seeks to dispel many myths about education economic rates of return. Whilst she freely admits that she does not add to policy debate, she does raise some very interesting issues. A must for anyone interested in education.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  6. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

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