Benefits of Unaccredited Learning in Malaysia

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Danny Ng, Sep 18, 2005.

Loading...
  1. Danny Ng

    Danny Ng New Member

    Maverick - Strong Supporter of unaccredited insitutions in Malaysia

    Some of his arguments do make sense.


    http://mavrky.blogspot.com/2005/07/unaccredited-universities-degrees.html

    In literal senses, it would be best to get into an accredited university, possibly at an Ivy League U, like Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Stanford, Imperial College, Nottingham, Warwick, Northrumbria, etc. But the cost of education in these universities may be unaffordable to many. Further, entry is limited and onerous.

    The next best choice is probably a local university degree which are accredited. But then, it is reserved for under-graduates and the places available are insufficient to meet the growing population completing their from SPM and STPM students.

    The other available choice for working professionals is to seek degrees via distant learning programs offered by local and foreign universities and managed by local organizations. Some are accredited by Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (LAN) while others do not apply for it as the cost of the application can be exorbitant. So, in a competitive environment and to stay viable, using this cost advantage, these providers are able to get more students.

    The fundamental issue is not whether you have an accredited degree or an unaccredited one. It is about yourself. Most of these unaccredited distant learning institutions do provide excellent education and teaching materials. They get good lecturers to conduct seminary-styled lectures and students are to do attend lectures, do assignments, which will be marked by their foreign counterparts. In the final year, students may have to sit an exam, while many require students to submit volumnous dissertations or thesis.

    At the end of the day, what matters is for those who go through these education to ask themselves what they had acquired and achieved and would the education make them a better professional?
     
  2. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    So Danny, I guess I'm a bit unclear on what you're trying to say.

    You have spoken out against degree mills and now you are saying that unaccredited degrees might be OK. It's a slippery slope. Where do you draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable?

    Just curious.
    Jack
     
  3. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    How does he know that unaccredited schools provide quality education, by the words of students, the universities?
    What if they lie?
    if there was not QA from recognized body there is no way to know
    what really they are teaching.

    Now if it is measured by success of their graduates, and there is overwhelming display of good achieving and knowledge then maybe the unaccredited schools that produce quality graduates have good self accrediting QA system.

    the limitations of such degrees are known, but who knows maybe
    when it helps to open some percentage of doors its better than no doors at all.

    Learner
     
  4. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Hi Lerner - I believe that I understand what you're saying here but I would point out that there are many cases when graduates of very good schools have terrible lives full of failure, defeat, crime, etc. You can not necessarily blame a school if one of its graduates commits a crime. Similarly, you can not necessarily congratulate a school if one of its graduates succeeds in life. Schools are supposed to teach specific information. A person might learn that information an still do poorly in life. I know a guy who's a high school dropout and he makes more money than I make. What would we call this in research, "face validity"
    Jack
     
  5. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Yes, in real life formal education is very important contributor
    to our development but its not the only one.

    My father completed 4 grades then WW2 began, he had to help support a mother and 2 yang sisters once learned the craft of shoemaking he went in to work force and never got back to school.

    He was very successful street smart business person, in USSR.
    Wile at factory his salary was 120 rubles, he manufactured at home in the kitchen ladies shoos and boots, lather gloves and sandals in the summer. We had 2 sales ladies at the market selling the merchandise for commissions - rain or shine.

    We made on overage 400 rubles this way and were able to be comfortable, he was very successful man and became director of the plant were he worked.

    His broken Russian was sufficient; his mother thong is Romanian.
    He did very well in the west but it was for a short time.
    He made sure I get good education.
    He used to tell me that we learn everything we need in kindergarden :).

    all is relative and he mesured hapiness and success not by how many homes or cars but quality of people and spiritual life.

    Learner
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2005
  6. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Great post, Lerner! Thanks for the nice display of filial piety!
     
  7. Danny Ng

    Danny Ng New Member


    Jack, I strongly detest diploma mills. From Malaysian perspective accredited or unaccredited institutions that offer programs without obtaining approval from Department of Education and National Accreditation Board (LAN) are considered as operating illegally. So even though University is accredited in USA by ACICS or DETC, it will be consider as offering programs illegally in Malaysia if they do not first get approval from Malaysian Authorities.

    My point then is that what difference would that make to get MBA from ACICS/DETC accredited uni9versity or an unaccredited university? I feel that local authority should regulate distance learning with clear guidelines so as to differentiate between accredited and unaccredited institutions, otherwise more and more students here will opt for unaccredited universities since they offer cheap tuitions, flexible entry requirements, flexible assessment, almost zero quality assurance so it could mean 100 percent passing.
     
  8. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    OK, thanks for the clarification.
    Jack
     
  9. Whew..... T M I!!!

    Whoa..... It's going to take weeks for me to get that image out of my mind......
     
  10. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Dumnezeu! I know how you feel.
     
  11. Danny Ng

    Danny Ng New Member

    "THONG" Is something new to me, perhaps I need to increase my vocabulary.
     
  12. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    OK, OK :)

    Wrong spelling.
     
  13. Xtra

    Xtra New Member

    Maverick - Strong Supporter of unaccredited insitutions in Malaysia

    I think Maverick should be the guy in action for the movie "TOP GUN". STRONG SUPPORT OF UNAAC. INSTITUTION IN MALAYSIA? Most like he own CIU and IIU certficate!!!

     
  14. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    It was Monica who flashed the mother of all thongs.
     
  15. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Thing a thong of thickpants...
     

Share This Page