University of Wales Excoriated For Mismanaging Its Validation Service

Unbelievable!

Gross disregard of oversight by the Wales brand validation unit /vetting process or was someone being paid as regards Accademia Italiana, Bangkok, Fazley International College, Malaysia and/or Turning Point Business School, Singapore?
BBC News - University of Wales must review link-ups, advises QAA

I thought this was rather interesting:

"However, when the concerns team met with the vetter in a group of Validation Unit staff, he had no memory of having made a visit to Accademia Italiana in Bangkok."

Does … “I don’t recall” come to mind?

 

Wales is one of the UK Universities that I respect.

They are usually very kind to people who hold vocational (NVQ) qualifications in allowing them to count toward degree programs.

Number of my friends who had GCGI from City and Guilds got accepted in to Master programs at Wales, the same who had LCGI got in to third final year or at times got in to second year of the 3 year BA degree.

They are flexible, but as my friends tell me very demanding academically.

 

That is good to hear.
I hope they can sort this out.

 

Who knows if they will or can....

Until 2008, they also validated programs (i.e. awarded U. Wales degrees for them) at otherwise unaccredited Trinity College of the Bible (Newburgh, IN). This school failed in an attempt to attain RA status -- and more recently, was denied accreditation by DETC.

U. Wales has a LOT of bad stuff to answer for. It's a shame when a good school earns a bad name. That usually results when moneygrubbing overrides academic concerns.

Johann

 

This should come as no surprise. If anything it's overdue. As much as I like and respect the U of W system as a whole, they've been validating anything that knocks on their door. The big warning sign was when various elements of the Wales system began to break away to form independent universities. My guess is that this trend will continue and that within a few years there will be no "University of Wales" system but a collection of independent universities.

 

Another warning sign: it's not good for a school's academic reputation when top government officials are prepared to describe it like this in the national news:

 

The U. of Wales (group of Universities) was established in 1893. Some of its member schools, of course, are much older. Its Chancellor is HRH Prince Charles. No beheadings these days, but it is still not a good strategy to do something that might reflect in a less-than-stellar manner on a Royal.

I'm sure we haven't heard the end of it. So much good work, by so many good schools, for so long -- brought to this by base moneygrubbing. Sad.

Johann

 

Don't feel too bad. Some people will quietly slip (get pushed) out the back door and good riddance to them. Some nice shiny replacement players will walk in the front door amidst a small fanfare. Then there will be a lot of polishing and scrubbing that takes place. Within the next few years look for lots of positive newspaper stories about all the wonderful things being done at the University of Wales. In some ways, this might be a very good time to enroll.

 

Hi Kizmet

I'm glad to hear that said. Now I think about it, I'm pretty sure time will prove you right.

Over the years, institutions of many types have made comebacks from far worse misdeeds. (Some learned lessons from their bad choices, others did not.) Even if U. of Wales disbanded and the remaining institutions went their separate ways (not probable) there will always be a good number of fine (and unblemished) Universities in Wales, whatever happens. And as you say, replacement players are the likely scenario.

Johann

 

The wikipedia history is probably as accurate a version as you'll find:

University of Wales - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Yes - thanks.

Thanks, Kizmet -

Yes - it is probably the best quick overview. I read it a couple of days ago. That's how I learned that HRH Prince Charles was the Chancellor.

Johann