Life experience degrees accreditation

Can someone offer some insights into these new degree mills? It's fairly clear there's no legitimate background for them to operate. Most of these Universities which prise themselves with offering "accredited" degrees to individuals based on their prior proven life experience issue them from offshore locations, like Dubai. They may be accredited in other countries, but in the US at least, I don't believe there's anyone in their right mind who would offer these institutions a regional accreditation. How do these crap mills still work? Why isn't the government shutting them down? And yes, I understand this is a multi-million dollar industry.

 

They still work because there is a seemingly inexhaustible number of people who want degrees for no work - and will pay for them. They think that these bogus papers will work for them and it is unfortunate that in some few instances, they do work - at least for a while.

The government sometimes shuts one or two mills down - mostly under mail and wire-fraud laws. It is again unfortunate, but justice authorities have to be preoccupied with major crimes - terrorism, violence, murder, drugs, human trafficking and organized crime of all stripes - groups that took roost in North America long ago, plus relative newcomers. That's not to say the authorities are "soft" on white-collar crime - ask Bernie Madoff, the Enron guys, Conrad Black et al. - but their resources are not limitless; they have to be allocated sensibly.

I'd say - if someone doesn't mind being a criminal in order to get rich - opening a degree mill is not a bad way to go. Fairly low-risk. Myself, I can't see the need. If I wanted a fake degree (and I don't) I'd roll my own - a beauty on a laser-printer with a parchment-look, Latin and the finest seals I could buy ...'cause that's how I roll.

Johann

 

Forgot to add...

It's also common for these "schools" to be incorporated in some corporate-friendly place -e.g. British Virgin Islands. You set up your BVI Corp. for $1200 or so and whatever you do, according to your company charter is perfectly legal, there.

Are US (or other) authorities going to swoop down on a post-box in Tortola - or Vanuatu, for that matter? Hardly.

Johann

 

You're correct, Steve - but what about....

Steve -

What you wrote is 100% correct. The IBCs have ZERO authority to grant degrees. But nobody sends the principals to jail for it - they're likely offshore anyway. If the owners were occasionally sent to the pokey, perhaps there wouldn't be so many of these "schools."

My point is - the degrees are of no academic standing, but nobody with a BVI "IBC University" goes to jail for "selling degree-looking papers." That activity either:

(a) doesn't seem to be viewed locally as illegal - or
(b) at least nobody seems to bother the "schools."

Do you happen to know - is it a legislation or enforcement issue?

Johann

 

I forgot to add...

Steve -

I forgot to add something:

If selling milled degrees will actually get anyone into trouble in BVI (and, as the history of these things shows, I don't think it will) then there are plenty of other jurisdictions, real - such as Wallis & Futuna, Ascension Island etc. and unreal-but-there, e.g. Seborga and Hutt River Province, which will welcome your new business with open arms - and maybe rent you space in a wine-cellar for peanuts.

As I said - if you're willing to be crooked to get rich, then opening a degree mill is generally a low-risk enterprise. That's low-risk, not no-risk, as people like Rudy Marn and the several St. Regis-convicted can attest.

The possibilities are endless...

Johann

 

Steve: These "schools" have been operating in BVI for years and years...

Hi again, Steve

These BVI-incorporated schools have been variously termed "unaccredited" "substandard" and in some corners "degree mills" for years. Using these "degrees" will cause you all kinds of trouble in the US and elsewhere. I'm sure none of 'em has local authority to grant (real) degrees -- but that doesn't seem to bother anyone. There are more, of course...

Ansted University Ansted University :: Ansted University is a private global educational institution providing open learningn
Washington International University Washington International University
Commonwealth Open University About COU

Do you still seriously believe that what they're doing is illegal according to the laws of the jurisdiction in which they were incorporated? Sure - maybe it should be -- but I don't think it is. Otherwise - why so many --and for so long?

Johann

 

Thanks, Steve. I appreciate your perspective and your knowledge. Just one thing. My concern doesn't "go to 11." It doesn't go anywhere -- it's not my money these schools are spending - and never will be.

I also spoke wrongly when I said "whatever you do under your BVI corporate charter is legal." Rubbish! Don't know what got into me. Thanks for the correction.

So, these "schools" are definitely doing something wrong, by issuing degrees of no value. That's never been in dispute. Illegal? Yes, if there's actually a charge and a prescribed penalty on the BVI "books" for this offence. I don't know that there is - or isn't. Can anyone enlighten me?

We also agree that, if there is a law, enforcement is impractical or impossible - bringing those behind the IBC to punishment. So, I guess it remains a low-risk jurisdiction fror "bad" schools. If those crooks in the business begin to feel it's too "hot" I guess they'll move to more friendly climes. Anybody in Tortola seen 'em packing suitcases yet? Didn't think so....despite the fact there are places where an IBC can be set up even cheaper. Even though BVI is still a mill-haven, I'm glad to hear that the English-speaking Caribbean world in general is cracking down. Good news, indeed.

To me, it smacks a little of some Swiss "Cantonal Approval" situations. There, you can "legally" license a school and confer degrees, but they mean nothing, when stacked against a Swiss Federation-approved degree. You can legally issue a degree that has no standing anywhere, and you won't go to jail. Hmmm....

Seems to me, legality doesn't matter much in this (BVI) case. Too bad. It should...but my concern will never go through the roof.

Johann

 

PS - Forgive me for being somewhat deficient in that "zeal for incarcerating everbody in sight." After all, I live in Canada.

 

No, they're not - and I'll accept that there's probably some statute on the BVI books that says they can't issue bogus degrees. And we both have to accept that they do, anyway.

Yep - metaphorical suitcases, bogus degrees. Nothing is ever as it seems....

Right again, Steve. ACBSP construes the Swiss license as "degree-granting authority in the school's own country" - sufficient for ACBSP's programmatic accreditation, if the school's programs meet ACBSP standards. Some of the other cantonally-approved schools may not be in the same league, I'd guess.

I think we'd both agree that BVI is still a low-risk climate for "toadschool" operators. If some of them are paranoid, they can always go to Panama. Here, a school can buy a license to operate and legally confer degrees that do not have any standing, compared to (real) University of Panama degrees. To be a "real" Uni by Panama Standards, the school would have to place itself under the direction of the (real) University of Panama. Of course, none of the upstarts do. Here's a sample: International University Licensed? Yes. Unaccredited? Certainly. Mill? I have no idea. You'll certainly find some familiar names here in the ownership and management!

Failing Panama, I think you'll remember one in Suriname we discussed recently. "If you liked Tortola, you'll love Paramaribo." It's gone from the web now. As I remember, one of our experts uncovered a scam - they were said to have "bought" accreditation or its equivalent, Liberian-style, from a government official. I e-mailed the Ministry, asking some questions, but they kept mum.

There's always a way... Cheers!

Johann

 

I forgot!

Steve: "They're not exactly serial killers."
Johann: "No. More like serial millionaires."

J

 

As they say in Oz, "No worries."

Hi Steve -

Yes, we're pretty much "in equilibrium." And don't worry, jurisdictions abound for the easy start of new schools, both "good" and "bad." None will lack suitable opportunity.

BTW - I pinched this from an advertiser of "easy" BVI incorporations.

"British Virgin Islands IBC's Have the Following Features and Advantagesrivacy for identity of principals Under normal circumstances, BVI Corporations can be incorporated/Registered within 3 working days. Flexibility in company structure of an offshore British Virgin Islands Company. Only one director or shareholder required for the company formation.
Shareholder(s) and director(s) may be the same person. The shareholder(s) and director(s) can be a natural person or a corporate body. There is no requirement of appointing local shareholder(s) and director(s) for British Virgin Island Companies.
There is no requirement of resident secretary.

The BVI incorporation documents do not carry the name or identity of any shareholder of director. The names or identities of these persons do not appear in any public record."

Pretty easy! Very anonymous. And for closer to $500 than the $1,200 I mentioned!

Johann

 

What is an IBC?

 

International Business Corporation

It's an International Business Corporation, Ted.

Johann

 

Banking Secrecy

Steve,

Good point about banking. I understand there are only three places left on Earth with really good banking secrecy: Nigeria, Myanmar (former Burma) and Nauru. And two of those are places you definitely don't want to deal with. Hey, what happened to Vanuatu?

I guess this and IBCs are the topics they mostly leave out of MBA programs, Ted.

Johann