Information about "Middleham University" in UK - fraud or not?

Hello! Facing a legal dispute, I'd like to have any info about the so called "Middleham University" in UK. From my research on the web, I've found out that it is a pure "diploma mill" and it has never been an official and legal university. It is of great importance to prove if Middleham University is a fraud or not. Any information, plus links, would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!


My "sources" so far:

 

Well, for starters, here's an old thread from here at DI on Middleham: http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/19567-middleham-university-goatbag.html

It's bogus, all right. The UDP (University degree Program) was one of the biggest frauds of its kind. Maybe 20 fraudulent University names. Roots in Cyprus, Israel, Romania -- and I believe a Boston rabbi had something to do with it, too.

...Or was that Middlebaum? :smile:

Oh yes, the Rabbi did, all right. Reprint of the Ezell/Bear article here: CABINET // A Matter of Degrees

As far as proving conclusively -- well, you can certainly prove that Middleham is not a legit degree-granting UK school. They're all accessible here - and Middleham is notably absent.

https://www.gov.uk/recognised-uk-degrees

Johann

PS - My interest in fake schools was sparked by the UDP scam. Some years back, I saw a "University of Palmers Green" degree, displayed by a local computer repairman. I knew there was no such school because I'm from Palmers Green (North London) originally. Their mail-drop turned out to be on Green Lanes, the very street I lived on, as a kid 60-odd years ago!

 

I'm not the kind of guy that trolls the internet to "out" people with fake degrees - and that's a VERY good thing for Middleham "grads." In looking for info on the "school," I found at least 20 people with one or more "time-bomb" Middleham degrees in their CVs.

BTW - Middleham (North Yorkshire) is a very small place. Pop. possibly 1,000. Hardly a "University Town." :smile:

Johann

 

The University Degree Program to which Johann refers was an immense fake degree selling operation, run by an American who lived in Bucharest and Tel Aviv. They sold more than 400,000 fake degrees, and, very cleverly, they changed the name of their (non-existent) school every few months. My FBI co-author and I identified more than 30 names (not including Middleham) but there were undoubtedly more, most of them with ENglish-sounding names. Their method of operation was the same in all cases: send email spam by the millions (from Romania), invite people to telephone (they had local answering services in dozens of cities). The caller would be called back by a telemarketer in Bucharest or Tel Aviv, and the degree of ones choice would be offered, starting at about US$3,000, but the price could be as low as US$600. The "degree package" also included a transcript of courses, and a testimonial letter from a "faculty" member, stating that this was the finest student he ever had.

If we could see a copy of either the diploma, the transcript, and/or the testimonial letter, we could almost certainly tell if it was a UDP product. Contact me if you have any of these; we'll be glad to help; no charge, of course.

John Bear, [email protected]

 

Glad you jumped in, Dr. Bear. You are probably the best-known expert witness on degree-mills on the planet! The OP could not possibly find better assistance in his quest for definitive info.

And if I may direct your attention to the old thread on Middleham, you will see that some long-time forum-posters (well-known to you, I'm sure) made the UDP connection here - through similar-named "Presidents" at Middleham and known UDP scams, same hasty-pudding "cleanups" of wording on sites, etc. Without their analysis, I could not have connected this with UDP.

http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/19567-middleham-university-goatbag.html

I hope I have been of some minor assistance here -- and I am pleased to leave the matter in the hands of a genuine expert. :smile:

Johann

 

Mr Johan thank you for your very usefull advise as per the official list, it was really enlightening. The absence of Middleham University from this list will surely help me in the legal proceedings. Moreover, searching in the UK gov. website that you sent me, I e-mailed my query to the "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills" (https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised), so that I will have a written reply from their part - I think it's the most official response I could get!

Dr Bear, thanks so much for the analytical description, your clues will be a perfect food for investigation for my lawyers. You can see attached a copy of a "Bachelor of Fine Arts" granted by "The Regents of Middleham University". Additionally, I sent an relative e-mail to the International Policy Officer of "UK Higher Education International Unit" (UK HE International Unit) and they had replied to me that Middleham does not exist. I'd like to know,is this an official authority for this kind of cases? In other words, does their reply officially and legaly count?

It is trully remarkable that some people do actually have the audacity to present these kind of diplomas. Maybe some day I will personally visit Middleham and pay tribute to this beautiful small city that "nurtured" so many geniuses...

Thank you very much indeed for your precious help!

 

Mr Johan thank you for your very usefull advise as per the official list, it was really enlightening. The absence of Middleham University from this list will surely help me in the legal proceedings. Moreover, searching in the UK gov. website that you sent me, I e-mailed my query to the "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills" (https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised), so that I will have a written reply from their part - I think it's the most official response I could get!

Dr Bear, thanks so much for the analytical description, your clues will be a perfect food for investigation for my lawyers. You can see attached a copy of a "Bachelor of Fine Arts" granted by "The Regents of Middleham University". Additionally, I sent an relative e-mail to the International Policy Officer of "UK Higher Education International Unit" (UK HE International Unit) and they had replied to me that Middleham does not exist. I'd like to know,is this an official authority for this kind of cases? In other words, does their reply officially and legaly count?

It is trully remarkable that some people do actually have the audacity to present these kind of diplomas. Maybe some day I will personally visit Middleham and pay tribute to this beautiful small city that "nurtured" so many geniuses...

Thank you very much indeed for your precious help!

 

Well, it is certainly a reputable organization. Its role is developmental, rather than regulatory, but it works with regulatory organizations, among others. From the web-page:

"The IU is a central observatory and intelligence unit on higher education internationalisation and policy developments for UK higher education institutions.

In representing the sector as a whole, the IU works closely with higher education institutions and organisations, including the British Council, UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland), UKTI, Universities Scotland, the Scottish Government, Higher Education Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The IU also works with other sector organisations, including the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, the Council for Industry and Higher Education, the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education, the Association of UK HE European Officers (HEURO), the UK Research Office (UKRO), Welsh Higher Education Brussels (WHEB), Wales International Consortium (WIC), and the National Union of Students.

...The IU is funded by Universities UK, Guild HE, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Higher Education and Funding Council for Wales, Scottish Funding Council, Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland), The Higher Education Academy and Quality Assurance Agency.

The IU was formed on 1 August 2010 by merging the UK HE International Unit and the UK HE Europe Unit."
(Emphases mine - Johann)

Hope this helps.

Johann

 

Thank you very much Mr Johann, with all this precious information we have a significant advantage to "fight" at the court. I don't care if someone wants to risk having a fake degree, but when one dares to cause me serious damage with that, I think that surpasses all moral boundaries. Thank you once more, will be glad to share with you good news next time and maybe even help in some other issue!

 

Yes - I think you probably do, but take a lawyer along anyway! :jester:

I wish you a good outcome for your court case.

Johann