? for Professor Kennedy

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by John Spies, Dec 10, 2003.

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  1. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Greetings again Professor!
    My program at Queen Margaret is progressing nicely and I expect to be 50% completed in late January with a finish in August. One question: do you have any knowledge about their bid for a royal charter? My contact at the college has no (professed) knowledge and I am wondering if you might have heard something there in Edinburgh.

    I hope all is well with you and look forward to your reply.
    regards,
    John
     
  2. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    Sorry John, but I have heard nothing about the progress of QMUC to its Royal Charter. This is not surprising as we are talking about a government administered process and these tend to squeeze in and out of a bureacuracy competing in lethargy about each other's projects. I suspect it is plodding through the system still.

    However, your degree will be awarded under the Royal Charter seal of a sister institution to Queen Margaret University College which has been drafted in to chaperone QMUC through to full independent status.

    In a year or two, QMUC, will have Royal Charter status in its own right, instead of, as at present, having candidate status under the rubric of a Royal Charter University. There are a dozen or more educational institutions operating under the licence of the Royal Charters of various universities, and under the sponsorship of the respective English or Scottish departments of education. It is all bona fide; have no concerns about that. If I hear anything I will post here.
     
  3. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    An interesting post John - and, yes, thanks for going with the opposition, but it's a free market mate so no hard feelings :)

    So is your uni a Uni College at the moment then? It does not have degree granting status in its own right, and is operating under the auspices of another uni? Please do share this info as it is quite interesting.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  4. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Professor Kennedy, thanks for the update. I have to say that I am a little concerned about getting the degree from another school; this is complete news to me! Should I contact my coordinator to find out what school will be conferring or do you already know this?

    I know that my particular program has not yet been validated for distance learning. It is however, very similar to the hospitality program which is validated and it is anticipated soon. I asked about what happens if I complete the degree, but it has not yet been validated and still have not recieved an answer (3 weeks) about this. Should I be worried about this? I was told that I would be awarded the degree, but is still sounds a little dodgy.

    Mr. Brown, so good to hear from you. Yes QMUC is still a 'college' and the only reason I chose them over your fine program was that it was a little more applicable to my career path and that it was much less expensive. Many times (as you know) I have questioned my decision and frankly still do due to continued lack of response or misinformation, but 'in for a penny, in for a pound', right?

    I may actually, if it would work out, attempt a degree with Le Cordon Bleu as other segments of my industry (yacht clubs, city clubs, for example) actually prefer a hospitality degree. Maybe once I am done at QMUC, we could work this out?

    Professor Kennedy and Mr. Brown, thanks again!
    John
     
  5. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    Hi John

    For many years Henley taught an MBA (highly regarded too) that was awarded by Brunel University (Royal Charter) about 20 miles away, nearer London. Its DBA is awarded on the same basis, though Henley has a Royal Charter for its MBA degrees.

    Going back a many decades many of the colleges in the English provinces taught degree courses that were part of the External programme of the University of London (BSc, Economics, for instance) long before they were upgraded to universities. For example, Bristol taught London's BSc Econ degree. Indeed, its first economics professor was Marshall, who went on to become Professor of Economics at Cambridge, and of course a much celebrated contributor to economics as a science.

    It may be a case of the 'North American syndrome' - absolute suspicion of the different ways we Brits, or in this case, we Scots, adopt all kinds of procedures, which appear to outsiders as weird and unreliable, but to us, the Scots, we are used to as a means of getting things done without tearing up the entire fabric of the way we do things.

    One university with a Royal Charter chaperoning another school's degree awards until it is allowed to do it itself? I know it offends the NA way of doing things - everybody and everything to do and be done the same (GPAs, etc.,) - but please relax. Its a British thing. Depending on how far QMUC is along the road to its own Royal Charter (closely monitored by the Scottish Executive) it may have another school as the covering awarder of its degree; it may be like some colleges in the same position in England that award their own provisionally. What, another variation?

    Yes, our systems accommodate variations: an unelected House of Lords and an elected House of Commons; four home countries not just one making up the UK; scores of separate police forces not one national force; two legal systems not one; several dozen regiments making up the British Army, not a list of numbered units into and out of which soldiers can be posted; totally free immigration from a foreign country, Ireland, and an immediate right to vote and run for office in all elections for its, foreign, citizens; and so on and on.

    Hope you can cope with the idiocyncracies of these islands...
     
  6. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    Hi John

    For many years Henley taught an MBA (highly regarded too) that was awarded by Brunel University (Royal Charter) about 20 miles away, nearer London. Its DBA is awarded on the same basis, though Henley has a Royal Charter for its MBA degrees.

    Going back a many decades many of the colleges in the English provinces taught degree courses that were part of the External programme of the University of London (BSc, Economics, for instance) long before they were upgraded to universities. For example, Bristol taught London's BSc Econ degree. Indeed, its first economics professor was Marshall, who went on to become Professor of Economics at Cambridge, and of course a much celebrated contributor to economics as a science.

    It may be a case of the 'North American syndrome' - absolute suspicion of the different ways we Brits, or in this case, we Scots, adopt all kinds of procedures, which appear to outsiders as weird and unreliable, but to us, the Scots, we are used to as a means of getting things done without tearing up the entire fabric of the way we do things.

    One university with a Royal Charter chaperoning another school's degree awards until it is allowed to do it itself? I know it offends the NA way of doing things - everybody and everything to do and be done the same (GPAs, etc.,) - but please relax. Its a British thing. Depending on how far QMUC is along the road to its own Royal Charter (closely monitored by the Scottish Executive) it may have another school as the covering awarder of its degree; it may be like some colleges in the same position in England that award their own provisionally. What, another variation?

    Yes, our systems accommodate variations: an unelected House of Lords and an elected House of Commons; four home countries not just one making up the UK; scores of separate police forces not one national force; two legal systems not one; several dozen regiments making up the British Army, not a list of numbered units into and out of which soldiers can be posted; totally free immigration from a foreign country, Ireland, and an immediate right to vote and run for office in all elections for its, foreign, citizens; and so on and on.

    Hope you can cope with the idiocyncracies of these islands...
     
  7. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    Hi John

    For many years Henley taught an MBA (highly regarded too) that was awarded by Brunel University (Royal Charter) about 20 miles away, nearer London. Its DBA is awarded on the same basis, though Henley has a Royal Charter for its MBA degrees.

    Going back a many decades many of the colleges in the English provinces taught degree courses that were part of the External programme of the University of London (BSc, Economics, for instance) long before they were upgraded to universities. For example, Bristol taught London's BSc Econ degree. Indeed, its first economics professor was Marshall, who went on to become Professor of Economics at Cambridge, and of course a much celebrated contributor to economics as a science.

    It may be a case of the 'North American syndrome' - absolute suspicion of the different ways we Brits, or in this case, we Scots, adopt all kinds of procedures, which appear to outsiders as weird and unreliable, but to us, the Scots, we are used to as a means of getting things done without tearing up the entire fabric of the way we do things.

    One university with a Royal Charter chaperoning another school's degree awards until it is allowed to do it itself? I know it offends the NA way of doing things - everybody and everything to do and be done the same (GPAs, etc.,) - but please relax. Its a British thing. Depending on how far QMUC is along the road to its own Royal Charter (closely monitored by the Scottish Executive) it may have another school as the covering awarder of its degree; it may be like some colleges in the same position in England that award their own provisionally. What, another variation?

    Yes, our systems accommodate variations: an unelected House of Lords and an elected House of Commons; four home countries not just one making up the UK; scores of separate police forces not one national force; two legal systems not one; several dozen regiments making up the British Army, not a list of numbered units into and out of which soldiers can be posted; totally free immigration from a foreign country, Ireland, and an immediate right to vote and run for office in all elections for its, foreign, citizens; and so on and on.

    Hope you can cope with the idiocyncracies of these islands...
     
  8. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    A Scottish/British thing

    Hi John

    For many years Henley taught an MBA (highly regarded too) that was awarded by Brunel University (Royal Charter) about 20 miles away, nearer London. Its DBA is awarded on the same basis, though Henley has a Royal Charter for its MBA degrees.

    Going back a many decades many of the colleges in the English provinces taught degree courses that were part of the External programme of the University of London (BSc, Economics, for instance) long before they were upgraded to universities. For example, Bristol taught London's BSc Econ degree. Indeed, its first economics professor was Marshall, who went on to become Professor of Economics at Cambridge, and of course a much celebrated contributor to economics as a science.

    It may be a case of the 'North American syndrome' - absolute suspicion of the different ways we Brits, or in this case, we Scots, adopt all kinds of procedures, which appear to outsiders as weird and unreliable, but to us, the Scots, we are used to as a means of getting things done without tearing up the entire fabric of the way we do things.

    One university with a Royal Charter chaperoning another school's degree awards until it is allowed to do it itself? I know it offends the NA way of doing things - everybody and everything to do and be done the same (GPAs, etc.,) - but please relax. Its a British thing. Depending on how far QMUC is along the road to its own Royal Charter (closely monitored by the Scottish Executive) it may have another school as the covering awarder of its degree; it may be like some colleges in the same position in England that award their own provisionally. What, another variation?

    Yes, our systems accommodate variations: an unelected House of Lords and an elected House of Commons; four home countries not just one making up the UK; scores of separate police forces not one national force; two legal systems not one; several dozen regiments making up the British Army, not a list of numbered units into and out of which soldiers can be posted; totally free immigration from a foreign country, Ireland, and an immediate right to vote and run for office in all elections for its, foreign, citizens; and so on and on.

    Hope you can cope with the idiocyncracies of these islands...
     
  9. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Please understand that I am really not that worried about it due to the fact that QMUC is a well-regarded school; just curious if you might know from where my degree might be conferred?
    I have just emailed my 'coordinator' to see if she might shed some light on this. I will certainly post the results, just thought you might have some 'inside' knowledge!
    thanks again, John
     
  10. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    Hi John

    I have been unable to contact my 'insider' at QMUC. However, I looked at the web site and noted that:

    "Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh is a university sector institution with full degree-awarding powers and academic strenghths in art, management, health care and associated sciences."

    However, the press release of October 2003 says it hopes to attain 'full university' status before it moves to its new campus at Craighall, just outside Edinburgh, in 2007.

    No further forward then?

    However, (II), I note that its has changed Principals to Professor Anthony Cohen, former Dean of Social Science at the University of Edinburgh, a 'heavy hitter' indeed and someone signifying a serious academic direction. The previous Principal has gone to Napier University, Edinburgh's 3rd university.

    Looks good to me.
     
  11. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Thanks again for your help. It sounds as though everything is in order. Does this mean that I should receive the degree from QMUC although it does not have 'University' status? I hope to hear more from my coordinator soon.
    regards, John
     
  12. AJJ

    AJJ New Member

    Own degrees!

    Queen Margaret University College (like many other university colleges in the UK) seemingly has degree-granting powers in its own right for bachelor's degree programmes. This is now typical of the way higher education is going in the UK.

    AJJ
     
  13. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    AJJ, does this include their MBA's as well?
     

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