University Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysia

I am plannig to enrol into a Ph.D (Mgt) by RESEARCH Ph.D (Mgt) (R) offered by University Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia (http://www.unitar.edu.my/)

I would appreciate for any feedback on the program and on the Universityand is this Phd be equivalent to a US accreditted PhD?

Peter Chin
Malaysia

 

It´s a legitimate Malaysian university (cp. www.anabin.de / in German), so it could be compared to a US RA PhD generally, although you must always be aware of the fact that a "third world" university will always be regarded "lower" in both academics and business than one from the US, GB, etc.


Greets,
T.

 

I had my MBA from University Malaya and got it evaluated from Education International (http://www.educationinternational.org/) as equivalen to US RA MBA. I had to pay US80 for this sort of evaluation.

I am wondering if I would be able to ge the same kind of evaluation upon achieving the Phd bu UNITAR which might enable me to seek a faculty position in US universities.

Peter Chin

 

PhD at UNITAR spend only 2 years full time, 1 year full time MS , and also 3 years BA program.

When comparing study time period, I don't think you qualify to seek a faculty position in US universities.

 

PhD at UNITAR spend only 2 years full time, 1 year full time MS , and also 3 years BA program.

I graduated from New Hampshire College which is now Southern New Hampshire University. Completed my MBA (2 years) with University Malaya and it was evaluated as US RA equivalent. MY initial thoughts were that evaluation is done in principle on the University and qualification rather than on the duration and course by course evaluation and in that regards I am expecting UNITAR PhD to be equivalent to US RA PhD.

In UK the degree programs are of 3 years duration and if using the same logic how could they be evalauted as US RA equivalent becuase US it will take 4 years or more to complete a bachelor degree.

To complete a BS in US it take almost more than 40 courses as compared to UK who might only be doing around 18 to 20 courses.

Peter Chin

 

Can you sent PhD curiculum to get evaluate as equivalent to US RA PhD or not? I think this is the best idea to make you surely give answer and don't waste much time if the answer is not later.

Cheer!

 

Tough to beat those prices for a GAAP MBA or PhD, which these seem to be. (See http://www.unitar.edu.my/prospectus/about.htm)

MBA = 15,000.00 Malaysia Ringgits = US$3,947.38

PhD = 18,000.00 Malaysia Ringgits = US$4,736.85

 

I have no idea, but the answer to that is important to get before you start the program.

Will it get you a university position in the U.S.? If it were in Asian Studies, Asian Religions, or something unique like that, I would say that it could be helpful.

However, in management? I would think that it would be very difficult for you to achieve that goal. Particularly since your competition will likely be from top North American and European schools. Should there be a bias? No, but there most certainly will be. It's unlikely that you will find anyone on a hiring committee who has ever heard of the university.


Tom Nixon

 

About the same time it takes in many Australian universities!

 

'Third world' university!!!! What a cheek! Have you seen the qualifications of the guys (and gals) who teach there?

 

still a third world university...

 

"Can you sent PhD curiculum to get evaluate as equivalent to US RA PhD or not? I think this is the best idea to make you surely give answer and don't waste much time if the answer is not later."

I got hold of curriculum but as I understand the evaluation agencies require officali transcript of a student before they can complete the report. I am trying to find somone who have completed the program and who would volunteer for this evauation. I would however appreciate if you can let me know of a legit evelauation agency that can get me the report based on curriculum.

Thanks

Peter Chin

 

Third World

What is wrong with the "Third World"? I am failing to understand the relevance of this line of thought? South Africa is in the "Third World"--does this mean its degrees are suspicious in any way because of its "Third World" placement?

Kenneth K. A.

 

there is absolutely nothing wrong with the word "third world",
but still - and there is not much doubt about - many, many persons in academics would certainly regard a US, GB, Canadian, Aussie or SA degree as being "better" than one from Malaysia, Zimbabwe, India, or whatever... - even China.
Don´t you think so?

SA is kind of an exception since its universities are more regarded in the light of the British education origins... - though of course SA is the wealthiest of the African countries and the most developed, and therefore more "transition" country than "third world"... (in my opinion, but I´m not a professional here).

I personally would not have a problem with someone having a PhD degree from Malaysia. But if this person is not Malaysian but from another country, I would certainly ask why he did not receive his degree there...

That´s all...

T.

 

I would never say that a non-English degree is sub-standard. Of course, there are excellent institutions operating mainly in French, German, Indian, Chinese, or whatever - not caring about the classification of economomies. I never had a doubt about that. As a result, of course there are also top-notch universities in most of the so-called "third world" countries, but the vast majority of universities is not been considered as the same standard as - say e.g. - US universities.

Besides, any discussion about colonialism or Western-mind thinking does not apply too much to me, since 1) Germany has not been a (real) colonial country, and 2) the Germans are pretty well respected in - say e.g. Palestine, but also in other Arabian countries - since we did not want the war in Irak (nor in Afghanistan) - but that´s a totally different story...

I personally do not dare to judge on any country or educational system at all - all I´m saying is that I AM AWEFULLY SURE that a vast percentage of academics in most of the "premier leage countries" (just using your words) would not consider a "third world degree" as being (GENERALLY) equivalent to their own education system - that´s my opinion, believe it or not. Of course I´m open to discussion...

Though, as I stated in my very first posting, the real case university here (UNITAR) is definetely a legitimate one, and therefore what most of us would call GAAP, and thus not per se a bad solution...

Ok?

Greets,
T.

 

I hate the word "third world"
no matter you offend yourself, triggersoft. I don't think it appropriate to use this. You can talk about univ. one better than the other one. On the university basis, not country.

 

"Third world" was a politically correct term for underdeveloped world. So now third world is politically incorrect. Go figure.

If you want a job in an American University and you are an American, your best bet is an American degree followed by degrees from the major English speaking countries.

Are people prejudiced? No, just lazy. They have heard of Podunck State University. They haven't heard of the bests schools in the "economically challenged world."

 

Peter, the US universities have a 4 year undergraduate degree cause the first year of the course is about equiv. to the last year of High School in Commonwealth countries. Hence, only a 3 year degree in Britain, Australia, India and Malaysia to name a few.

Also in Australia you can do a 2 year doctorate (12 months by 2 years = 24 months cf. 3 years - 8 months x 3 years = 24 months).

Furthermore, the Commonwealth Ph.D. are mainly research only. The research component of a US Ph.D. is about equiv. to Master's level in the Commonwealth country (40,000-50,000 words cf. 80,000 to 120,000 words) Of course, the Yanks do 'course work' in the doctorate, which is about at Master's level.

Soprry about the 'third world' insults made against Malaysia. If some of these Yanks would stop holidaying in the States and go over to Malaysia, they may be pleasantly surprised to find the country a thriving 'developing' nation, with fine campuses!

 

Peter, the US universities have a 4 year undergraduate degree cause the first year of the course is about equiv. to the last year of High School in Commonwealth countries. Hence, only a 3 year degree in Britain, Australia, India and Malaysia to name a few.

Also in Australia you can do a 2 year doctorate (12 months by 2 years = 24 months cf. 3 years - 8 months x 3 years = 24 months).

Furthermore, the Commonwealth Ph.D. are mainly research only. The research component of a US Ph.D. is about equiv. to Master's level in the Commonwealth country (40,000-50,000 words cf. 80,000 to 120,000 words) Of course, the Yanks do 'course work' in the doctorate, which is about at Master's level.

Soprry about the 'third world' insults made against Malaysia. If some of these Yanks would stop holidaying in the States and go over to Malaysia, they may be pleasantly surprised to find the country a thriving 'developing' nation, with fine campuses!
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Amused


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Dear Amused, thanks for information.

People join this forum with the objective to receive constructive feedback from members on information on distance learning institutions such as faculty qualifications, curriculum, course details, accreditation, physical and IT resources, assessment methods, and quality assurance of programs. And for the same reasons I joined the forum and also recommend my students to turn to “degree info” if they want to pursue higher studies via distance learning since there is enormous information available here on this forum. However, I am disappointed by the response of some irresponsible individuals who instead of assessing the institution based on its individual merits bring the irrelevant, absurd and sickening comments. Labeling UNITAR “ A Third World University” is just one of the example.

Peter Chin