Berkeley International University

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by marjorie drake, Sep 26, 2001.

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  1. marjorie drake

    marjorie drake New Member

    My office colleague has just been awarded a PhD from this University. However, the dissertation that he submitted is full of errors and contradictions and based on data which was not scientifically collected.
    Does anyone have know anything about them? I have searched the internet but there seems to be nothing there.
    Cheers.
     
  2. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Do you by chance mean Berkley University that operates from Southfield Michigan and Erie Penn? If so, their official administrative office is a post office box not far from where I work. They call it "suite 324" but the Mailbox's etc. is only one story!

    Thanks - Andy



    ------------------
    Andy Borchers, DBA
    NSU (1996)
     
  3. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    They are described on page 320 of Bears' Guide, 14th ed. They operated briefly (and, I believe, legally, as a state-approved school) from offices in San Francisco 4 or 5 years ago. Nearly all the names involved were Russian and had Russian degrees. When I visited there, no one was around to talk, other than a Russian-accented receptionist. But then they were suddenly gone and, I assumed, out of business. Since your colleague was just awarded the degree, clearly they are still operating somewhere. A Google search just found three people on the faculty of legitimate US universities with their degree, but nothing on the school itself.
     
  4. marjorie drake

    marjorie drake New Member

    Its registered address is at 10687 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025.
     
  5. triggersoft

    triggersoft New Member

    at least it´s in the same STATE as the real Berkeley...
    [​IMG]
     
  6. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    There is no current listing with the CA BPPVE for a "Berkeley International University". That would suggest that if it is still operating from California, it probably isn't doing so legally.
    http://app1.dca.ca.gov/bppve/school-search/
     
  7. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Tell your friend that he picked his PhD from a mill.

    Ike
     
  8. Ohnalee

    Ohnalee New Member

    Does anybody have a URL for Berkeley International University?
     
  9. triggersoft

    triggersoft New Member

  10. Ohnalee

    Ohnalee New Member

    Thanks, triggersoft. I liked the defense of non-accreditation, and would be interested to know what it means to be regionally accredited in the "non-traditional" sense.

    The CA Secretary of State (www.ss.ca.gov) lists the agent for service of process as Allan A. Samson. He is also A for S of P for the famed "Northern California Global University". I have heard rumors that NCGU sells degrees in Indonesia, but I can't substantiate it.

    I see in Google that Dr. Samson is an attorney in SF, on the Board of Lincoln University (a legit school exempt from BPPVE approval), and generously helps answer immigration questions online. (see http://russian.wego.com .)You've got to admire a man who can get so much done in a day. ;-)
     
  11. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Try doing a search at
    http://www.google.com

    using "berkeley international university". One of the search results is something called "awas". The link is dead, but the page is cached at Google. It appears to be an Indonesian language page promoting a bunch of very questionable "universities", including Berkeley International, No.Cal. Global, Harvard International, Senior U. etc.

    This may or may not lead to it:
    http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:_CMrW6N0jCE:www.kopertis4.or.id/Data/awasgelar.htm+%22berkeley+international+university%22&hl=en
     
  12. uxu

    uxu New Member



    Check out the Statement of Accreditation (bolding is mine): http://www.uofb.com/accred2.html

    The University of Berkley is not regionally accredited, in the traditional sense, due to Restrictive Governmental Policies regarding non-residential, non-traditional educational facilities. The Government, in its infinite wisdom, does not believe that a University can be an "accredited" University unless it has at least one classroom in which students can gather, sit in uncomfortable chairs, and listen to long, boring lectures. Furthermore, said University must have a structured schedule of meaningless classes for students to attend, regardless of the nature of the students' needs.

    We at the Universty of Berkley believe that our students are capable of learning in any environment, and that true Learning is a result of a student's desire to gain knowledge, rather than the infliction of that knowledge upon them.


    I am glad that there is a government with at least some wisdom to make such operations illegal - or 'tolerated'

    I have never had knowledge inflicted upon my brain... does it hurt?
     
  13. Ohnalee

    Ohnalee New Member

    The google cached page came through. It does provide a definite connection between BIU and NCGU. Now to find somebody to read it! :)

    Based on a superficial search, it doesn't appear that the University of Berkley and Berkeley International University are the same umcampus.
     
  14. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    Let me add that I am not a Nobel Laureate, in the traditional sense.


    Peace,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net
     
  15. Ohnalee

    Ohnalee New Member

    I should have thought to look earlier, but this Allan Samson is also linked with Harvard International University's business license in California. (http://www.ss.ca.gov)
     
  16. marjorie drake

    marjorie drake New Member

    Yep, the search result from google confirms it. The Indonesian article says 'yayasan pendidikan dari Indonesia justru menjadikan lembaga dari luar negeri itu sebagai promosi untuk menarik konsumen atau calon pembeli gelar. Di antaranya yang sering disebutkan dalam promosi adalah Berkeley International University, Southern California-USA .....'

    Roughly translated it says 'this Indonesian education foundation has used this foreign board as a promotion to attract consumers or 'candidates who buy titles'. Amongst those commonly mentioned in the promotion are Berkeley International University, Southern Californai-USA ......'

    In one of the documents that my colleague has actually shows that the Registrar of this Berkeley International University is an Indonesian who also acts as the University's agent for Asia.
     
  17. marjorie drake

    marjorie drake New Member

    Oh I forgot,
    It also quotes the Indonesian Director General of Higher Education Satryo S Brodjonegoro as saying 'after doing some checking, it is confirmed that the BBA, MBA, Phd, MSc programs offered by these foreign education boards through this Indonesian foundation have NOT been accredited in their country'
     
  18. Ohnalee

    Ohnalee New Member

    Marjorie wrote: "It also quotes the Indonesian Director General of Higher Education Satryo S Brodjonegoro as saying 'after doing some checking, it is confirmed that the BBA, MBA, Phd, MSc programs offered by these foreign education boards through this Indonesian foundation have NOT been accredited in their country'"

    I'm glad to hear somebody in Indonesia has done some checking. Marjorie, from where are you getting the translation? I could use a few of these BIU references written out in English.
     
  19. marjorie drake

    marjorie drake New Member

    I have friends from that part of the world.
    Why dont your forward them to me, Ill get them translated for you.


    ------------------
     
  20. marjorie drake

    marjorie drake New Member

    Translation of the Indonesian article.

    Watch Out for ‘Fraudulent’ Titles!
    The Erosion of Personal Honor in Society
    Indonesian Media – Culture and Education (10/02/2001 00:15 WIB)

    THIS is clear proof of the weakness in the education system and human resource management in Indonesia. Academic titles are more valued than meaningful contribution to society, and this has finally manifested itself in the practice of the sale and purchase of titles.
    For the title chase, this practice is very attractive. By paying some millions of rupiah and attending lectures for a number of months, or in some instances none at all, a choice of titles can be acquired. Beginning from BBA, MBA, Phd, and even Dr. Honoris Causa.
    In respect of this problem, the Department of National Education (Depdiknas) annually monitor the number of legal title-conferring boards but the number of fake or fraudulent titles are on the rise.
    According to the record provided by the Director General of Higher Education (Ditjen Dikti) a number of advertisements by education boards that claim to be affiliated to foreign universities and been placed in the Ibu Kota newspaper, are misleading the public.
    This is because, the board which is used as affiliation is not registered or can be categorised as offering illegal titles or awards. At the same time, the Indonesian education foundation has in fact used the foreign education board as a promotion to attract consumers or title-purchasing candidates. Amongst the names commonly mentioned in the promotions are Berkeley International University, Southern California-USA, Northern California Global University, Harvard International University, Senior University International, as well as a number of academic programs offered through Distance Learning International Programs.
    "After doing some checkings, it is obvious that the BBA, MBA, Phd, MSc programs offered by the foreign educational boards through the Indonesian foundation have not been accredited in their home country’ says (Dirjen Dikti) Satryo S Brodjonegoro.
    He further explains, in the United States there are a lot of higher educational boards which operate and award titles. The Department of Education (USA) will only recognise the education board once it has been accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) which is coodinated by the Department.
    Toothless Regulations
    According to Prof. Muhammadi, a member of VI DPR Commission of Indonesia, the wrongful use of academic title is not immune from Indonesian Law. According to this member of F-Reformasi, KUHP does not specify the type of punishment to be meted out to anyone who has wrong used this academic titles. ‘Because it is not stated in the KUHP, how can we punish someone who has committed this offence? There must be a clear sanction’, he adds.
    Muhammadi admits to having directly asked Mendiknas regarding the ethics of the educational board that operates this sales-purchase of academic titles. At that time, he was told the Ditjen Dikti had in fact warned the perpetrator and also establish a committee to nip the problem. ‘ However, the Committee is also unable to handle the issue. This is a serious problem to us involved in higher education. I hope the new National Education UU will seriously consider the misuse of academic titles’, he explains.
    Muhammadi adds, in the National Education UU, they must consider the rules governing the use as well as the award of academic titles. ‘If necessary the rules must be tighten. Meaning, in order to qualify for an academic award, a number of steps have to be fulfilled and satisfied, unlike now, no lectures, no thesis, but still the award is given’, he says.
    The need for UU to formulate rules regarding the award of titles is supported by Tb Ronny Rahman Nitibaskara. He says the question of awarding a title by a an illegal higher education body will create problems among those who regulate national education. Up to this point, no clear and definitive rules have been laid down on how to handle illegal higher education bodies.
    Explains Roni further "There are few cases like this which can be handled by state sanction, except in the usage of titles by those who are undeserving or the usage of titles which are not correct. Both are contained in Sections 55 and 56 UU No 2/1989."
    The Erosion of Personal Honor
    It is not easy to control the practise of awarding fraudulent titles, even though their modus operandi has become very aggressive. ‘I personally have received mails and offered titles’, says the Director General of Culture Depdiknas IGN Anom.
    This blatant approach, according to sociologist UI Thamrin Amal, has been fed by society itself, a society which values emblems behind ones name. ‘As a result, people are scrambling to get titles without bothering whether these titles are real or fakes. Strangely, those ‘fraudulent’ title holders too seem to have to shame. As if the culture of self respect has been completely eroded,’ he adds.
    A similar sentiment is voiced by Muhammadi. "The wrongful use of academic title is a serious offence. One who wants to acquire a professional or academic qualification must do so through the process of learning. Now, what is the moral responsibility of a person who has been conferred an academic title, but is unable to be accountable to his knowledge?" says Muhammadi.
    According to him, the morals of the Indonesians are indeed very low. "They are shameless and openly display their fraudulent titles. Corruption is now seen as normal, let alone the misuse of academic titles. In reality, one should feel ashamed paying Rp3 million in order to get an MBA. But the fact is, even now the practise is widespread.
    In order to stop people from using such titles, Muhammadi suggests that ways should be identified to put them to shame. For example, by exposing their names in the mass media or in higher education forums. "The important thing is to shame the person so as to discourage others from doing the same. The next action is to eliminate the titles once their modus operandi has been detected."
    A similar view is forwarded by Ronny. He suggests that the publication of these illegal titles should start with the frauds. "They must be the first to be disciplined. This is because the operators of illegal education boards are difficult to sanction, unless there is proof that they endanger the nation, society as well as national education objectives. So long as this information is difficult to collect, illegal higher education boards are difficult to control’, he continues.
    Lack of evidence
    Meanwhile Mariana, the coordinator of Harvard International University program, when contacted by Media admits that the foreign education board which has been invited to partner them has not been accredited by Department of Education (USA). "Even the Board that I am in charge of is yet to be accredited and still being processed,"
    Mardiana further adds, her education board does not appear in the registration list of Depdiknas because the type of higher education she coordinates differ from the program organized by Depdiknas. Because of this, she rejects any assumption that her organisation has misled the public. "Where is the proof? We are yet to receive complaints from the public. The only one who has the right to say (text ends here)
     

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