American Colleges raise the flag in Vietnam

"The State of Oregon's Office of Degree Authorization, for example, has declined to recognize the degrees issued in Vietnam by Northcentral University, an online enterprise based in Prescott Valley, Ariz., that offers an M.B.A. program in cooperation with the Hanoi University of Technology.

Alan L. Contreras, administrator of the state agency, says that until the qualifications of the faculty members in Vietnam and the quality of the program are ascertained, the degrees will not be recognized in Oregon.

John A. Taylor, vice president of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northcentral's American accreditor, says the university "does not have commission approval to offer any on-ground degree programs in the U.S. or abroad. To our knowledge, all of its programs are delivered online."

Le Hong Hai, the Hanoi university's deputy director for international cooperation, says as far as he knows, Northcentral is accredited to offer programs in Vietnam, and that is good enough. His university does not really consider a potential partner's reputation when making an international deal, he adds. Northcentral was chosen, he says, because of "its low cost, the academic requirements are not too high, and it is accredited."

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