University of South Africa

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by LXIQ, Dec 16, 2009.

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  1. LXIQ

    LXIQ New Member

    Has anyone had experience with external study through the University of South Africa?

    Regards.
     
  2. Haggai12

    Haggai12 Member

    Unisa

    I believe several folks on this board have Unisa experience, myself included.

    I enjoyed the cultural 'stretch.'

    Make sure you are clear about career goals before enrolling however, as many US schools and employers are less than enthusiastic about foreign credentials, no matter how good they are.

    Best wishes!
     
  3. Farina

    Farina New Member

    Haggai,
    I am interested in doing a masters degree with them down the road. Could you give some details in regards to the process from registration to the conferral of your degree? I am most concerned about the thesis process. How does that work?

    Thanks in advance!
     
  4. LXIQ

    LXIQ New Member

    Thank you for your advice, Haggai12.
    Career is not important for me - I just want to do a Masters in Maths for interest.

    Thanks again.
     
  5. Haggai12

    Haggai12 Member

    Unisa studies

    Unisa has improved its application / admissions process. Simply go to website and follow directions for prospective students.

    The 'Calendars' [catalogs, here in the US] are very expansive documents with 'tons' of information and directions.

    Once you are assigned a supervisor [master's; promoter for doc's], you will either 1. follow a series of projects with a short dissertation [diss - master's; thesis - doctorate], or 2. do a full master's thesis, which will take a minimum of two years to complete.

    You will [or should do] a great deal of reading and research. Unisa [like European programs] does not 'hold your hand' like US programs do. You will become a 'self-learner' or not complete the program. Your instructor is there to help and guide, but will not 'baby-sit,' watching over your shoulder.

    Hard work, diligence and strong motivation will get you through to completion.

    While few in the US have much regard for the Unisa qualification [degree], the global academic community gives it much higher respect.

    Overall, a world-class school.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    While posters should feel very free to express opinions, this sounds more like an assertion of fact. So, please forgive me if I ask on what basis is this assertion made?

    My own humble doctoral dissertation gave some indication of this, and the very existence of foreign credential evaluators seems to indicate--at the least--some difficulties for graduates of foreign universities. But I wonder if there is more evidence out there? And with forces like globalization and the proliferation of distance learning, I wonder in which direction the acceptability of such degrees is headed?
     
  7. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Could it be a propensity to resist the unknown or less familiar because of U.S. employers being less comfortable with foreign credentials vs. home grown? Might the possibility also coincide with possible fewer acceptances of U.S. credentials abroad by foreign employers using a similar partiality? No data … was merely floating some thoughts.
     
  8. jampedro

    jampedro New Member

    You must also remember that higher eduacation outside of the US is just as good. Also that many faculty member at foreign universities studied in the US and vice versa. Therefore you should not worry about a foreign degree. Check that the degree requirements are acceptable. and make sure the school is accredited at the national level and have a good reputation.
     
  9. distancedoc2007

    distancedoc2007 New Member

    It's okay by me, I have no interest in working for an ignorant employer... It serves as an effective screener.

     
  10. major56

    major56 Active Member

    My comments /thoughts were merely intended for the possibility of predisposition as a contributing factor toward the acceptance for or lessened tolerance of foreign credentials per potential employers – not as an academic quality issue. Consider that we all possess some biases whether we’re foreign or native.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Hmmm. I'm not looking to get into a fight here but it seems to me, based on my own personal experience, that there does exist, in certain people, an element of racism or xenophobia that could come to light when trying to use a UNISA degree for employment purposes. Most people are rather open minded about such matters but there is no question that others harbor bad feelings toward anyone coming from "foreign" situations.

    Once, in a discussion of such matters, I had an educated person say to me, "I didn't know that they had universities in South Africa." Americans are woefully ignorant of other countries (especially first world countries and fourth world cultures).
     
  12. major56

    major56 Active Member

    I appreciate there are those who are both ignorant and biased toward foreign credentials; however, this is reality … rightly or wrongly. Those who choose in pursuing a foreign credential should weight this potential characteristic in their decision process.
     
  13. jackrussell

    jackrussell Member

    I applied for their DBL, was admitted. But still thinking on whether to take it up or not. It seemed extremely rigorously from the description. Also Unisa criteria was extremely strict. I was initially thinking of doing a Doctorate in Business Admin but was told to start from their Bachelor with Honors. Even using my MBA to apply was difficult as I have to show them evidence that my grades are more than 65%. Took months to apply. Those who have taken the DBL do share your experiences.
     
  14. distancedoc2007

    distancedoc2007 New Member

    Hi jackrussel,

    The DBL is terrific. I am two-thirds of the way through and have enjoyed it thoroughly. I have been to two of the three required colloquia, and I have to say the opportunity to interact with other students and the faculty has been a real highlight. South Africa is an amazing country.

    The key is to know more-or-less exactly what it is you want to research, and track down the appropriate promoter (supervisor) in the second year. Working from previous DBL dissertations (Google) is a good way to find the right promoter.

    It is a lonely road, and it requires a lot of self-discipline, but there are very clear milestones that keep you focused. You have to demonstrate significant progress each year, and present your work-to-date at a colloquium each year, which helps keep you focused.

    Getting admitted to the DBL is a rare honor, and I encourage you to pursue it!
     
  15. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Haggai: "...many US schools and employers are less than enthusiastic about foreign credentials, no matter how good they are."

    John: Not in my experience. My experience includes doing the marketing in the US for the online MBA of the Edinburgh Business School of Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. During my 8 years (1991-99), this MBA went from zero to becoming the largest MBA of any kind in America, with more than 4,000 students. Of the thousands of corporations, government agencies, and schools that were asked to approve it for their employees (and in many cases pay for it), the acceptance rate was higher than 98%.

    With one exception, the few who said no did so for reasons such as some Federal project that their students worked on, that did not permit non-US citizens to be involved. The one exception was Ingersoll-Rand, whose HR manager said, after closing his office door, "I worked my ass off full time for my MBA at Rice, and I'm not about to make it any easier for my people. And if you tell anyone I said this, I'll deny it."
     
  16. major56

    major56 Active Member

    ..."I worked my ass off full time for my MBA at Rice, and I'm not about to make it any easier for my people. And if you tell anyone I said this, I'll deny it."[/QUOTE]

    Dr. Bear,

    At least this Rice MBA let you know about his moral code if push came to shove…
     
  17. LXIQ

    LXIQ New Member


    Thank you again for your advice, Haggai12.

    Here in Australia, I would contact prospective supervisors from the faculty list of interests to see if they would consider taking me on as a student befor formally applying - do you think this is advisable with UNISA?

    Regards.
     
  18. major56

    major56 Active Member

    LXIQ

    This is probably off course regarding your initial inquiry, but in that you are in Australia, have you considered Chifley Postgraduate Programs delivered by Chifley Business School, and awarded by the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA)? I know very little of this program but it does appear interesting. Perhaps you may have some insight regarding its quality and acceptability in Australia.

    http://www.chifley.edu.au/
     
  19. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    I think you may find that the University of Queensland has links with the UNISA. I know that UNISA students in the past have sat for their undergrad exams at the Uni of Queensland. There are significant numbers of UNISA students here in Queensland. Most of them seem to be migrants from South Africa.

    For the undergrad programmes, I think that the exchange rate is a factor.
     
  20. Hille

    Hille Active Member

    Partnership Agreement with TESC

    Hello and Happy Holidays. I did a limited google search and found that UNISA and TESC had an agreement in 2006 for several degrees. TESC has a huge military and state government enrollment. I believe this could make a potential employer more comfortable with this educational listing on a resume. Hille
     

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