Should I do a distance master's at Staffordshire or on campus here in Thailand?

I live in Bangkok. The Thai university in question is Ramkhamhaeng. I like the look of its MA Political Science programme but have reservations about how Thai degrees are regarded globally.

Should I just do the MA International Relations (Distance) with Staffordshire or am I wasting a golden opportunity to put something interesting on my CV while I'm living here (ie a master's from an 'exotic' university)?

I know when I go home to Europe a master's from a Thai university would generate interest from potential employers and maybe even in academia, but if I plan on teaching in the Middle East or Japan will my Thai master's degree be deemed fairly worthless?

 

My experience is that teaching positions in the Middle east normally require a degree from the UK, Canada, Australia or the USA. I have also seen few ads that do not consider distance PhDs for teaching positions.

I would think that the Thai degree might be a good thing depending on your previous background. If you have a BS from a good British School and completed a Thai degree in Political Science with a specialization in Asian politics, then I don't see why someone would have a problem with this.

 

I have a strong first degree in History from a respected university in Ireland.

But this is worth thinking about

I assume you mean everywhere in the Anglosphere (ie Ireland and New Zealand aswell?)

 

Whatever you choose to do. Make sure you do it from a good business school. Because when it comes to post graduation, the name of the school is of prime importance. doesn't mean you don't have to study well but the name is looked at before your scores. Also, take into consideration where you want to pursue your career later and join a school in accordance with that.

 

Yes. I think as long as the Thai school has good reputation it should be OK. I have seen people with first degrees from Canada, UK or US than then move to Latin America and get degrees from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, etc and then move to academia.

The economy is global now, It is normal to see people with degrees from different countries. In business, as long as the school is AACSB, AMBA or EQUIS accredited is OK and shouldn't matter the country of residence of the school.

 

In Business if the degree is ACBSP that will be OK also. In the international arena, at least over the last few years, ACBSP seems to be outperforming AACSB. The International Council of Business Schools and Programs, (ACBSP Region 8) is partnering with EQUIS in Europe.

Here are a few specs on ACBSP

1,136 Member campuses
778 Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree
186 Associate Degree
170 Baccalaureate/Graduate and Associate

573 Accredited
486 Candidates for Accreditation
76 Not Currently Seeking Accreditation

167 Outside the United States
52 Different Countries

 

I would like to comment on Ramkhamhaeng. Check out their list of faculty. They have many Global-class academics.

 

Really? I would like to see evidence of this. ACBSP is normally perceived as a lower tier accreditation that is hardly known besides the online for profit academic circles.

 

ACBSP is hardly a predominately online and/or for-profit programmatic accreditation entity. ACBSP accredits far more B&M non-profit college /university business programs which consist of state supported colleges /universities. Agreed … ACBSP would not be considered on par with AACSB accreditation.
ACBSP : Current Accredited Programs and Members

 

Really? So how is it that almost every single online for profit is accredited by them? It looks like a online for profit heaven to me.



American InterContinental University (Main)
Argosy University
Capella University
Colorado Technical University
DeVry University
Herzing University - Online Campus
Kaplan University
Northcentral University
University of Phoenix
Walden University

 

I never wrote that ACBSP doesn’t also accredit online only business programs; however per your listed universities, perhaps you might contrast your numbers with ACBSP accredited non-profit B&M business programs instead of across-the-board subjective conclusion/s, e.g., 1) “It looks like an online for profit heaven to me.” And 2) “…hardly known besides the online for profit academic circles.”

Again, here is the link for your convenience:
ACBSP : Current Accredited Programs and Members

 

Lower Tier?

I have heard a rumor that AACSB is marketing a second tier AACSB-lite accreditation in South Asia.

It is evident however, that both ACBSP and AACSB are actively targeting South Asia.

 

ACBSP it seems has done well internationally. They have recently gone from one, to now three International Regions. Their International Council of Business Schools and Programs is making some headway, and will host a conference in Brussels at the end of November.

Here is one of the more one-sided examples of ACBSP's recent success.
Mongolia is benchmarking quality and modernizing their educational sector, most have chosen ACBSP.

The Institute of Finance and Economics (IFE) has gained accreditation, while several are candidates.
If you see "no" at the end it means they are members and neither candidates nor accredited.

Etugen Institute Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Global Leadership University Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Ider Institute Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Ikh Zasag International University (IZIU) - Economic & Accounting School Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree No
Institute of Economics and Business Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
International Business and Technology "Zokhiomj" University Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree No
Mandakh Burtgel Institute Ulaanbaatar-37 Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Mongolian National Institute Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Mongolian State University of Agriculture, School of Business and Economics Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Mongolian University of Science and Technology Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
National University of Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Otgontenger University, School of Economics & Business Administration Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
San Institute Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Seruuleg Institute Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Tenger Institute of Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree No
The Institute of Finance and Economics (IFE) Ulaanbaatar-49 Bacc/Grad Degree Yes
The Institute of International Economics and Business Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree Candidacy
Tsetsee Gun Management Institute Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree No
University of the Humanities Business School Ulaanbaatar Bacc/Grad Degree No

 

You cannot compare ACBSP with AACSB and one outperforming the other.
ACBSP has different standards of measurement compared to AACSB.
ACBSP in the past has accredited some questionable schools (schools without proper accreditation in the country they operate).
On the other side, AACSB has also accredited an unaccredited business school in India last year (Indian School of Business, Executive Education, Business Research, B-school). or http://www.isb.edu/pgp/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.Shtml#cre AACSB has not yet accredited online Universities. I am sure that will change in the near future looking at ISB.