Questionable school / credentialing organization

I received an email today from the International Coaching Federation, the largest membership organization for coaches.

Apparently some organization or person has created a bogus look-alike site and is emailing coaches encouraging them to join their look-alike organization.

The look-alike is APBCF - AUTHENTIC PERSONAL BRANCH COACH FEDERATION (the legitimate one is coachfederation.org)

Checking into it, turns out that the look-alike is owned by Technological University of the Americas which, itself, is suspiciously named to sound like the apparently legitimate Technological University of America

Anyone have any info on either of these?

About TUA - TECHNOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS

 

IIRC, the short-lived Personal Branding University (I believe it's defunct) was also registered in Suriname. That's maybe two-three years ago. There were several interlocking schools and there was some mention of a private accreditation agency registered in Greece, as I recall.

I believe Dr. Rampersad, now of Tech. U. of the Americas, was at the helm of Personal Branding University. I could find no website today for Personal Branding U, but a couple of Facebook pages remain. A link to the school's website from its LinkedIn page now redirects to a home STD testing site. :shock:

IIRC, Dr. Potgieter (faculty at Tech. Uni. of the Americas) was at a high level in the Personal Branding University hierarchy as well. At one time he was with St. Clements University. At another, he was head of the Master's program in Psych. program at Young Scientists' University, same accreditor as some others here. Here's a thread on St. Clements:

http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/20316-st-clements-univ-need-info-please.html

There is a long thread on Personal Branding U. on Degree Discussion. It's pretty informative, covers all the related schools, professors, accreditors etc. You'll find all you need. :smile:

Johann

 

And here's the faculty page from Business School of the Americas - another school in the same Suriname chain. BSA - FACULTY AND RESEARCH

The names are identical with the faculty page of Technological U. of the Americas
Some names are also familiar from Personal Branding U.

Johann

 

Tech. Uni of Americas says it teaches a mining program. What a coincidence. Here's an old (2007) article on Queens U. of Brighton, a well-known less-than-wonderful school, much cussed-and-discussed here, which also set itself up to teach mining -- in Colorado.

“Queens University” a new Colorado mining school to increase your salary! | I THINK MINING

You'll notice the Chancellor was -- yes, that's right - the same Dr. Johan Potgieter.

Johann

 

I just took a look at the Personal Brand Coach Site Chip mentioned. It is presently under construction.

Although it seems that Personal Branding University didn't take off, Dr. Rampersad himself appears to be regarded as an authority on the subject of Personal Branding. He was born in Suriname and holds three degrees, including a Ph.D., from well-known Netherlands Universities. He has taught at Suriname's Anton de Kom University - a well-recognized school, and I believe he also taught at Eindhoven University in the Netherlands. Some Biographical info here:

https://www.mheducation.co.in/html/9780070585379.html

Johann