DETC-accredited school found to be illegal in Australia

I have a fax of an article from The Australian, Sept. 25, but can't find the article on line.

What happened is that the privately-owned Australian College of Technology lost its license to teach overseas students, and suddenly went out of business. It was offering the Master's degrees of the University of Action Learning, which is a DETC-accredited, US-based subsidiary of International Management Centre of England.

The Australian college owed more than A$1 million. The UAL degrees were not approved by the territorial government, causing the Dept. of Education, Science, and Training to take action.

Quite wonderfully, the Australian College of Technology was only days away from being bought for A$1 million by Garratt, a company that specializes in manufacturing screws. (I am not making this up.) Garratt went ahead and bought the college anyway a few days later, but for a small fraction of the original price. (Yes, it does come to mind that a name change to Screw U. might be in order.)

Hang on, it gets stranger.

The college landlord, publisher Theo Skalkos, claiming he is owed $200,000, has barred the new owners from access to the building, and says he will open the college himself next Tuesday. More than $400,000 in tuition had been collected from people in the Action Learning Master's program, whereabouts apparently unknown.

Five years ago, the college administrator, one Nabil Nasr, was jailed for stealing $136,000 from his employer, Kuwait Airways, and gambling it away.

Oh, and the college Vice President, tax accountant Michael Megas, had been jailed in 1993 for misappropriating over $1 million of his clients' money.

"This should be irrelevant in my opinion," said Mr Nasr.

One must wonder what the University of Action Learning knew about their Australian partners, and if DETC was aware of matters as well -- and whether the DETC accreditation of Action Learning/IMC might be affected.

 

Geroge browen and I have been doing battle with the one and only Mr Megas, Associate professor Megas, over various matters over the past few months. All things come to those who wait patiently ....

It is not that the DETC school was declared illegal, but that it was/is illgal to operate *any foreign educational institution* here unless recognised by the respective State Education Department.

At Carlyle we prepare people for University of London examinations, but the contract is between Carlyle and the students - there is and cannot be any contract between UL and Carlyle. UL cannot operate in any way in Australia, not even be repesented here, unless it is formally recognised by the DState Education authoirty on the repsective State.

Of course, NOOSR do not recognise DETC degrees here despite apparently attempts by you for some recognition - unless my NOOSR source is mistaken. This does not make them illegal either.

 

Peter: Of course, NOOSR do not recognise DETC degrees here despite apparently attempts by you for some recognition - unless my NOOSR source is mistaken.

John: If the "you" in that sentence was me, your source is mistaken. May I learn who it is, so I can set matters straight. I have had no communication whatsoever with NOOSR since they hired me, 1990-92, to write fifteen monographs on the educational systems of 15 countries as they relate to Australian education.

[NOOSR = National Office on Overseas Skills Recognition]

 

I was referring to that very project that you initially carried out, and was under the impression [maybe mistakenly] that what was finally published was not as you wished it to be - it got sent 'on the rounds' as is the process here, and then all and sundry have their say and attempt to protect their vested interests and those who have an axe to grind 'contribute' as well...

I wasn't criticising recognition of DETC to a relevant extent,a s it clearly has its place ... you don't need to defend your position....

...and this moring it became public that an Australian University has no qualms with someone in a senior facilty position with a Pacific Western PhD No doubt this will get 'aired' and someone somewhere will beleive that this validates non RA degrees - and it is in George brown's State - they probably waited until he has away

 

CLEARING THE AIR

THIS MESSAGE IS POSTED FOR THE RECORD & IS ADDRESSED TO ALL THAT HAVE RESPONDED TO THE IMCA/University of Action Learning debacle in Sydney.

Firstly, I am surprised at Peter's comment that "Geroge browen and I have been doing battle with the one and only Mr Megas". Well, I have never communicated with anyone by the name of Geroge Browen and I never thought that I have ever disagreed or had a conflict with Mr French.

For the record Australian College of Technology (ACT) which was a very successful Vocational College faced problems through the confusion of the authorities when IMCA were delivering their programs in Sydney using the premises of ACT. ACT were offering a Graduate Certificate in Marketing or IT (year 1) and this was topped up by the IMCA Master program in year 2. This program was delivered by IMCA. When the NSW State declared that IMCA was not approved to offer courses in NSW, ACT was forced to refund fees for the first year tuition, moneys that had been used in delivering the program. This regretably brought ACT to its knees but for all intensive purposes (even though I agree with Peter's comment of SCREW U) it continues under the ownership of Garratts.

DEST took a long time to understand their error but have finally realised that IMCA should have refunded thr fees only for the 2nd year and since they could not do so they have been deregistered from CRICOS and may no longer offer their courses in the State of Queensland.

As for my colourful past, may I say that both the IMCA/UAL Dean for the Pacific, as all my employers and Educational Authorities to date have had a full disclosure of my past. I have erred and paid my dues, in the process I studied and got back in the world with a Bachelor of Vocational Education & Training (Charles Sturt) and a Master in Educational Administration (UNSW). I am now completing a Master of Arts (TESOL) and I will then proceed with my PhD at the UNSW. I believe that I am entitled to a break and thank God I am currently employed in the education industry as there are still people that can see past the past of a human being who may have a lot to offer in the field.

Note that I was neither a Vice President or Director of Australian College of Technology. I was in charge of its academic affairs and I am proud to say that ACT's quality programs were classed as innovative and had and still have the respect of the industry.

As far as IMCA is concerned and NOOSR, I can offer no comment but to advise that some of their graduates have received recognition.

I take this opportunity tish you all a Very Merry Xmas and a Peaceful New Year.

Michael

 

This thread evokes three names--all in one post--that I found relevant lately: French, Carlyle, and Suhar.

 

But none is so great as Megas.