I have done a search on UNISA on the board and keep coming up with South Africa. Is the UNISA in Austalia a legitimate school? I think it is, but I would also like to know how it will compare with a RA school in the US or is it GAAP? I am still unclear on the distinction. For the price ($10k US) would it be better for me to enroll at Heriot-Watt ($7k US) instead? As stated in other posts, I need to watch the expenditure very closely! The positive aspect of the Cordon Bleu connection is that I work in the Hospitality field and this would be very well received so if both degrees are comparable in acceptability, I would probably enroll at UNISA. Thanks again for your help everyone. Because of this board and Lawrie Miller's website, I will have my BS in another month, something I thought I would never do!!
Some discussions about the recognition of UNISA in other countries have been made previously. You may search for a previous thread "UNISA EdD Worthless?". Some of UNISA graduates are holding high positions in the academic fields. Here is another example: http://www.hku.hk/law/dept/rm.html
Yes, John. The Australian UNISA is a legitimate, GAAP school. As to whether it's worth it? I don't remember enough of your previous posts to answer but your reference to H-W makes me think you're considering an MBA degree program. In that case it may have more to do with your learning style, etc than with the tuition as the H-W degree is essentially self-taught, no? If you think you can handle that then it would be hard for me to imagine that a British degree would be less valuable than an Australian one. As for the Cordon Bleu connection, I can't really say how much of a difference it might make. Good luck, Jack
I wish to pursue an MBA. The choice I must make is between prestige and utility, I think. It is a toss-up between Heriot-Watt (prestige) and Univ. of South Australia/Le Cordon Bleu which has a more direct impact on my career in club management. If it came down to it, and there was a university chancellor on the search committee for a job, would Univ. of S. Australia equal HW in terms of prestige? Is it 'normal' for a university to offer a degree with instruction partially given by a non-accredited entity such as Le Cordon Bleu? ( I may be wrong about LCB's accreditation, but their website is a .com, not a .edu.) thanks
I'd go with UniSA: the Strines are foreign-user-friendly and the university is reputable. There is something in Australia called the Good University Guide which has a website (dunno the url). Take a look at it and see if it has any further information. I know nothing about MBA programs or comparative prestige, but my own contacts with Australian universities have been helpful. Don't construe this as criticism of H-W, about which I know nothing. Just because the grand behemoth of DL has a similar acronym (UNISA=University of South Africa, UniSA=University of South Australia) doesn't mean that the Australian uni is somehow piggybacking on the other's reputation.
Blind comparisons? Reading other contributions from 'Uncle Janko' I appreciate both his insights and his sense of humour. However, in recommending one option on the basis that he knows about them, and not the other (and certainly not condeming it) of which he admits he knows nothing, is a bit strange for a rational person. To say, as I often do, that the choice of 'A' (of which I know something good) will not do you any harm, but of the other choice 'B, of which I know no nothing, is not advice to choose 'A' in preference to 'B', it is only a report that 'A' will do you no harm. Further enquiries are advised. Of course, I know the University of South Australia ,being active in the world MBA market, and I have no doubt that as a Commonwealth University it is of highly reputable standards. I do know that when we have lost out in competition with them we are told by the institutions in the third world countries concerned that its assessment and examination procedures are not as 'tough' as those of EBS, which is presumably of benefit to their potential distance students. We take this as a compliment. Naturally we saying nothing and offer the academics concerned our best wishes. As I do on this occasion to the contributors here. I should also say to John Spies, that Professor Brown is on leave this week and if he has written to him he will deal with his request for an exemption on his return (we share the same PA).
Professor Kennedy, Is it possible to access an example of a HW course on the net? I am looking for an idea as to difficulty. Honestly, I am not the smartest guy around and I am a bit apprehensive about the program due in part to comments on this board about the difficulty. On the other hand, I don't expect any MBA program to be a walk in the park, nor would I want it to be, I just would like to feel better about making such an expensive decision knowing that I have a chance of completion. Thank you for your continued help re: my choice in program. regards,
Access the web site If you acess the web site: www.ebsmba.com you should find examples of the subjects and past exams plus solutions. If in difficulty contact me tomorrow (Wednesday) [<[email protected]> and I will have access set for you ( I am at home this evening and, as you will imagine, seldom check on our sites but at EBS tomorrow I can ask our IT people how to do it!). Our examinations are 'tough' compared to some/many 'softer Business Schools, but they are fair. Our proposed exam papers are reviewed by senior faculty from other British Business Schools, graded by our own faculty and subjected to External Examiners. It is perhaps because we are disappointed with the 'corruption' of the examination systems we notice elsewhere, including at 'top' schools, that we sometimes over emphasise the toughness of our examination regimes. You can see our exams, our faculty answers and selected 'good student' answers from actual exams. Name a subject from Economics, Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Finance, Accounting, Qunatitative Methods and Strategic Planning, and I will send to you a recent final examination, a faculty answer and a good student answer.
Professor Kennedy, Thank you again, I will go to the website for more info. If it is not too much trouble, I would like the info you have graciously offered for two areas, one I feel that I am strong in, and one in which I am weak. Namely, Organizational Behavior and Quantitative Methods. This way, I feel, would be a better indicator of my success. Once again, thank you for your assistance. John
My dear Professor Kennedy, The humble Carpathian peasant was merely sharing some observations, largely positive, about Australian universities based on his own limited first-hand experience with them, and he was attempting to clear up any confusion of UNISA with UniSA. Thank you for calling me irrational. I carefully delimited the range and basis of my comment. I obsequiously apologize for failing to meet your own standards. Neither you nor your employer was criticized, let alone attacked. If Mr Spies found some value in my brief comment, well and good; if not, well and good also. The tenor of your reply does point up the friendliness and lack of condescension which have characterized the responses given to me on several occasions by personnel of various Australian universities. Now, sir, being fully aware of the difference between faeces and footwear-shining products, I am going to polish my boots. Yours respectfully, Janko
A misunderstanding? I commented that your ideas 'werew a bit strange for a rational person', which is not the same as saying you were 'irrational'. One can be 'a bit strange' on occasion without being irrational on all occasions. I thought my remarks about your 'insights and good humour' were a plain statement of admiration, not a prelude to a crticism of your general contributions here. As to the tenor of replies to your previous messages from Australian universities, I do not understand to what you refer. I do not work, nor ever have, for an Australian university (though I have been a guest lecturer to one or two). Perhaps there are multiple misunderstandings between us here? To point out alleged error in a line of a contribution is not to be personal, nor intended to be so - it's called normal discourse between members of the republic of the intellect. One can disagree and still be respectful.
Sorry, busy day I promised John Spies to send some exam material today (Wednesday) but I have been in meetings all day. I will do this tomorrow (Thursday).
Professor, No problem, busy here as well with a Board Meeting. Looking forward to your sending the materials. regards, John Spies my email is [email protected] if that is better.
Messages bouncing back I have tried to e-mail you on the address you gave on this thread at it keeps bouncing back (I have tried three combinations). Could you check and re-send. I have the hard copies of the last exams in Organisational Behaviour and Quantitative Methods , plus two 'good' student answers (mid-60s on the British grading scale) for you to see what we expect. These answers are unedited but they are a better guide than the faculty answers which tend to be comprehensive and untypical of what can be written by a student in the time available. For regulation compliance I can only send these by airmail and not electronically to a non-matriculated EBS student. Sorry but its the rules!
Professor Kennedy, You have been most helpful! My email addresses are as follows: [email protected] or [email protected] (work) My address is: John Spies General Manager/COO Hardscrabble Country Club 5211 Cliff Drive Fort Smith, AR 72903 USA Thank you for your help in making this decision. regards, John
Professor, I now see what may be the problem. My email address has an underscore between my name and the number that is obscured because it was underlined when posted. John
