Hardwarezone has some interesting information and more interesting links regarding higher education/distance education. The site is obviously based in Singapore and with an Eastern focus but the information should be of value to many people.
Students beware! One strike - and you are out?! Upon preliminary perusal, I was beginning to think that the above cited website might conceivably serve as a useful review site for prospective DL students seeking an international perspective into legitimate and recognized academic accreditation schemes....... UNTIL......... I saw that the website contained, on the left hand side of the page, several sub-links entitled: “Accreditation" one of which has "Accreditation - Free info from top online colleges. 100's of courses to choose from! www.EarnMyDegree.com.” This questionable sub-link has an advertisement entitled “Select from the Internet’s Best Schools” – and Lo and Behold! – guess which schools are listed as constituting the “Internet’s Best schools?” Yup! KW”U” (the façade for KW”E”) is listed, as are the following: AIU UoP Westwood College Online Kaplan U Colorado Technical U Walden U University of Scranton (A Jesuit University) Regis University Tulane University (Freeman School of Business) Concord Law School and Jones International University On the basis of this alone, I am prepared to issue the verdict of "One strike - and you are out!" On the basis of the above misinformation and mischaracterization of some accredited schools with notoriously substandard and diploma millish schools - definitely a deceitful and highly misleading tactic of many diploma mills - I am willing to consider striking this website as a useful review site worthy of recommendation to prospective DL students seeking reliable information on academic international accreditation schemes. Any thoughts? Thanks.
I hope that I can be excused for posting (below) the full text of the link provided. Just in case the link were to disappear or become inaccessible for any reason, here is the full text of the information available on the site cited by decimon, above. Thanks. ========================================== Source: http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=410382 FAQ: Foreign Universities' Accreditation, Recognition, Ranking and Other Information. University Accreditation Bodies In Ireland, UK, USA and Australia There are a lot of talk on whether a certain University or Institution is recognized or not. So for the benefit of everybody, I've compiled a list of the accreditation bodies in Ireland, UK, USA and Australia. As long as the University or Institution is recognized by these bodies, you can be assured that the degrees they offered are genuine and not a useless piece of paper. Please note that accreditation can only certify that the degree you have is real. But whether an employer accepts that degree to employ you or not is entirely up to the employer's discretion. A) For Universities, Institutions and Colleges in the United Kingdoms The web site lists down the degree-awarding educational institutions in UK that are recognized by the UK Government, the Department for Education and Skills (DFES). UK Government - Department for Education and Skills Recognized Degrees B) For Universities, Institutions and Colleges in the United States of America There are 6 Regional Accreditation Agencies, each in charge of the educational institutions within their respective regions in the USA. Accrediatation by any of these 6 Regional Agencies is considered recognition by the United States Government. The exception to these regional accreditation bodies is DETC, which accredits schools, colleges and universities that deliver their courses primarily through distance educatuon. 1) Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools 2) New England Association of Schools and Colleges 3) North Central Association of Schools and Colleges 4) Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges 5) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 6) Western Association of Schools and Colleges 7) Distance Education and Training Council C) For Universities, Institutions and Colleges in Australia The web site lists down the educational institutions that are recognized by the Australian Commonwealth Government. Australian Qualifications Framework Here is a link in the Austarlian Commonwealth Government Department of Education website on how to differentiate between the real Australian Universities and the bogus ones. D) For Universities, Institutions and Colleges in Ireland The Higher Education Authority is the equivalent of the Ministry of Education in Ireland. In the website you can find a list of the Irish universities and colleges. -------------------------------------------------------- Accreditation for USA, UK and European Business Schools and MBAs. For the benefit of those who're looking for a MBA or an undergraduate education in business and management. A) For UK and European Universities: There're two types of accreditations - accreditation for the MBA courses, and accreditation for the Universities' business schools. 1) For accreditation for their MBAs courses, it comes mainly from AMBA (Association of MBAs). Examples of accredited MBA programs of AMBA are: Bradford University School of Management Imperial College Management School INSEAD The European Institute of Business Administration University of Bath School of Management Judge Institute of Management - University of Cambridge Henley Management College Warwick Business School 2) For accreditation of their business schools, it comes from EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System). Examples of accredited business schools of EQUIS are: Bradford University School of Management Henley Management College INSEAD Open University Business School Stockholm University, School of Business Rotterdam School of Management - Erasmus University Rotterdam London Business School B) For USA Universities: There's two types of accreditations - regional accreditation for Universities, and accreditation for the Universities' business schools. For regional accreditation of the Universities, there're 6 regional accrediation associations, all are considered equal to one another. 1) Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools 2) New England Association of Schools and Colleges 3) North Central Association of Schools and Colleges 4) Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges 5) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 6) Western Association of Schools and Colleges For accreditation of the Universities' business schools and programs, there are 2 main accrediting bodies -> 1. AACSB (Association To Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). 2. ACBSP (Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs). Both organizations had received recognition from CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation). AACSB is for the large national-level universities with focus on research, and courses from Bachelor up till Doctoral degrees. Examples of accredited universities of AACSB are: Arizona State University University of Arkansas Harvard University California State University, Fullerton Yale University Univerity of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago ACBSP is for the small and mid-size universities and 2-years colleges with focus on teaching, and courses from Associate up to Master degrees and in rare cases, Doctoral degrees. Examples of acceditated universities and colleges of ACBSP are: California State University, Dominguez Hills Texas A&M University, Kingsville State University of New York, Morrisville Oklahoma City University University of Indiana Orange County Community College Virginia Western Community College. Note: Being a member of these 2 accrediting bodies do not means that the university or college had achieved accreditation. -------------------------------------------------------- University Rankings A) USA: U.S. News America's Best Colleges B) UK: The Sunday Times University League Table The Times Good University Guide C) Australia: The Good Guides -------------------------------------------------------- More Information On UK Universities The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA): Established in 1997, QAA was formed as an independent body to assess the quality of the various UK unversities and the degree programs they offer. You can even find audit reports of distance-learning UK degree programs that are offered in Singapore. Higher Education & Research Opportunities in The United Kingdom (HERO): HERO is the internet portal for showcasing the diversity and quality of research and higher education in the UK. Its member oirganisations consist of various governmental and private education & research agencies. -------------------------------------------------------- Recognized Engineering Degrees From Overseas Universities by PEB, Singapore The Professional Engineers Board, Singapore has a list of qualifications from UK and other countries that're recognized by the Government of Singapore for registration as a Professional Engineer in Singapore. Professional Engineers Board, Singapore (PEB) is a statutory board in the Ministry of National Development. PEB was established since 1971 under the Professional Engineers Act. Look here for the list of recognized engineering qualifications: Professional Engineers Board Singapore -------------------------------------------------------- Career In The Singapore Civil Service For those who are interested in getting a job in the Civil Service. It is stated that as long as the educational institution is recognized by its home government, it is considered as being recognized by the Singapore Government as well. Singapore Civil Service -------------------------------------------------------- The Differences Between A Franchised Degree and A Validated Degree 1) Franchised Degree: Some degree programs are available both through distance-learning and on campus. These are called franchised degrees, because like the McDonald's franchises, the Big Mac (in this case the degree program) are the same anywhere in the World. The titles of the degrees and the syllabus are virtually the same (although sometimes there are slight modifications in syllabus to cater to local conditions) as the ones awarded on-campus. These are the degrees directly awarded by an university. 2) Validated Degree: Others degree programs are only available in local or overseas partner institutions and not on campus. The reason is because the partner institutions designed the syllabus and send it to the university for approval. The university will then assess if the syllabus is up to the university's standard (i.e. validation) and grant the partner institutions approval to offer the programs under the university's name. The degree titles from such programs may not be the same or available as the ones on campus. These are the degrees validated and awarded by an university. -------------------------------------------------------- Recognition of Distance-Learning Degrees in the Singapore Civil Service Reply from the Ministry of Commmunty Development and Sports, Feedback Unit on the above issue: http://app.internet.gov.sg/data/mcd...feedback316.htm
You may be prepared to issue verdict but are perhaps not sensible in doing so. When you see a side column clearly labeled "Advertisement" then you are duly advised as to what follows. "Ads by Google" is another hint. I hope that what may be valuable information is not obscured by the bloviating "verdicts", accusations and condemnations of our 12 Angry Men. The proprietor of that site clearly states the purpose of the page. That purpose is clearly to establish what is accepted accreditation. Enough of the nonsense, please.
Thanks. Maybe I should point out that the site in question is not per se an education site but a techie site similar to anandtech.com. The latter has always been a fine site but if you go there with an ad-blocking browser you may feel at first that you're looking into a strobe light. The ads help defray the cost of running the sites.
Decimon, check your logic: Why excoriate 12 when one would do just fine? Why condemn so-called "12 Angry Men?" when no one had anything to do with my post by yours truly? I am tempted to ask who these "12 Angry Men") might be .... but .... never mind. I did state that the site "might conceivably serve as a useful review site for prospective DL students seeking an international perspective into legitimate and recognized academic accreditation schemes......." By the way, I am interested in your opinion of KW"E" being listed by an ad on the site as one of the "......... Internet’s Best Schools?” I would also appreciate anyone's pointing out of ANY (if any)factual inaccuracies on the site. I am not an expert in this area and I seriously want to recommend the site, among others, to some of my students who are researching and reviewing (with the intention of delving into) some legitimate and accredited DL programs. No bloviation here (smile) - and no obfuscation, either. Thanks.
Jake, Sorry if I jumped too hard. 12 Angry Men was an allusion to presuppositions and snap judgments. That degreeinfo.com has an actual dozen such people is not posited.
