I think this guy took a bit of a hissy fit. I feel the NZQA at worse misunderstood things. But an Oxford student was a tad offended. www.nzqa.co.nz
Well, one of my high school teachers "read history" at Oxford, and took a PGCE at the University of London. He explained to me that he received his MA from Oxford once he had "stayed out of jail for a few years" (as John Bear explains in his book) and paid a fee to the University. I don't really know if his MA was included in his salary calculation here in Saskatchewan...it may be that the NZ authorities in the case that you cited only count actual courses taken toward a degree to determine a person's suitability for a teaching position. In my teacher's case, he was hired on the basis of the BA and PGCE, as well as prior experience in the field. Darren.
A hissy fit perhaps, but a good example that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If Mr. Powell didn't raise such a stink, the NZQA might never have accepted his degree. Is anyone else less-than-impressed by the Oxford diploma? It looks like someone filled it in with a typewriter. Bruce
Before he got flamed on the other forum, Gert Potgieter remarked about substandard masters degrees from prominent universities. I think that Oxford University could be described as the paradigmatic example of that, since they apparently grant masters degrees to their graduates after a certain amount of time has elapsed, without requiring any additional academic work at all. I'd be interested in hearing precisely what post-bachelors work he did to earn his masters degree. The NZQA expressed willingness to credit his masters upon receipt of a transcript or an explanation of what he did to earn it. I agree with the NZQA. Nobody says that Oxford is a "second-rate university", but it IS a university that engages in the shoddy practice of granting degrees for no work. It's also true that these degrees are not technically "honorary" degrees, instead they are degrees granted on account of one of Oxford's peculiar traditions. But there is absolutely no reason the rest of the world must recognize that tradition. I agree that Oxford is one of the world's greatest universities. I am willing to entertain the possibility that Oxford graduates are often superior to graduates of less favored universities. BUT those graduates will have to *demonstrate* that superiority before I will recognize it. They will simply have to do the work and then have that work judged by the same standards that apply to everyone else. That's a fundamental egalitarian principle that I am not willing to give up. Graduates from Oxford bachelors programs shouldn't be permitted to simply claim superiority as a natural right, and then be granted graduate degrees as their due without having to perform any additional postgraduate work. That's just an assertion of privilege. 'Privilege' is defined as a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage or favor. Besides, if Oxford graduates are given masters degrees without having to do any additional work, I see no reason why Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, Princeton, Columbia, Chicago, Berkeley, Michigan... This is a practice that would make a masters degree meaningless if it were picked up by all the other universites that could claim to be Oxford's peers.
Here is my challenge For those who believe NZQA was wrong: The following link http://www.degree.net/news.htm has an article in which a "diploma mill" is issuing diplomas in the name of legitimate University's including British University's. (Not to say that has happened here but the possibility exists because it happened) Now imagine having someone coming to you to have an Oxford MA assessed without having transcripts or evidence of completing MA level courses, Imagine all they have is a diploma...Nothing else. If you are the accrediting assessor? What would you say to that person? Would you recognize the diploma without transcripts?
Bruce I do not believe his Oxford MA should be accepted: QUOTE FROM THE UK QAA FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: "Masters degrees are awarded after completion of taught courses, programmes of research, or a mixture of both. Longer, research-based programmes often lead to the degree of MPhil. Most Masters courses last at least one year (if taken full-time), and are taken by persons with Honours degrees (or equivalent achievement). Some Masters degrees in science and engineering are awarded after extended undergraduate programmes that last, typically, a year longer than Honours degree programmes. Also at this level are advanced short courses, often forming parts of Continuing Professional Development programmes, leading to Postgraduate Certificates and Postgraduate Diplomas. (Note: the MAs granted by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are not academic qualifications.)"
Re: Bruce I agree with you, but what you & I think doesn't matter, as the website said that the Oxford degree was eventually accepted. I don't think that would have happened if the guy didn't raise such a stink. Bruce
