Universidad Central de Nicaragua\Universidad Azteca Accreditation

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by sklemnov, Oct 7, 2012.

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  1. sklemnov

    sklemnov New Member

    Dear DegreeInfo,

    I am seeking a PhD in Education for work in Nicaragua and am wondering whether Universidad Central de Nicaragua is a legitimate Nicaraguan university?

    Also, are Universidad Azteca's international partnerships legitimate accredited programs in Mexico?

    I cannot find info about this anywhere. Thank you!
     
  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Yes you can. We've had several l-o-n-g threads on Universidad Azteca. From them, it seems:

    (a) Azteca has made many, many "partnerships." I believe more than 20. Some appear to be good schools -- some appear quite suspect.

    (b) It appears that some programs at Azteca appear to be the Mexican equivalent to "Accredited" but the process applies to individual degree programs, not the entire university. Other programs may not be similarly "accredited."

    (c) The consensus (if there is one) seems to be -- be very very careful when dealing with this school. Check what validation there is for your particular program. And nobody is sure how any of its degrees would fare in the U.S. - there appears to be no contributor who knows if such a degree would pass the "WES Test" - or that of any other NACES-member evaluator - or ACCRAO for that matter.

    Here are a couple of threads:

    http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/37764-universidad-azteca-5.html

    http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/33336-university-azteca-2.html

    BTW - Universidad Central de Nicaragua appears legit. Here's some reading and references:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universidad_Central_de_Nicaragua

    Again, I have no idea how its degrees are perceived abroad.

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 7, 2012
  3. SHerzberg

    SHerzberg New Member

    sklemnov,

    Any update on your search? Azteca Universidad is a legitimate and recognized University and Mexico, so is Universidad Central de Nicaragua. All programs are fully accredited and acceptable worldwide. These degrees do pass NACES evaluation without any problem. Johann is correct in that in Mexico, RVOE (accreditation) is for specific programs, however, with Universidad Central de Nicaragua validating the program, the degree itself is fully accredited.

    Stev
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    So here's a shocker for all you regulars. A newbie appears to defend a questionable entity. Please take this advice:

    (c) The consensus (if there is one) seems to be -- be very very careful when dealing with this school. Check what validation there is for your particular program. And nobody is sure how any of its degrees would fare in the U.S. - there appears to be no contributor who knows if such a degree would pass the "WES Test" - or that of any other NACES-member evaluator - or ACCRAO for that matter. (borrowed from the post above)
     
  5. SHerzberg

    SHerzberg New Member

    Hi,

    Yes. I am new to posting here, but I have viewed all of these discussions over and over. I know for a fact that the degree passes NACES. I am an LCSW in California (you can easily look this up) and completed the PhD program with Intercultural Open University Foundation that has a partnership with Azteca & UCN. One of your own posters, Michael Laferney (google him for proof) completed his degree with UCN and also had his degree NACES evaluated. I am not defending for the sake of it, but just simply stating the degree is equivalent to US PhD's. I did caution about the Mexican degrees because as agreed with the previously stated, not all degrees are RVOE. I know how hard you all can be on people that do not share your views, so I will not argue, but there is plenty of proof out there to show that it is equivalent. Now, you mentioned WES, of all of NACES, they are the hardest and I did not have it WES tested, but had it evaluated by Education International, Inc.

    If anyone really wants to know, why not just contact the Consejo Nacional de Universidades? This is what accredits any university (not just programs) in Nicaragua. I do not see a space to upload my evaluation, but would be more than willing to share as proof.

    Kizmet, I have read prob most of your threads and believe you are very smart, and skeptical for good reason. So was I, but I went through IOUF before they even had a partnership with UA & UCN, so now my degree is actually recognized, when before it would not have been so. I realize this post will be scrutinized and that is fine, but anyone can find this information out pretty easily. ALSO, if you really want to know about any international program, you can easily look this up on the International Handbook of Universities - Volume 2 - released 11/2012 (newest version for 2013). This is what NACES & ACCRAO uses for evaluation purposes. While I am a newbie, this can easily be verified, the school is authorized and recognized to award Ph.D's. I don't care if anyone decided to pursue a degree there or not, as I am an IOUF graduate and am proud of it, but I did get a double degree from UCN and that was a bonus.

    My advice.... don't take my word, or anyone else's word. Get reliable 3rd party verification, that being the International Handbook of Universities. Email WES directly and they can verify they use this source, or simply google 'International Handbook of Universities WES' and the first two results should be a link directly to there site describing their use of it.

    Stev
     
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    So now we all know two things: Kizmet is brilliant and Azteca is questionable. To me it's reminiscent of the University of Wales linking with every unlovely entity on the planet. Sooner or later it comes back at you. That strategy backfired on Wales and the whole system came apart. If your school links to Azteca some of their dirt rubs off on you because, as my Police friend says, "If you play in the dirt you're going to get dirty." That's just life.
     
  7. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Here's what WES had to say in 2007 about university accreditation in Nicaragua:

    WENR, May 2007: Consejo Nacional de Universidades

    It appears that in 1990, Nicaragua relaxed its laws regarding the creation of new private universities. This led to the very rapid creation of dozens of what Nicaraguans call "new universities". The 'Universidad Central de Nicaragua' is one of these, reportedly founded in 1998.

    In the face of this near-anarchy, Nicaragua appears to be in the process of creating a new national accreditor, which is apparently called the 'Sistema Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación'. This will be in charge of quality-assurance, site-visits and such things.

    So... my questions are:

    1. Is the Sistema Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación up and running yet?

    2. Is the Universidad Central de Nicaragua accredited by the Sistema Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación?

    3. If it is, then is this accreditation American-style institutional accreditation, or Latin-American program-by-program accreditation in the style of Mexican RVOE or Costa Rican SINAES?

    And most important...

    4. Has the Sistema Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación checked-out, approved and accredited the "international" doctoral programs that are apparently being offered in the Universidad Central de Nicaragua's name by individuals located outside Nicaragua?
     
  8. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    WES doesn't exactly agree with that. They say:

    It seems to have been the perceived inadaquacy of that arrangement that motivated the creation of the new Sistema Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación.
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    From experience: consider degree programs and schools where you don't have to answer these questions. Just a thought.
     
  10. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    This is probably the single best piece of advice you will receive on this site.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    OMG Bill, you're acting like people should actually do some research, ask good questions and apply critical thinking. In other words, you're totally unreasonable.:reporter:
     
  12. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    He's like that, but beloved in this parts anyway.
     
  13. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    "these parts"
     
  14. SHerzberg

    SHerzberg New Member

    No, not brilliant, just aware of the education system and the program. I am very aware of UoW and their mistake of no oversight for their degree, what a shame and disgrace.
     
  15. SHerzberg

    SHerzberg New Member

    I think this is also good advice. I am just wondering about the many of students in the US that do (forget online education) actually travel outside of the US for their education...they would have to ask these same questions. By nationality I am American, but my family immigrated to the US and I spent a large potion of my life outside the US and see no issue with going oversees. Universidad Central de Nicaragua is best known as a medical school - offering MD's (on campus of course) and many students go oversee's for their education because of the low cost.

    With that said, I am not blind to Azteca and the issue I think it has caused itself. I do agree with some of the concerns about Azteca and agree that they are in my opinion doing some of the same things UofWales was doing.
     
  16. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    We just discussed in the thread below how easy is to set up a school in Mexico. I don't know much about Azteca but it is certainly not a ranked Mexican school at the same caliber as UNAM, ITESM, etc. I don't know your requirements but if I wanted to go the Mexican route, I would go with a government Mexican school and not a private outfit like Azteca that might look like the picture in the thread below:

    http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/33985-accredited-degree-latin-america-adam-smith-university-degree.html

    Check UPAEP, the school seems to be a government school

    UPAEP Doctorados
     

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