Post Graduate Studies after SMC University Degree

I have a friend who has finished his Masters in International Business at Griffith College, Dublin.
He applied using his SMC University BBA Degree. However, he has some years of experience, there may be a possibility it was a consideration.
Who else has gone for further studies using the SMC University degree?

 

I agree

 

I studied at SMC University for Doctorate in Finance, I dropped out after several courses. Even though I paid full program tuition...because I feel too much self-studies, but ending an unrecognizable degree.

 

What are the roadblocks to determining for certain if SMC is/is not legitimate?

 

At this point I guess it depends on how the receiving institution perceives the SMC qualifications

 

The roadblocks are not to legitimacy - they're to recognition. US evaluators have said "no" officially on previous occasions. Documented in thread cited below.

The cited thread tells you what the problems are - to recognition. I'm not sure that holding on to Maltese status while working from Switzerland is a viable strategy. If I owned this school (don't worry - never gonna happen) I'd move to a jurisdiction where I could attain recognition (Zagreb wouldn't be too bad) that was mainstream enough to satisfy most countries' requirements (especially US evaluators.) We've already had this HUGE thread on this very question.

https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?threads/smc-university-recent-changes.51982/page-2

SMC realizes, I'm sure, that they are never going to qualify as a Swiss University because of the onerous requirements - 100+ full-time highly-qualified professors, buildings, yada yada. They're calling themselves Swiss because they have a presence there. They're calling themselves a University because they have that status --in Malta. But they are NOt a Swiss University. And they know it.

I think they should rename the school, move it and operate with something better than a Cantonal license. One other option - stay and try to attain Triple Crown (EQUIS AMBA and ACCSB) like IMD business school. I think that would be a huge and possibly unlikely stretch for SMC. Still might raise hackles in the US - but a degree with THAT kind of programmatic accreditation - nobody would care. I somehow doubt SMC is willing or ready to attempt that arduous path.

In short - I think SMC is possibly causing its own roadblocks to recognition.

 

Certainly. I guess my question is more about official recognition/accreditation/evaluation. A quick glance makes it seem like SMC is doing the international and commonly found "accredited-by-association" position like the ENEB-Isabel partnership for example. If UCN is certifying/endorsing/awarding the degree, then it may have a good chance of passing an evaluation.

 

Ha, and I actually read and posted in that thread. Totally forgot about it, though it was over 2 years ago. Never saw the ECE evaluation, all I got was a black screen.

 

I knew you posted in it. Part of the reason for exhuming it.

Bless me, Father Maniac, dear moderator, for I have sinned. I necromanced the demonic SMC thread - and NOBODY should be compelled to see that thing again until conditions change.... and they haven't, it seems. I'm not sure they will -- ever.

 

Not unless it's a UCN diploma. This makes me re-iterate my one concern with UCN which is a valid, recognized school. They have forged affiliations and validation agreements with a pretty large number of schools - a lot of which don't enjoy the same reputation as UCN itself. I have no idea how much oversight is going on -- and some of the schools involved, I wouldn't doubt there could be some hanky-panky going on.

Sometimes, these multi-school validation agreements can blow up, e.g. the oft-cited University of Wales Consortium that imploded (and underwent post-scandal reconstitution). There was also a good Ukrainian school that co-awarded degrees with a Swiss school (not SMC) that came to grief.

I think one of these days, the frequency and number of these agreements - often with lesser schools might possibly lead to a backfire that could harm UCN. I'd hate to see a good school have its reputation tarnished by collaboration with a tricky school.

 

Discovered the name further changed to SMC Education. They have online Baechelors, Masters and DBA. I feel it's still pricey for guys trying to redeem an image. The website is https://smceducation.com/

 

Exactly what happened. It's in the thread I cited. The key point: SMC is holding on to the University status obtained in Malta. It is calling itself SMC University. It is Swiss domiciled and may have the right to call itself a University in Malta. But it is NOT a Swiss University - as defined by Swiss Federation law.

 

A German reader in one of the SMC threads showed me a year or so ago there were actually TWO sites - one as you say (presumably for Euro use) and another as SMC University - geared to US. Just checked - smcuniversity.com is still alive and well. Swiss authorities may not like that - or they may not care what happens to foreigners who enrol.

I don't think this is going to help any if they are truly searching for overseas recognition. No, not at all. And Steve - I think it's totally a marketing thing. The view is probably that non-universities won't pull in the American money at nearly the same rate.

Sufficient unto the day is the SMC thereof.

 

And it should've worked fine

 

I wrote it as "certifying/endorsing/awarding" as a coverall for a foreign school situation because of what we've seen lately with how things could be worded even when the school being used as the "accreditor" gives its own degree.

 

OK. Now I know. But I repeat - if UCN's name is on the diploma - you're likely good to go. If there's a bunch of names, I think one might get a chilly reception from the US evaluators. If UCN isn't one of the names - even less welcome.

If anything but a recognized school appears on the diploma - I think the bearer is toast, so to speak. The "accreditor" * may sprinkle Holy Water on the school, but unless his school name is on the paper --- the blessing won't take. If you get two or three diplomas - use the best one. Hide the others.

* I think that was wise of you to put in quotes. "Accreditation" is exactly what UCN is doing in this case - lending credence / credibility to the other school and its degrees. It's not accreditation as we think of it in USDoE or CHEA terms, though. If UCN (or any school involved in validation) doesn't take the responsibility by issuing its own diploma - problems could ensue.

In the States, there are lots of dual awards where both schools are accredited. That's no problem.
In case of one school awarding with an unaccredited partner - a Google/MIT degree perhaps, two names are OK, I'd think. Just a problem with overseas degrees.

 

PS. I just imagined the Google/MIT degree for illustration purposes. I don't think such exists - but it doesn't sound like a bad idea.... in fact, I think it would be great!