anyone is familiar with this school

https://anobs.ch/en/
They are now offering a DBA, only two semesters of studies.
any ideas? Is the degree legit?

 

DLfan - Please let me ask you a question. I'm just interested in your opinion. Do you think it's possible to earn a legitimate Doctoral degree in two semesters?

 

"Legit" is not a precise term. This thing is not listed as a Swiss university. It may be operating legally.

As far as the DBA goes, it appears they partner with two other institutions, each with a different tuition fee schedule. There is also some strange language describing them. One claims that you work with professors from the University of Gloucestershire (in the UK) located in Budapest, Hungary. Good luck figuring that one out. (It is also pricey at 44K pounds Sterling.) This one is NOT done in 2 semesters. The one that is two semesters partners with something called "COLLÉGIUM HUMANUM WARSAW MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY," which I believe has been discussed on this board. IIRC, there was considerable skepticism around the nature of the "DBA," that it wasn't really considered an actual doctorate. Or something.

In either case, it is not clear which institution awards the degree, nor are there any descriptions of the process or names of faculty.

 

The Polish DBA program has been classified as "studia podyplomowe" (non-academic post-diploma studies).

https://nawa.gov.pl/en/recognition/recognition-for-academic-purposes/applying-for-admission-to-postgraduate-non-degree-studies

Upon completion, the student will receive a Post-Diploma, or a Certificate of Completion of Postgraduate Studies (both translations would be appropriate). Collegium Humanum cannot grant you a degree, since they have never received doctoral degree-granting authorization in Poland. The graduates of this program can certainly put "DBA" behind their names. However, it would be more honest to write the title this way: John Smith, DBA (Post-Diploma). It is a legitimate program of study. However, it is not legit as a doctoral degree despite all the advertising from partner institutions. Keep that in mind.

 

See also https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?threads/anou-and-wci.51373/

Quite a few of the teachers at ANOBS (and the president) are Hungarians. Apparently, the school is a partner of QISAN, Quality International Study Abroad Network. QISAN is run from the same adress and by the same people as ASIC.

 

IIRC, several degree mills operated as a "religious ministry" and used that to claim it is legal for them to bestow eg. a "religious title of Doctor of Business Administration" upon a person in exchange for a "donation" (plus maybe a book report). Please explain to me how this thing is any different.

 

Stanislav,

The religious "DBA" title is typically granted by institutions that are merely registered entities within a select number of U.S. states. In some cases, the institutions don't even need to register in order to grant all kinds of titles under religious exemption. Collegium Humanum is an accredited institution of higher education in Poland. There is no comparison, even on that level. Secondly, it is possible for an accredited institution to enter into questionable partnerships. This has happened with large institutions of University of Liverpool type (Prior to 2002, the non-accredited Trinity Theological Seminary had a partnership with the university that was even noted on the British university's website), so I am never really surprised to see such partnerships forming with less prestigious schools.

How do you know that you're going to receive the DBA Post-Diploma in exchange for a donation? My "studia podyplomowe" (Post-Diploma) in a different field consisted of writing half of a typical Master's thesis, attending lectures, doing quality coursework and engaging in assessed field experience. Look, I have no idea what type of coursework is involved with Collegium Humanum's DBA,. However, I will resist the temptation to assess their program based on published course titles. That's essentially what you find on their website. Their partnerships don't prove that you get your DBA qualification by simply making a payment and writing a short book report.

I am suggesting that their partnerships are a distinct issue.

 

I think it is safe to say that whatever coursework there is, students who get a "DBA" do not do hardly anything that what a real Doctor of Business Administration entail. What Humanum says is that it's OK because this is not a degree, this is a certificate of postgraduate studies. Well, likewise, a religious entity can bestow religious titles. In both cases, calling it a "Doctor of Business Administration" is misleading. Misleading on purpose - and in fact, the confusion created is the whole point. Look closely how this partner even calls it a "degree program".

In this particular case, Levicoff called it right. This is a joke.

 

Stanislav,

I think that some people are just unhappy with the fact that you can get the same title (DBA) without doing the same amount of work over a three-year period. I understand the frustration. I've suggested an ethical way of using the non-degree title outside of Poland. However, the college is operating within the Polish system of higher education where MBAs and DBAs aren't seen as real academic business degrees. They are seen as being a perfect fit for a 1 year or 1,5 year professional education program. If you wanted to prove your academic acumen, you would need to spend four years on a PhD in business-related fields.

 

Asian Stew,

Actually, you are describing a perfectly legitimate arrangement in Spain. Universidad Isabel I can grant "titulos propios" degrees with partners. They are granted with the private sector in mind.

Titulos propios

• Titulos propios are not considered part of the formal higher education structure as they do not have academic recognition of the MEC.
• Titulos propros do not provide access to government-mandated positions of employment
• Titulos propios may be accepted as equal to the official titles for employment purposes in the private sector.

Titulos Oficiales

• Considered part of the formal higher education structure and provide access to doctoral level studies at universities in Spain and within the European Union.
• Accepted for government-mandated positions of employment as well as employment in the private sector.

 

Spanish "Titulos propios Master" degrees are seen as the equivalent to "Studia Podyplomowe" in Poland. "Titulos Oficiales" would be equivalent to a degree-level qualifications here. The Polish guide to recognizing foreign qualifications states that they can be used for employment purposes in Poland, just like in Spain.

 

All over the page you'll find language about earning a doctorate, receiving the "doctor title," etc. Yet it isn't a doctorate, even though they call it that?

You can accomplish the exact same thing by simply lying. Save yourself 8K euros.

 

Rich Douglas,

Can't you see that you can use the exact same argument concerning the Spanish Master title? It's called a Master's degree on English websites of Spanish universities (huge potential for deception). However, it has no government recognition. It's a titulos propios (university's own title) Master's degree. All that it proves is that you can't rely on familiarity when dealing with international education. You have to do some research. Sorry. That's how things work in the real world. Oh, did you know that you can get a one-year PhDr (Doctor of Philosophy - Rigorous Procedure) degree in Slovakia and that it is at the level of a Master's degree in that country? It can be distinguished from a PhD. Yeah, the world is a strange place. It isn't always a matter of deceiving poor Americans.

 

.

A place that sells you "the same title without doing the same amount of work" is called a "degree mill". Rich is right - simply lying is cheaper, and has the advantage of not being accomplice in eroding "the Polish system of higher education".
Spanish operation is not the same, because it's not at all clear that the amount and type of work in their MBA is not equivalent to whatever we can agree is "typical". In the same vein, other Polish DBAs you linked to, in all appearances, at least try to run them the right way. WMU's jig is blatant. Especially when they operate outside of Poland - like eg. in Switzerland.

 

Stanislav,

You were referring to a one-year wonder before. That didn't sound like an objection to a particular institution, but to the entire notion of a one-year DBA. I've been saying that it's perfectly within the norms of law and educational custom here. As I said, I have no interest in defending their particular program. At the same time, I don't see why it receives so many comments considering that the curriculum is totally unknown to us.

 

No, thank you. No disrespect, but I haven't been paying attention and I really couldn't care less. And I've tried.

(Easier to take degrees from less-familiar systems to credential evaluation agencies.)

 

When things are murky and require extensive explanation and after the explanation things remain murky. I know what that is

 

I think the solution to wondering about these institutions is quite simple, although I realize that I will be running the risk of appearing xenophobic. On the other hand, I'd rather be accused of being a xenophobe than get ripped off. So what do I recommend, at least for Americans who wonder about these schools?

Avoid all schools in Poland. Avoid all schools in Spain. And France and Germany. And South Asia. And East Asia. And South America. And Africa. And, if their not among the top universities in their region, avoid the schools in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. And, if you're seeking professional licensure in a field, avoid all schools in any country other than your own.

And avoid all schools in which non-Americans make inquiries here on Degree Info, especially if the school's name has never appeared here previously. Or if you cannot find the school on a Google search.

To those who make such inquiries, we're delighted to have you at DegreeInfo. But if you feel compelled to come here to inquire whether any school is legitimate, chances are that it is not.

And to cancel out the xenophobia argument, if you feel compelled to come here to inquire whether a U.S. school is legitimate, chances are that it is not as well.

Naturally, to every rule there are exceptions. But you stand more of a chance of being ripped off in your higher education goals than ever before - and if you are, in fact, ripped off, chances are that you were careless enough to deserve it. And you wonder why I'll be laughing at you?

Moreover, I've now held the "RA or the highway" position for well over 30 years. And with each succeeding year, I have never felt the need to reevaluate that position. Yes, there are exceptions to that as well - RA schools that lack integrity, and totally unaccredited schools that have both integrity and legitimacy. But you won't see me elaborate on that, because to some degree higher education is like the theatre: every opinion, to a degree is subjective. And after 30 years in this field, I have to admit that I don't give a crap about your questions. Get over it.

Finally, I see the usual questions about fast-cheap-easy more than ever before. If you're the type that is looking for the ultimate fast-cheap-easy program, you deserve to get screwed. Because I deserve to be entertained, and you will be my entertainment. For that, of course, I thank you. And laugh at you.

 

Kizmet,

Since there are career credential evaluators, the expectation of simplicity in these matters may be unrealistic. If everyone could easily discern things based on local intuition (without extensive knowledge of the particularities of a country-specific higher education system and how a given institution fits into it), it probably wouldn't be a career in the first place. Some food for thought.