Asian DL doctorates: Al-Madinah International University in Malaysia

Deep within your statement, there is subtle implication that American online schools are of have a higher quality than schools from SA and Malaysia. The evidence is not in support of that inference especially for schools in SA.

 

You've made a good point. It's one that's been made before. The only problem is that the sniff test is not substantive. It's based upon a built in prejudice and is not likely to stand up to scrutiny when applied to any specific graduate, their work and their skills. To reject any specific group of people (those with degrees from NCU or those with degrees from UNISA, etc. is clearly a prejudice and very stupid.

 

Steve, I did not intend to imply that degree programs from developing countries are not as good as ones in advanced countries. I was simply telling UnixGuy that pursuing his doctorate at a UK school (with the assumption that he intends to use his PhD in an advanced country), instead of from a school in SA or India, is a "safer" investment.

Of course, I am a proponent of these schools/programs and would get a degree from these countries. In fact, it is likely that my doctorate will come from Malaysia or SA, and this is due to cost and the fact that a doctorate earned from a school with a physical campus will serve my future plans/needs more than one earned from an online-only school (even a degree from a NA school with physical campus would work for me better than one from an online-only school that is RA).

My situation aside, the reality is that folks from these countries still view American or UK degrees as a superior alternative to what they have in their countries (for instance, my CIS classes at Bellevue, yes I currently attend Bellevue, is comprised of one-third of Indian students who live in India). The Chinese, even with their rapid development and economic upsurge, are still trooping to American schools for their graduate degrees. Is it possible that will change in the future? No doubt; but for now, that is the situation.

 

I saw the job ads in Google and Amazon, some do demand a postgrad degree from a highly ranked university. I think a part time PhD doesn't mean that it's completely DL. Anyway, thanks for the advice, I agree with you. I'm shooting for the highest rank possible, I know admission is difficult, so I will try anyway. thank you

 

I don't think superior but more accepted. There are good schools all over the world but the general perception is that degrees from less advanced nations are less credible because weaker education systems, corruption, image, etc.

However, some people already work in places where a legal doctorate from any place would help for pay increases. Many of these people come to this forum looking for a cheaper, faster, etc way of getting a doctorate from any place as long as it is recongized in their place of origin.

There are also people only interested in licensing and don't care much about the reputation of the school. This could be the case for teachers, nurses, accountants, engineers that only need a degree to be eligible to write a professional exam. For this profile, a degree from India, Malaysia, Phillipines, etc might work.

 

Candidly speaking, immigrants with degrees from third world countries find it very hard to find employment in the U.S. with those degrees. Why? Because american companies prefer to hire holders of american degrees (like it or not, that "american-stuff-is always-better" mentality still subsist). I know immigrants who now drive cabs/taxis because their graduate degrees in engineering and medicine are not accepted or recognized by american companies.

That said, my statement implied that if degrees earned from american online schools have limited utility, those earned online from schools in third world countries would suffer worse fate. Ofcourse, this is different in academia. In the case of south african degrees, a UNISA degree; considering its world ranking, may hold more weight in traditional academia here in the U.S. than degrees from american online-only schools with no ranking at all.

Again, I implied that in the real world (outside academia) or for employment purposes at a private company in the U.S., a UNISA degree may not even get your “foot in the door” for an interview. For example, if Google states in their job ad that “applicants with degrees from online schools (like Capella, NCU, Trident, etc.) should not apply,” what I meant is that a holder of a UNISA degree, for example, will not even stand a chance.

 

So you are telling me than an American living in the US would be better off with a PhD from Patel school of technology from an obscure place in India than a PhD from NorthCentral only because the first one is B&M? Wouldn't you think that would look just too suspicious in your resume?
With so much corruption in some countries, I would be afraid that someone would think that I just bought the degree even if the school is accredited and B&M mainly because all the stories on how easy is to buy degrees in some countries.

 

The degree is not intended for use in the U.S., that's why. Actually, where I intend to use the degree (which is a developing country), the perception is that online-only schools are in business to sell degrees, because there is no active teaching of any kind that occur as is the case with B & M schools, where professors stand in front of students and actually lecture on a daily basis.

 

This is the case in Canada too, there were few ads running on tv about how your cab driver or cleaning lady might be holding a PhD or MBA without you even knowing.
I have degrees from Australia, Canada and US and never encountered bias or prejudice when applying for jobs in Canada or US. I know people with Eastern European, Indian, South American and Asian degrees that are not that lucky so there is a bias agains't degrees from those countries regardless of what people say.

 

I'm sorry to day that this perception is not only outside the US. It doesn't help when people come to this forum an claim that completed MBAs in 6 months while holding a full time job or that they finished a doctorate in 3 years while supporting a family and keeping a social life or that they took a C programming class a part of a PhD in Computer Science. This type of stories just make the case of lack of credibility stronger.

 

OK, now I get why Trident went from TUI University, Touro College, Touro International, etc. It seems that the change of name is to erase previous negative image and move on to a new name that might take few years before employers recognize as a bad one. A clever decision from Trident.

 

You've accurately summed what I meant to communicate to UnixGuy, that he should get a UK degree (with the assumption that he'll be using it there or in another advanced country), to be on the safe side. Those who've never encountered this sort of thing may argue or blow-off those involved as unqualified or lacking requisite skills. However, for those who've experienced it, the reality of throwing the lives they built in their countries away remains; driving a taxi usually becomes a reliable means to survive.

 

You do realize that a full-time doctorate in UK/Australia and else where takes 3 yrs full time ??

you know that if you have a proper US Master degree you can finish your PhD in 4 yrs? so what's not credible about people in this forum finishing their PhD in 3yrs while having a full time job? you know that in PhD you actually have to work as a Researching/Teaching assistant ?

 

See where I'm coming from? Ofcourse, a degreee from an online-only school works for teaching in the U.S. But, venture to countries where degrees from schools in advanced countries are highly sought, then you'll realize that tendering a degree from an online school, american or not, immediately draws suspicion; it's even worse if you actually resided in that country but still attended an online school. Let's face it, the legitimacy of a school with physical campus, where professors actually teach face-to-face everyday, can't be disputed, even when accreditation of the school is pending.

 

I actually met in Mexico a person with a Touro PhD (now Trident) that is a tenured professor at a prestigious University. He is American, I know this might be one of those "rare" cases but it seems that some people still buy the online school in some countries.

However, I have seen ads in the Middle east that mention "Online Phds are not welcome" but also you have many schools that only require a Master's.

I think it is the full package and not just the degree that counts, if the person has an excellent resume with several certifications, publications, achievement, etc. The PhD shouldn't matter as much as long as it is accredited. However, I would still be hesitant to get a PhD from Malaysia, Mexico, India (Unless these are some famous schools like IIT, UNAM, etc) not because these schools might be bad but because they don't cause the same impact in a resume than degrees from more advanced countries. I would keep my options to US, Canada, Australia and UK.

 

I know this as I finished a doctorate in Australia. It took me 8 years part time to get this done. Most people finish a PhD from the UK or Australia in at least 5 years part time but the most common time frame is 6 to 8 years.

Yes, you work as a research assistant as a Phd student but most of the time you use this work as part of your dissertation so it is not adding time to your studies.

Canadian PhD programs in Business at most schools are at least 5 years full time.


So yes, a 3 year part time PhD program is not very credible in my opinion. It takes just about 2 years to get some credible publications to back up your research.

 

Good points.

But what if someone has prior research experience, and started a good research during his Masters when he's doing his dissertation ?

you have a point there, I was confused by some universities that say you *can* finish yrs part time, but I guess that would be the exception

 

Most schools have a policy in this aspect, they require a minimum of 2 years full time or 4 years part time.

 

Interestingly we are not discussing the validity or credibility of these schools. More and more Asian students are deciding to pursue post secondary education in their region. Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong have been the main beneficiaries. I stand corrected, but Singapore has 3 schools in the top 200/300 in the world. Distance education in most commonwealth countries is second nature. I am from the Caribbean, people are held in high esteem for pursuing post secondary education especially via distance.