Fake Doctorates Revealed

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Kizmet, Aug 4, 2016.

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  1. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think there are still major differences between both joint and cotutelle models and whatever one calls the "DBA+$3K=PhD" model. I'll just call it "DBA=PhD."

    Joint - joint examination, by both universities
    Cotutelle - separate examinations by both
    DBA=PhD - one school examines, two schools award.

    Joint - One degree - awarded by both schools
    Cotutelle - two degrees, one from each school. Both PhDs.
    DBA=PhD - Two doctorates of two different sorts.

    Both Joint and cotutelle require joint enrolment. DBA=PhD requires enrolment for DBA - nothing at second school till complete.

    As I see it, SMC would likely have no need of a DBA=PhD program if they could offer an ACBSP-approved Ph.D. But they can't, as ACBSP doesn't accredit PhD programs, AFAIK. So, they partner up with a school that can offer PhD programs and is willing to award one based on the work done for the DBA. I think I've shown that this deal does not strictly follow either the cotutelle or joint models you cite.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 7, 2016
  2. novadar

    novadar Member

    I provided that example to show "a" model not proclaiming it to be authoritative or the only method. Certainly there can be other ways to achieve the same goals.

    Unless you have tried to enroll in the SMC - UCN joint program you cannot possibly comment with any authority that it does not require additional details not mentioned on a very simple "info" page. Of course a degree recipient would have to enrolled in the second institution, how can an academic record be generated without enrollment?

    All I am trying to say here is that in the absence of any clarifying details to make the point you are trying to make, you are just speculating with a bias that it must be wrong, bad, evil, inappropriate, ______________ insert preferred negative term here.

    No one said you have to like it, and you've made it abundantly clear that you do not. However that does not change the fact that you simply do not know for certain the mechanics of how this joint program is administered. Your assumptions are merely that --- assumptions. Period.
     
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Mission accomplished, then. I'll take my assumptions and go home, now. If anyone proves them wrong, that's fine. If they don't - that's fine too. You're right - they are what they are.

    J.
     
  4. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Here's the German Enic-Naric's opinion, freely translated:

    and further

    "The University Central de Nicaragua (UCN) is a private university and as such authorized by the Higher Education Council in Nicaragua. The university offers study programs in co-operation with Universidad Azteca de Chalco in Mexico and also distance education programs with affiliates in Germany and Autria and awards degrees such as “MA” or “PhD”"

    "At present, the awards are not offered on campus at UCN and are not under the oversight of the Higher Education Council. UCN's campuses [affiliates] in Germany and Austria do not fulfill the requirements for or the academic standards of university level programs here and for this reason, academic recognition of degrees awarded on the basis of distance studies can’t be recommended."

    I’ve translated the German Hochschulrat as Higher Education Council, but I admit I don’t know enough about higher education in Nicaragua to determine if Hochschulrat is to be interpreted as either the Consejo Nacional de Universidades or CNEA, the National Council of Evaluation and Accreditation, or both.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 8, 2016
  5. novadar

    novadar Member

    UCN allows in-country students to enroll in their Doctoral programs -- these programs are clearly listed as possible academic awards on their website. The university on its own offers these Graduate awards. The link below is to a tab on a particular page so you may have to refocus upon the page loading.

    Doctorados – Universidad Central de Nicaragua

    UCN is accredited by Consejo Nacional de Universidades (CNU). CNEA does not currently have controlling oversight of Universities in Nicaragua.

    The World Higher Education Database (WHED) states CNU is the accrediting authority in Nicaragua as well as noting the Doctoral programs offered by UCN.

    Universidad Central de Nicaragua - WHED - IAU's World Higher Education Database

    I believe it is almost accepted as fact that Germany tends to enforce a very strict, self-derived, view of higher education. For instance they do not recognize Nationally Accredited Institutions in the USA. No one on this board would argue that DEAC is not a valid and recognized accreditor in the USA but Germany, for some reason, seems to think otherwise (searching here returns zero 0 DEAC schools - Institutionen: Anabin - Informationssystem zur Anerkennung ausländischer Bildungsabschlüsse if you do not read German - Chrome is your friend).

    It appears that the main issue Germany has with with UCN is related to the supervision model for graduate studies but the Education Laws of Nicaragua (as we have discussed in the past) allow for UCN and other Nicaraguan institutions to create degree programs as they desire. Germany is free take whatever position they want regarding foreign institutions, they disregard UCN's authority to issue Masters and Doctorates and they similarly disregard Aspen University, California Intercontinental University and other DEAC schools' legal existence.

    On the other hand here is what two separate NACES Evaluators say about UCN:

    Institution Description:
    Universidad Central de Nicaragua / Central University of Nicaragua was founded in 1998. It is fully accredited by the Consejo Nacional de Universidades-CNU / National Council of Universities and recognized by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Nicaragua.


    Status of Institution(s)
    Universidad Central de Nicaragua (Central University of Nicaragua), Nicaragua is a private university founded in 1998. It is supervised by the Consejo Nacional de Universidades (National Council of Universities), the official body overseeing higher education in Nicaragua. It is an internationally recognized educational institution whose credits and certificates are generally accepted by regionally accredited institutions of higher education in the United States.
     
  6. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Thank you, I’ll have a look.

    Great information, thank you.

    True, and I wouldn’t argue that either. The academic recognition centres in Europe have, for some reason, come to the conclusion that only US universities with RA are formal counterparts of recognised European universities. My university is a governmental authority in its own right, so we are free to take our own decisions on academic recognition in the form of credit transfer and admission. With respect to US universities, accreditation is important but if we receive an application from someone who graduated from a NA school, we don’t routinely dismiss it just because the school isn’t RA. We can, have, and will continue to admit graduates of NA schools.

    I think the Germans are aware of that, actually. My impression is that the main issue is with the distance education programs in co-operation with schools in Germany and Austria that are not part of the higher education systems in either country. It’s possible they view the co-operation between UCN and SMC in the same way.
     
  7. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    The German system doesn't even recognize MBAs from regionally accredited U.S. schools that don't have AACSB. They're not a bellwether of international standards.
     
  8. novadar

    novadar Member

    That explains why in the Anabin search tool there was an AACSB option. I was like, "huh, why is that listed?"
     
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    True. AACSB or the Autobahn! And I read that German authorities are extremely picky about recognizing foreign doctorates.

    Very possible. Last I looked, SMC degrees were recognized as H- (deficient) in Germany. That's not my opinion - it's theirs.

    J.
     
  10. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Okay, I laughed. :smile:
     
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    It can't. Even I know that. First Lady Grace Mugabe had to enrol - 60 days before she received her PhD from the University of Zimbabwe. There are no exceptions anywhere to enrolment - even for the Most Powerful.

    J.
     
  12. Habib1980

    Habib1980 New Member

    Selling courses, diplomas and promises

    A.B.M.S. Education Group (they call their small firm "The Open University of Switzerland") and the SMC self-declared "university" are nothing more than Swiss companies (and present-day diploma mills) typically registered in the Canton of Zug. They are not listed and mentioned anywhere in Switzerland and outside, and a paper-accreditation for money from England and America doesn't make much difference in the end. Only real and well-integrated institutions can reasonably claim to confer valid degrees - in harmony with ethics, sound academic practices and the laws of the respective nation.
     
  13. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    SMC programs are ACBSP-accredited. Are you suggesting that's accreditation-for-money? :shock:

    J.
     
  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Lumping all Swiss Cantonally-approved schools into the same pile doesn't work. The schools range in quality from mill-grade to excellent. I think SMC might be around the middle of the pack. The top end includes IMD, which has triple-crown business accreditation - EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. It doesn't get any better than that.

    Some Cantonal schools have validation agreements with other known good Universities in the UK or elsewhere.

    It is well-nigh impossible to open a distance school and secure Swiss Federation recognition. Requirements like 100 full-time professors, buildings, library holdings, research etc. make it impossible. Cantonal approval brings distance schools within the realm of possibility.

    Cantonal approval alone is no reason to love or hate a Swiss school - though some indeed are to be loved - and others hated.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2016
  15. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Perhaps it does, but from what was written, I'm still not sure at all that it refers solely to IAO. Habib1980 wrote:

    "A.B.M.S. Education Group ... and the SMC self-declared "university" are nothing more than Swiss companies (and present-day diploma mills) ... and a paper-accreditation for money from England and America doesn't make much difference in the end."

    Besides ABMS accreditation by IAO of Houston, Texas, which I admit I overlooked, I see other accreditation from America - SMC programs' ACBSP accreditation. Habib1980 was writing about both schools, hence my question.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2016
  17. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Perhaps I should ask Habib1980 another question - not too much different from my first.

    ACBSP has accredited SMC programs, right up to the doctoral level, excluding the PhD, which is outside ACBSP's scope. Do you really think that organization would accredit programs of a "present-day diploma mill," as you described SMC?

    J.
     
  18. Jergen Gothe

    Jergen Gothe New Member

    Perhaps I'm a little nervous about it but I did apply to SMC University and so far I've found a number of strange things that perplex me:
    1. The address in Zug Switzerland (26A Vorstadt) seems to be Puccini Restaurant, so where is the actual University?
    2. My application consisted of My Resume, Master's Degree and Passport. That's enough to cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands. I understand this is common in Europe but it is still unnerving.
    3. In the emails I have received from them I don't see any real names of people I can contact, live, for a discussion. The main concern seems to be getting me to send them money.
    4. Apparently no doctoral proposal is required, nor references - nothing - just the money. It seems odd.

    SMC looked great but I can't put aside a sense of suspicion.

    Does anyone have any insights?
     
  19. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    I see SMC as being at Vorstadt 26a 6300Zug: Country: Switzerland.

    Or, as per their website, at Bahnhofstrasse 20, 6300 Zug, Switzerland.

    Puccini seems to be at Vorstadt 26 6300 Zug Switzerland.

    I don't know if that helps.
     
  20. Jergen Gothe

    Jergen Gothe New Member


    So it's a University that sits above a rather tiny restaurant?
     

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