polite questions to Henrik

Since Oct. 4, Henrik has posted exactly one message to CollegeHints (on Oct. 8), and there he said: "Finally back on-line, ADSL shut down on us again for a few days."
http://www.collegehints.com/boards/showthread.php?t=146&page=3&pp=15

Gus, did you get a response to your e-mail?

 

My guess is that Henrik's visits had a two fold purpose. One, purhaps he could convince us that KU was a reasonable unaccredited alternative and thereby pick up a few customers. Two, a simple test of his legitimacy facade. He didn't seem interested in proving that KU was a legitimate school as much as he didn't want anyone to be able to prove that it wasn't legitimate. My view is that any legitimate school would be willing to bend over backwards to prove that they were legitimate.

Regarding his seemingly constant stream of technical problems, he must be the most unlucky person in the world.

 

Henrik wrote:

> Those with an agenda, however, use this forum as their
> parading ground for making obscure demands and marketing
> unfounded conclusions and claims. And to stroke their ego.
> Indeed, all of the things that some claim I have been doing.

Dear Henrik,

If you read this forum in its totality (not just the Knightsbridge threads), you will see that your opponents here have done yeoman's work exposing mills. In your case, they may, in their enthusiasm, be seeing a mill where there isn't one. But their agenda is nonetheless to expose mills, fairly in contrast to what you suggest above.

In your position, I would let the pettier points slide, but formulate a succinct response of the form "Knightsbridge University is not a mill because [Reason A, Reason B, Reason C]."

> Marketing? It was and is my impression that the readership
> of this forum is rather limited. Considering the time put into DI
> by yours truly, this effort could have been expended with much
> greater success elsewhere.

I agree. I also think it could be expended with greater success here by doing as I've suggested.

> To 'prove legitimacy'? That is not necessary. It is for those
> shouting 'not legitimate' to prove their claim.

I find this troubling. Isn't "proof of legitimacy" the only thing that distinguishes the diplomas a school issues from worthless random sheets of paper?

 

Dear All,

Jumping in at the tail-end, shall read upwards a bit later, time permitting.

It sure seems to be true that the one sure way of being the centre of attention is to not be present!

Not sure how things happen in your respective worlds, but here, when e-comm's stop working, we don't go away on an extended coffee-break, we work on other things. Then, when 'e' is back up, we'll have a massive number of messages to attend to. This creates a backlog in that respect. And, as sure as a sure thing, while working on that something else will turn up.

In this country, the providers have decided that rather than risk the welfare of the customer's computers, they let the modem take the hit when bad things happen. Fried DSL modems need replacing by their technicians. The response time can be quite long, days and weeks.

The various speculations (Huffman, Dayson, Tracey) on 'why did Henrik show up here' are somewhat coloured by your bias. For those who actually care to believe what I say, refer to my first posts.

Marketing? It was and is my impression that the readership of this forum is rather limited. Considering the time put into DI by yours truly, this effort could have been expended with much greater success elsewhere.

Ego stroking? Not exactly the sensation for which I have the greater need. I'm pretty confident already without having to go look for admirers.

To 'prove legitimacy'? That is not necessary. It is for those shouting 'not legitimate' to prove their claim. Anyway, DegreeInfo does not seem a suitable forum to spend time on such a quest, does it?

Now, I can see why some would think, as Bill Huffman puts it, that 'any legitimate school would be willing to bend over backwards to prove that they were legitimate'. Obviously. this makes it much easier for those who have assumed the default stance that the institution in question is not what they consider 'legitimate' (even if they don't bother to actually define just what that's supposed to mean). 'Easy' does not equate 'correct'.

There is no reason to bend in any direction to prove that which needs disproving to be manifestly incorrect.

Those really interested in information, seek it out, directly from source. Since introducing myself into this forum I've received messages from lurkers and previous and current posters, seeking various information. Which they have received. We have even now received several messages from Gus Sainz, and have obviously responded, as that is what we do.

Those with an agenda, however, use this forum as their parading ground for making obscure demands and marketing unfounded conclusions and claims. And to stroke their ego. Indeed, all of the things that some claim I have been doing.

It seems to me that to a group of people DegreeInfo is not a discussion forum for matters related to education, but to matters related to external approval. That is good and fine, you're welcome to that. However, it is not a discussion I feel particularly drawn to spending hours on addressing, as this has already been done so via our stated policy. Some obviously disagree with this standpoint, and yet some again do not seem to recognise that there's a long way from disagreement to flat out claiming that those with whom they disagree represent 'lack of legitimacy'. Again, without defining what 'legitimacy' means in the context.

If we can agree to disagree on things, fine. At times I am sure that discussing things here could be very helpful to Knightsbridge, witness for example the change from using the word 'rubberstamp' in our web-site information.

I am perfectly clear on the fact that our model is suitable only for a sliver of the higher education market. What seems to be needed here is for some to develop an awareness that an institution existing to serve this sliver is not intrinsically suspect just because it does not hold external approval. That, in all its simplicity, is how I see it.


Henrik

 

KU can't even provide a listing of dissertations to choose from. That is not bending over backwards. That is providing what all real schools are expected to provide but KU does not. KU obviously doesn't provide this information (or copies of dissertations on request) because you are running a fraudulent operation. It would become an even more obvious fact that KU is a degree mill if you were to release the information that all real schools provide. Therefore the obvious conclusion is that, you sit behind your flimsy facade trying to sound legitimate but can't provide one scrap of evidence (besides your own word) that you're not running a degree mill simply because you are running a degree mill.

P.S. Asserting that not all UK accredited universities provide a public list of dissertations and then in the same post admitting that all UK universites support public search engines accessing their list of dissertations is an excellent example of your double talk and attempts at building a false facade of legitimacy for your degree mill. You sir have been exposed.

 

Hi Bill: See, it's an appeal to a "sliver" (rarity=prestige) instead of the more common appeal to resentment (get the degree you've always deserved).

 

Bill Huffman wrote:

> KU obviously doesn't provide this information (or copies of
> dissertations on request) because you are running a fraudulent
> operation.

Gus requested a copy of the "Old Lesbians" dissertation. Henrik claims to have answered Gus's e-mail. Gus has said nothing. What is your evidence that Knightsbridge "doesn't provide copies of dissertations on request"? If Gus actually receives a copy, how will you modify the above statement?

Henrik has also said that Knightsbridge's library is open to inspection. Would he have said that if there were no credible dissertations there? Spentrup is a long way away, but one of us just might have a friend there.

Henrik has also said that within a year, new dissertations will be available electronically. You think he's planning to retire by then?

 

This was a conclusion Mark. The evidence that KU doesn't satisfy dissertation requests is simply two fold.
1. No list is provided, therefore no one can browse the KU accumulated knowledge to even make a request. Henrik has already said that in order to even consider a request the dissertation must be known. (He more recently modified this statement to say that he would do the search himself if someone wanted a general topic. Which wouldn't work is I just wanted to find a silly thesis to help prove that KU is a degree mill.)
2. He was dancing around Gus's request for a specific dissertation. It seemed obvious that he was not at all interested in letting any of us inspect the KU library.

If Gus gets a copy and the dissertation is a joke then I think it will prove that I was right. If it is a brilliant piece of work then I could be wrong about KU being a degree mill.

Yes

A year away for a statement like this by a degree mill operator is practically a life time. Based on how often Henrik's basic computer communications break down, make that two lifetimes served serially.

 

Funny you should ask, Mark. At the time of your query, I had not received a single reply to any of my emails. Strangely enough, today, a few hours after your post, I received the following email from Henrik.

• Dear Gus,
  
  Thank you for yours of 3rd October.
  
  Please find attached the following documents:
  
  1 - Library Services
  2 - Order Form
  
  Please make sure to complete the form accurately.
  
  Your PS has me a little bemused. You do not get to make unilateral conditions appertaining the disclosure or otherwise of our correspondence. In consequence, you do not have my general permission to disclose anything I write to you. As far as this message goes, however, do feel free to share, but do understand that this is not a blanket permission.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  Henrik Fyrst Kristensen

First, it seems like Henrik is a little confused about what I can and cannot do with my personal; emails. He does not seem satisfied with the fact that I gave him ample notice that I reserve the right to publicly disclose any communication between us. Rather than govern himself accordingly, he chooses instead to try to dictate my behavior. Once again, Henrik, let me make it perfectly clear: I reserve the right to publicly disclose any and all communication between us. Moreover, if you choose to reply stating that I have no right to do so, I reserve the right to disclose those comments as well. In other words, Henrik, you have been warned; the only control you now have over the process is to refrain from sending me any messages that you do not wish to see publicly disclosed.

Second, I find it amusing (considering the fact that out of three emails, only one was addressed to him), that the sole email I received was a personal reply from Henrik. Although I speculated that all of my emails were going to be received by the same individual, the fact that the Vice-Chancellor of Knightsbridge University himself handled such a mundane task as a request for information on how to order a dissertation could easily lead someone to believe that there is really isn’t anybody body else there.

Third, as Henrik has given me explicit permission in his email, I will post the entire text of both the Library Services and Order Form documents in separate posts. It should be noted that both documents were personally authored by Henrik, and have an original Date of Creation of 09/17/03. In other words, these documents did not exist at the time we began discussing the availability of Knightsbridge dissertations on this forum.

 

Knightsbridge University Library Services Document

Library Services



The Library holds copies of postgraduate dissertations and theses written by Knightsbridge University graduates. These are for library use only.

Some documents are held on an agreement of confidentiality and are kept on restricted access. It is not usually possible to consult a restricted access document. Permission for release would be required directly from the author and any other body with which the agreement of confidentiality exists.

If you wish to review any document, you should contact the Registrar with details of the document and its author at least 4 days prior to collection. You may review the document only in the designated reading room, and must not remove the document from the reading room.

Theses are available for purchase:

One thesis, soft-cover £65.00
One thesis, hard-cover £95.00
Courier delivery £35.00
Electronic document on CD-ROM £45.00*

*Available on all documents lodged after January 2004

Use the Order Form, and make sure to complete all sections.

Note: All copies are black/white print only. The Library assumes no responsibility for the reproduction of images, graphs etc.


Copyright

Not a published document

Theses are considered unpublished works, and cannot therefore be issued to the public without the consent of the copyright owner.

This prohibits the re-publication of any significant part of a document by a third party without the consent of the copyright owner. The Library may produce single copies for loan or retention as a result of specific demand. This does not constitute publishing.

Author's rights retained

The copyright of a thesis rests with the author(s) and/or any other party described. The copy supplied has the same copyright as the original.

Every copy supplied, whether for loan or retention, will carry the following notification:

This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no part or quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement.

 

Knightsbridge University Order Form

Order Form


Thesis details:


Author: _________________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________________

Year of award: ____________ Source of reference: _______________________________


Your details: Different delivery address (if required)

Name: _______________________________ Address: ____________________________

Address: _____________________________ Address: __________________________

Town/City: ___________________________ Town/City: ________________________

Post Code: ___________________________ Post Code: _________________________

Country: _____________________________ Country: ___________________________

Tel: _________________________________ Tel: _______________________________

E-mail: ______________________________ E-mail: ____________________________


Format:

Soft cover: [] Hard cover: [] Quantity: _______ (please type, e.g. 'one', 'two')

Delivery:

Standard Mail: [] Courier: [] (Please note the additional charge)

Declaration:

I declare that the document ordered is for my personal use. I understand and recognise that the copyright of the above-described document rests with the author and/or any other parties mentioned, and that no quotation from it or information derived from it may be copied or published in any form or context without the prior written consent of the copyright holder(s).

Signed: _____________________ Name in capitals: _________________ Date: __________


Payment methods:

Bank Draft - The University will accept a banker’s draft drawn in £ sterling against a London bank.

Personal Cheque - Must be in £ sterling and drawn on a British bank.

Bank to Bank Transfer - Please add £10.00 to each payment to cover transfer agency fees. Ask your bank to use the following details:

SWIFT: SYBKDK22 DK1771160009400125 (must be exactly as shown).
Account Name: Knightsbridge University

 

Minor correction: I did not request a copy of a dissertation; instead, I inquired as to what the process was for procuring one. According to the documentation I received from Knightsbridge University, there still exists the very real possibility that any dissertation may be on the “restricted access” list, and, therefore, not available on request. Furthermore, the documentation does not make any mention of how (or even whether it is possible) to find out if the dissertation one desires to purchase is on the “restricted access” list prior to remitting the sum of £75.00 (approximately $125.00 at current exchange rates) to Knightsbridge University. Overall, given the way the issue has been handled, as well as the creation dates of the forms and documents, it appears that the entire process is something quite new for Knightsbridge.

 

Gus Sainz wrote:

> Minor correction: I did not request a copy of a dissertation;
> instead, I inquired as to what the process was for procuring
> one.

Um, you wrote: "I am interested in procuring a copy of a dissertation (thesis) entitled Old Lesbians: An Ageing Experience from your institution. It was J. Davis’ Ph.D. thesis in 2001. Please inform me of the proper official procedure I need to follow to expedite this request and the amount and method of payment for any relevant fees."

Is your "minor correction" an example of what Uncle Janko recently called "picking nits that are not there"?

 

No.

 

Gus Sainz wrote:

> the fact that the Vice-Chancellor of Knightsbridge University
> himself handled such a mundane task as a request for
> information on how to order a dissertation could easily lead
> someone to believe that there is really isn’t anybody else
> there.

Why should there be anybody else there?

The Website clearly says: "We have a reputation for offering quality over quantity. We do not aim to enrol thousands upon thousands of candidates in a pile-them-high scenario. Much better is it to be able to cater in a professional and friendly way to smaller numbers of demanding and discerning candidates."

If that's true, then Knightsbridge University may well be small enough that one person can fulfill all the clerical functions. Does that mean it's a one-man school? No, the academic decisions are made by an "academic board". I presume that the other members of the academic board are all outside Denmark, and that the board conducts its business by e-mail.

Henrik, how many people are there on the academic board?

 

Can anyone produce an example of a credible one-man university, anywhere in the world, at any time in history?

The text that Mark quoted says "We have a reputation for offering quality...". The problem is that Knightsbridge seems to have no reputation at all in the academic and professional worlds. All that we have been provided to buttress KU's credibility claims are references to Knightsbridge's elaborate (and, so we are assured, totally British) internal procedures.

Is it reasonable to assume that all of these procedures are written and practiced by one man who occupies every administrative function from university owner to answering the phone?
I can imagine small schools having small administrations. Intercultural Institute of California operates out of a house in San Francisco (with a staff well above one). But those schools have limited ambitions: they usually offer a single degree program in a single specialized field (a Korean Studies MA in IIC's case).

It's precisely these kind of cases, when a school's institutional mass is extremely small, when questions and doubts are most apt to arise and where some kind of external validation process is most necessary. In IIC's case, WASC declined to accept them as a candidate, and the tiny school instead has entered into an arrangement with CIIS to offer their degree jointly with that RA school which will offer them administrative and student support.

Knightsbridge's ambitions, on the other hand, are not small. KU offers taught degrees as well as MPhil's and PhD's by research in the following fields:

Applied Mathematics
Arts - Medicine
Astronomy
Bilbliotherapy
Business Administration
Specialist Option MBAs:
?Corporate Finance_
?Property Management_
?Strategic Marketing Management _
Business Ethics
Creative Writing
Counselling & Interpersonal Skills
Criminology
Development Economics
Economics
Educational Administration
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Electronic Engineering
English
English Literature (2 options)
Health & Safety Law
Human Interpretation & Values
Information Technology
Intelligence, Security & Terrorism Studies
International Economics
International Law
Linguistics
Martial Arts Studies
Mathematics
Modern Banking & Finance
Occupational Psychology
Pharmacology
Philosophy
Physics
Public Administration
Public Sector Economics
Quality Health Care Management
Sociology
Sports Science
TESOL/TEFL
Theology

That looks like the program listing of a major research university such as the University of California. Does any sane individual really believe that one man can keep all of those balls in the air at once?

I don't know how large a staff Knightsbridge actually has. My point is simply that it needs to be a lot more than a one man operation if it's to have any credibility at all.

That's especially true when all forms of external recognition are actively avoided and all inquiries are directed towards Knightsbridge's own internal procedures which, so we are assured, are self-validating.

 

Re: Knightsbridge University Library Services Document

Hernik,

Can you name ONE legitimate university ANYWHERE in the world that keeps its dissertations secret?

Can you tell us what percentage of the dissertations produced at Knightsbridge are on the "restricted access" list? (Just kidding, I know you would never give a straight-forward answer to such a simple question...)

 

>Can you name ONE legitimate university ANYWHERE in the world >that keeps its dissertations secret?


There seems to be a growing move for funding for research in Universities to be provided by industry (at least in the UK). In this case the PhD thesis may generate no refereed published papers and the dissertation itself may not be freely available. A colleague of mine graduated from a university in the UK and, as I understand it, his dissertation can only be read if you turn up at the university in person and sign the confidentiality/secrecy agreement. The university in question is Glasgow Uni. Does that meet your requirements? Its certainly legitimate not sure if that is secret enough

 

Re: Re: Knightsbridge University Library Services Document

I know of one university that keeps some (certainly not all) of its theses and dissertations under extremely tight security restrictions:

http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/rrs.html

But I don't think that this is an example that Knightsbridge can easily exploit.

NPS is regionally accredited. It participates in scholarly life, publishing and taking part in many collaborations. It makes copies of unclassified dissertations available. Classified dissertations are available to those with the appropriate clearances. What's more, the simple fact that it's run by the US Navy and is extremely tight with the alphabet agencies is a strong indication of NPS' credibility.

 

Mark, if anything is a glaring example of what Uncle Janko was referring to, it is your post. Even in light of your penchant for playing Devil’s Advocate, Mark, I really don’t understand your motivation or your logic. Stating, “I am interested in procuring a copy,” does not constitute ordering or requesting one, as Henrik has already told us. A request must be done via the official form and must be accompanied by the remittance of appropriate funds. Moreover, I don’t know why you would choose to completely ignore the phrase “Please inform me of the proper official procedure I need to follow” in favor of highlighting other (irrelevant) phrases that you felt (erroneously) supported your argument, as, in the past, you have not been so dishonest nor has your command of the English language been so poor.

In the interest of fairness, I just wanted to make sure that it was clear (before anyone accused or implied that Knightsbridge did not respond to or fulfill requests for copies of dissertations) that a formal and proper request had not been made.