I have just said bye bye to one of the worst learning experiences in my whole life. Kindly stay away from Al Madina university in Malaysia. its not as holy as it sounds!!! the supervisor assigned for my doctoral research work, was not able to write proper sentences in English. Secondly the supervisor was abusive and insulting. He is not the only one over there. More or less all of the teachers/ lecturers at MEDIU have a foul reputation. it all started with a quarrel over PHD PROPOSAL. The supervisor wanted me to write full three chapters (around 45000 words) as my first draft. I told him repeatedly that PHD . Proposal and Thesis are two different things. But he kept on insisting, that they are the same. Should I say more??? NO RIGHT !! :sad: Please once again , my humble request to all distance learners is => beware of MEDIU ,their fake MALAY PHD SUPERVISORS AND SO CALLED PHD. DEGREES. Its total rubbish...
Whoever wrote their website has sufficient grasp of neither idiom nor, in several instances, grammar in English. That sample is certainly not a good sign for a school - at any level - that intends to instruct /conduct courses in English. http://www.mediu.edu.my/ And in case some wrong-headed person out there is tempted to go off half-cocked and say "Johann is prejudiced against Malaysian schools" -- I'm not. Malaysia has very good standards in general and quite a few schools that offer fine programs at very good value - Universiti Sains Malaysia, Wawasan, OUM etc. etc. And when those universities, or other approved schools communicate in English - they do so properly. This (private) University claims accreditation from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. Funny - I can't find any mention of it at all on the Ministry's list of Institutions -and I checked all categories. http://www.mohe.gov.my Hmmm... We had a thread before on this school, Al Madinah. http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/42364-almadinah-international-university-ph-d-under-7k-2.html One of the few positive comments was - it's cheap. Well... that just isn't enough. Also, the thread indicated it was a non-profit, whereas the school's own Wiki says it's a private, for-profit school. As I said, there are plenty of very good universities in Malaysia. No reason I can see to bother with this one. Yes, they claim to offer degrees in Islamic studies, but there are other schools in Malaysia that do this -- schools with better recognition. Yes -- I'd stay away. Want more? Here's the Wiki. It looks like an ad. written by someone at the school. Al-Madinah International University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Johann
Here's what engadnan had to say, in yet another Al Madinah thread. Here's the thread. http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/46172-phd-islamic-finance-banking-distance-learning-mode-mediu-al-madinah-int-uni.html Well, I guess in view of Syedadeel's and engadnan's experiences, the school might not meet any reasonable expectations. :sad: Johann
Isn't it amazing how certain posters enjoyed bashing anything from another culture? I guess it only because they care so much about that culture. It is like saying, I have many black friends so I can’t be racist. There are hundreds of posters on degreeinfo but it is always the same few people who enjoyed do this. The old adage, “If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is a duck”.
You're stuck saying "certain posters" because no one actually behaved in this thread the way you're describing. Sounds like you're the one with the chip on your shoulder.
With over 6600 posts, since 2004, who am I to argue with you? Eventually, someone from a minority culture may also agree with me. As Bob Marley said, "who feel it knows it". I am here to look for ideas on PhDs. The moderator already wrote this is a US centric board and everyone here respect that. I am intrigue, why is it the person who try to take a stance is the person being put down? We are all hidden behind handles, you will think it would have been easy to fight against insensitivity. There is nothing in it for me, no nobel prize.
Yes, we have one moderator here who says this forum is U.S.-centric, although I'm not sure why since when people come here asking for useful advice about situations in other countries they usually get it. By the way, I'm not hidden behind a handle, and it doesn't take knowing me well to know that I am not U.S.-centric. If I saw people being ethnocentric I'd say so just as sharply -- check my posting history if you don't believe it, it occasionally happens in threads where higher education in low and middle income countries is being discussed.
Entirely agree with you! I did notice this too.... that 's a national Malaysian problem because of former PM Mahatir and his ugly "LOOK EAST" brand of Nationalism. They DIDN'T pay attention to using English as their Medium of knowledge and/or communication at the school and university levels, and now they have turned into a laughing stock themselves!
I haven't noticed it as a nation-wide thing. The better-known universities that teach in English - e.g. OUM, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Wawasan, LimKokWing, and the one I've been a long-time fan of -- Multimedia University -- all use correct English in their communications. And why this one poster, Phdtobe, thinks he has to keep knocking on MY door to "fight insensitivity" is beyond me. I'm not insensitive - I just don't like bad schools - regardless of where they're domiciled. Just because I didn't like one African School (and recommended a couple of other better African schools in its place) doesn't make me "insensitive." Now because I don't like one Malaysian school - which most posters here don't like, either - I'm "culturally insensitive" again, even though I'm fine with the others! Steve said it best: Thanks, Steve. And Phdtobe, you're right. There is no Nobel prize - or any other reward for you in this pointless polemic of yours. I am sufficiently thick-skinned to survive it handily , but it would be in your interest to save it for those who actually deserve it. As it is, it's not making you look very intelligent. Johann
I am one Moderator who has said that this is a US-centric board. I find this to be beyond argument because most of our members are from the USA and most of the schools that are discussed are in the USA. That is my definition of US-centric. It does not imply prejudice or bias against schools in other countries. I have long been an advocate for many non-US schools. Please don't twist my words to suit your private agenda.
You are two for two in two weeks. I hope that make you feel better about yourself. There is nothing wrong to be in denial. Have you notice that the people who defend you, do not do what you do? For example, Steve, who does not agree with me, is very respectful of other countries and their legitimate institutions. We are not discussing diploma mills but accredited institutions. Both of us are using handles so there is nothing personal. I do not like some of your posts and I hope it is okay for me to write my opinions. An intelligent person like you should know better.
There is a wide difference in quality and good practice among legit schools, in many countries - including Canada and the US. How is it I can say that I don't like something about a North American school and it's all good -- but as soon as I don't like a certain foreign one, I'm "culturally insensitive" or - worse - "racist," regardless of what I think or say about that country's other (better) schools. It's untrue, ridiculous and a VERY offensive assertion. I've done absolutely nothing wrong or discriminatory. I'm partially comforted by the fact that you seem to be the only person who thinks I have. Better than to do what, exactly? :sad: Johann
I am one moderator who knew exactly what Kizmet meant and wonders how it could possibly be a big deal to anybody. Is Walgreens out of chill pills or, what...?