Universidad central de nicaragua (again)

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by JGD, May 21, 2014.

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  1. basrsu

    basrsu Member

    If you really want to obtain a PhD from this or any school in Nicaragua then, by all means, feel free. Don't be surprised if, when you subsequently have your degree evaluated by a NACES member for immigration, employment or education purposes you get a message back stating, "Sorry, but this credential is not equivalent to a PhD in the U.S." In other words, caveat emptor.


    There is usually a gray area...not all things in life are simply black or white. There are several NACES accredited agencies that have deemed UCN doctoral degrees equivalent to U.S. RA. Just because one NACES agency does not think so does not mean all would agree with that assessment. There is much variation between agencies; some see gray, while others see black and white only. I am going out on a limb here--are you by any chance employed by such a NACES agency, perhaps Foundation for International Services (FIS)?
     
  2. basrsu

    basrsu Member


    One "quick" point (get it???) : ) ...

    Universidad Azteca dropped the "de Chalco" several years ago. Now, they are officially and legally Universidad Azteca.
     
  3. novadar

    novadar Member


    I have another guess -- e-ValReports
     
  4. novadar

    novadar Member

    Guess retracted. LOL.
     
  5. novadar

    novadar Member

    More PhDs in Nicaragua, two at the main state-funded public university of Nicaragua.

    If the primary national university is offering Doctorates, do you really believe they are not authorized to do so? Really? How on earth could these two in particular be "not legally recognized????"

    I can keep going on and on. What's it going to take for you "see" that Doctorates other than those in Medicine and Vet Med do exist in Nicaragua?

    UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE NICARAGUA, MANAGUA

    Catálogo de estudios de postgrado 2013

    Page 8:

    A. Programa de Doctorado en Desarrollo Rural Territorial Sustentable (Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Rural Development Territorial)

    A. Programa de Doctorado en Educación e Intervención Social (Doctoral Program in Education and Social Intervention)


    Another:

    Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería

    Doctorado en Ciencias Ambientales (Doctorate in Environmental Sciences)

    ESTRATEGA MASTER

    Another:


    Universidad Nacional Agraria

    Doctorado en Agroecologia (PhD in Agroecology)

    Doctorado


    Another.... I'll stop now, unless........
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 20, 2014
  6. novadar

    novadar Member

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, UNAN, León.

    Graduate School Bulletin: I dare you, take a look another State-run and funded public institution with, oh my, Doctoral degree programs and even guidelines!

    My word count shows 15 occurrences of the word "Doctorado".

    Again, State-run school, issuing "illegal" PhDs? Really, Mr. Quick, really?

    http://www.unanleon.edu.ni/descargas/VIP_PS/Documentos/Reglamento_Postgrado_APROBADO.pdf

    Sorry but I just had to post one more. I will stop I promise.
     
  7. Koolcypher

    Koolcypher Member

    As someone living in Nicaragua, I can attest that Novadar is absolutely correct. UCN and others schools in Nicaragua do offer PhD's, they are legal and valid in Nicaragua.

    I will probe around in Nicaragua and see what I can find. H
     
  8. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    A poster in this board, Michael Laferney, obtained PhD from UCN back in 2007 and got it evaluated by a NACES member, so there is really no question it is possible. When I googled the school a while back, I came by a person with MD from UCN in residency in Florida. The school is real. It is the administration of their PhD programs abroad, especially joint degrees in Europe, that causes some concern.
    Here is a troubling example, an Azteca/UCN dissertation: http://www.artesanitas.at/institut/doctoralthesis/files/doctoral-thesis.pdf . I mean, the idea that homeopathy can work on frogs is well outside the realm of science. Admittedly, these things can happen in all kinds of schools. "Chief of the examination commitee" on this is Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Berchtold, who is apparently leader of all things Azteca/UCN in Europe (and it doesn't appear he claims any expertise in any biomedical field).
     
  9. novadar

    novadar Member

    Stansilav.

    I found the work you referenced a long time ago. The dissertation by Lingg is an example of a PhD by Published Work. If you read it carefully you will see it is based on 3 articles published in referred journals. I found one of the articles and a citation of one in another work:

    #1
    Kiefer

    #2
    Elsevier

    I think you might be misreading the topic of the the study, it relates to a homeopathic solution applied to frogs, not homeopathy directly. There has been discussion here on DegreeInfo about research being "useless". I don't think anyone is qualified to make such a statement. New knowledge may not have much immediate value or even counter accepted practice but is that wrong?

    An earlier thread started by Michael Laferney also talked about how a PhD by Published Work can help insulate a smaller school with fewer resources from claims of inappropriate practice because how can they be in the position to dispute the decision of a Referred Journal to accept the work. Lingg's was accepted by apparently 3 other journals and the Dissertation you linked to is a compilation work tying those together.

    Your last point drives home a larger point, at many schools, particularly the for-profits in the US (Capella, Phoenix, etc) you will find supervisors and examiners on Dissertations who have different terminal degrees (DBA examining a PhD, EdD examining DMgt). Some will say this is a terrible practice. I say it is what it is. Prof Berchtold is the Dean of European Programs, just like a Dean at a campus program he is an academic leader with oversight over multiple disciplines other than his own.
     
  10. novadar

    novadar Member

    Your post triggered something in my mind. I began to wonder where I read the statement I essentially just posted about a PhD by Publication being a "novel" practice. Here is something interesting I just found. You posted on the following thread in 2007 ( http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/26510-aacrao-naces-approval-enough-make-foreign-degree-legitimate-2.html ) this statement, showing you "like" the idea of PhD by Published Works. So what is it, you agreed then but now you are not so accepting?

    03-10-2007 04:53 PM #17 Stanislav
    "I admit I like the idea. This way, they can sell a PhD program with very little real expertise pocessed by their faculty - and the result would be hard to dismiss, as
    all the work have been peer-reviewed. Of course, they could fall for a "Bogdanoff affair"-class work, but even in this case, they can defend their process - after
    all, the original Bogdanoff affair happened at the very real French university.
    As for the original question, provided UCN does not break Nicaraguan regulations and a reputed agency give the degree a favourable evaluation, I think it is
    perfectly OK to use such a credential - in a situation where the degree is a mere "check in the box".
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 22, 2014
  11. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    Good observations. Yes, it is a PhD based on published work, and they can sort of justify the process. Still, this is a university with medical and nursing school. I haven't look at the preparation the dissertation is testing, but generally, homeopathic solutions are just water, really. Effects of small amounts of double-distilled water on frogs (who are incapable of experiencing the placebo effect) are well known (in that, there are no effects). So this dissertation is about using fancy statistics to obscure this fact. I realise that Berchtold is the Dean of European Programs, so I can see how this fell to him. But it appears that they offer the whole degree in "Alternative Health", and person available to examine dissertation is an admin with background in Solid Waste Management. "International Journal of High Dilution Research" does not sound like a maunstream academic journal, and I'm shocked to learn Springer publishes (and, presumably, peddles to libraries in their very expensive bundle deals) a Homeopathy Journal (and that Thompson Reuters graces it with an Impact Factor). These two provide UCN with cover due to their "refereed" status, but a rather thin cover.
    In short, yes, UCN degree is a useful credential in some circumstances. Nevertheless, there are questions hard to ignore.
     
  12. kaptan

    kaptan New Member

    Hi,

    I can tell you two main things:
    -The diplomas of the UCN are valid and accepted. I have mine as recognized by NARIC Austria for example, and I can also use my "Dr." title in private environment. As long as you're not graduated from a university in Europe, this private environment is applicable to universities in e.g. the United States, Australia etc. As such, I have an assessment by SpanTran which is a recognized NACES member, and they evaluated a Doctorate of Finance Degree as a regionally accredited degree in the US. Thus, no doubt as to the recognition of the university.

    BUT:
    -The university is not well-rated. Without quoting the source, it is in 9k+ ranking out of 11k+ universities from all around the world. Thus, that you have a degree does not always bring much opportunities or professional recognition and the like.

    I trust it would be of help to you.
    Best wishes and regards.
     
  13. Dexperten

    Dexperten New Member

    Universidad Central de Nicaragua is fully recognized

    I have accessed the International Handbook of University and Universidad Central de Nicaragua is listed among the full list of recognized international national universities. I hope this evidence puts to rest the biases that we have been witnessing in this forum. I have downloaded doctoral theses from this university and they do meet international standards. I can attest to this as I am a PHD holder from a top class Canadian University. So, for those students with reservations, I say to you' Have no fear'. This is a bona fide university with world class recognition.
    Here is the link to access the International Handbook of Universities
    http://www.unesco.vg/INTERNATIONAL_HANDBOOK.pdf
     
  14. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    You seem to be arguing a point that has already been settled. I can attest to this as I am a Countess of Nigeria.:eek:h::yeah:
     
  15. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    We discussed this few times, being listed in the international handbook does not guarantee acceptance or denial as every country has a different system. For example, WES Canada will not accept degrees from Empresarial University of Costa Rica for evaluation purposes even though this school is listed in the handbook, this is mainly because Empresarial is only authorized to grant some Bachelors degrees while they grant PhDs so they seem to abuse their University status. Azteca has a similar situation, they grant PhDs when they are only authorized to grant some bachelor's degrees in Mexico.
    Also, some degree evaluators would be more lax than others. You can send a PhD from University of Central Nicaragua and be turned down while other NACES members will accept it.
     
  16. Stanislav

    Stanislav Well-Known Member

    As one episode of our "DEAC in Canada" saga, we attempted to transfer Ashworth coursework to a Canadian private college. The request was denied in part because the evaluator "could not determine the length of a course", apparently oblivious to the concept of a semester credit hour. That person, in fact, had a PhD from a "top class" Canadian university, and a postdoc at another, top class, Canadian university (in Higher Ed no less).
    I realize that the real reason they denied transfer is political (they were avare there's something amiss with the College of ECEs evaluation and did not want to stand up to their own soon-to-be accreditor), but the idiocy of the stated reason was stark, compared to the person's credentials. So I can't help but smile at using "top class Canadian University" in an Argument from Authority attempt.
     
  17. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I know, this is ridiculous as if this gives this person the authority to make a degree credible. Acceptance of foreign degrees in Canada is really not a provincial government but a professional association issue. Your PhD in Engineering from an foreign University can be in this famous handbook and yet turned down for an engineering license because the association does not like the program content. The same can be said about any regulated profession Canada.
    On the other hand, the title "PhD" is not regulated so it is perfectly legal to put a PhD in your business card if you have one from the unaccredited University of Sedona so not having your school in the handbook does not prevent you from using the designation.

    A PhD is normally an asset if you applying for jobs that require one such as faculty positions and government or industry research jobs. I honestly think that your resume will have a hard time selling a PhD from a low ranked Nicaraguan school when the market is flooded with local PhDs even if this school is in this famous handbook for faculty and research positions.

    These programs can be useful for people that are in self employment and do not require licensing such as natural therapists, counselors, etc. The only use I can think is the right to put a PhD in a business card but again, a University of Sedona degree can also give you this right so for practical purposes the Nicaraguan school and University of Sedona can do the job.
    The only issue seems to be self stem, a person with a PhD from an accredited Nicaraguan school can feel a sense of a accomplishment while the one year PhD from Sedona does not feel like such as great accomplishment. Personal reputation can also matter, one might lose credibility with a University of Sedona degree while the Nicaraguan PhD can always be defended as legit.
     
  18. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Doctoral theses, international standards? Got a source for that, mate?

    Fascinating. I hold a PhD from a European university, top class (according to some), but the thought that this would make me competent in evaluating doctoral theses from Universidad Central de Nicaragua never occured to me.
     

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