Is anybody familar with worldwide University which appears to be connected with Vancouver University in Canada http://www.worldwideuniversity.edu regards, Ebbwvale
Yes, it has been discussed in depth on this forum. Does the search function yield any threads? It is one of the most confusing and controversial university cases I have ever read. Cheers, George
George, I hve tried without any success. I will try again and see what comes up. I find it a bit different as well. perhaps a new innovation on he distance learning scene. "The media are not very helpful. Did you read in 1997 that the AAUA announced us runner-up in the prestigious global Khaladjian Award competition for Innovation in Higher Education (winner NY State U)? No, you didn't read it, because not a single newspaper or magazine - not even the locals in Vancouver BC or Bellingham WA - bothered to report the item. Also, you won't usually find us in 'authoritative' directories of universities, because we don't pay to be in them. Here is more about why we have operated in particular ways in past and recent years."Vancouver University website accessed 9/24/05 An extract from their web page indicates some recognition for innovation . I don't know how prestiguous the award is or who gives it so I am not in a position to comment. I would think that NY State U, however, would be less inclined to receive an award from a dubious competition.
For a supposedly prestigious global award, the actual winner doesn't seem to pay any attention to it. I could only find two non-duplicate references to it, most of which appear only in Google's cache (call for nominations , CV of dean of the universirty/department that won the award and someone else's CV ) A University of Arizona newsletter (the call for nominations above) carried the advertisment Note the contact person (Same organistation as the eventual winner) Not a particularly impressive offering. The winners of later years are also hard to track down. It also appears that Vancouver University Worldwide is the only organistation to admit to being a runner up (was that the only year that the runner up position was offered?) So it appears that there may not be a great conspiracy against Vancouver University Worldwide after all, as no-one bothered to report any other runners up (and precious few actually bothered with winners) Note that I had no luck finding old threads either(that did anything other than mention it in passing).
I had a chance to look over there web site. It seems somewhat confusing and does not seem to answer questions in a straight-forward manner. It gave some information that it sort of operates the same as Charter Oak or Thomas Edison, but did not give anymore information other than that. I am not sure how this school operates and I was not successful with the search function as well. What has the other discussions been, and has anyone had any communication or encounters with this school? This may prove to be helpful to some.
The following was written in 1999 by a man who was then Director of Admissions for a traditional Canadian university, and quite an authority on Canadian higher education. I agree with his "may be sincere" comment. Rodgers has a solid educational background (doctorate from Columbia), and was something of an authoity on Cajun language when he taught at a university in Louisiana Following is the quote. =============================== If you want to pass some of this hearsay on to the group, feel free to cite me as a bemused source. Now, about Vancouver University Colleges and the wonderful Raymond Rodgers. No one in BC or the rest of Canada takes him seriously...except some twit who allowed his outfit to get listed in a guide sponsored by the federal government (probably a summer intern). The only part of his operation that is approved for operation in BC is an ESL school and a Montessori school (and why the Montessori people allow that is beyond me). No version of his operation is authorized to grant degrees in BC or anywhere else in Canada. Everything on his website and in his literature that implies anything to the contrary is fraudulent. I don't know how he is getting away with it. Any claims to "degree" granting status have normally been very tightly controlled in BC. With all the political turmoil in this province in the last 2 years, and turn-over in the agency that oversees private post-secondary schools, I can't say I'm surprised he hasn't been shut down yet. It's odd that you should contact me about Mr. Rodgers (and his bizarre neighbourhood), because I was thinking earlier this week that I haven't had my annual spring ranting 'n raving telephone call from him. For the past 7 years he has found time in his busy schedule to contact me and berate me for my university's narrow-minded, intolerant, inflexible attitude in not recognizing his fine institution. It's always entertaining. Perhaps this is in lieu. The scary thing is that I think he may be sincere in his "crusade". Every contact I've ever had with him makes me think he is seriously delusional and potentially dangerous - but that may just be my risk-assessment/body guard training working overtime. He may just be a harmless nutcase, but a nutcase he most certainly is. I'm also embarrassed that our government has let things slip so badly that Rodgers is allowed to make such outrageously misleading claims. Definitely a less than wonderful DL institution.
I have received the following e-mail concerning this university: "Thank you for communicating with Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials. Vancouver University Worlwide does not appear in the list of recognized higher education institutions in British Columbia, Canada nor in any other list,private or public, of the provinces and territories in Canada If you need more information please do not hesitate to commnicate with us." The scary thing is that I found this university on a South African University website listed along with more credentialled universities. It may receive more standing by the company it was keeping. http://www.southafricastudy.com/universities.htm
