Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Bogus Universities? (IV)

Wah... despite having written six previous articles relating to bogus universities already, there appears to be a fair bit of interest in the subject. So here's the 7th on the very same subject. :)

Thanks to reader H in Leeds, we now learn that the Open University of Malaysia (OUM), which was embroiled in a discriminatory controversy earlier, is offering Masters and PhD programmes. Of interest is that they are now offering PhD programmes in Engineering. It is worth noting that even The Open University in the United Kingdom (UK) does not offer PhD programmes. The highest level offered in The Open University, UK is taught Masters, and even then, none in the scientific fields such as Engineering. I wonder what makes OUM think that they will be able to deliver quality programmes in these postgraduate fields, when its more established compatriot in the UK doesn't deem them appropriate.

Anyway, this post isn't about the quality of postgraduate programmes at OUM. It is more interesting to note that in the online application form for postgraduate programmes for OUM, there is a default list of 36 universities accepted by (or deemed acceptable to) OUM. In it, you'd 21 local universities and colleges, and 15 foreign ones.

Yes, as some of you might have guessed, the now infamous Irish International University (IIU) forms part of the list. So it appears now that one of the easiest way to obtain an accreditated postgraduate degree from OUM is to first obtain an unaccreditated one from a bogus university!


As a general reminder for readers who may not have read the earlier posts on bogus universities, the Office of Degree Authorisation of Oregon, United States have listed the Irish International University as a bogus university. In IIU's case, it specifically mentioned that:
The Irish government has requested that Malaysia close this entity on grounds that it is neither Irish nor a university. It has obtained a business license in a Swiss canton, but is not a Swiss university.
But hey, it doesn't matter, our very own OUM recognises IIU qualifications. And IIU isn't the only dodgy institution deemed acceptable, there is one Asia Pacific International University which similarly provides dubious qualifications on the list.

Separately, it was absolutely mind-boggling how the list of 15 foreign institutions were selected to be part of the drop down menu. The list of illuminaries include the University of Cambridge, juxtaposed against the Anglia Polytechnic University, an Australian Northern Territory University and no other Australian institutions.

Ok, so I'm miffed that Oxford isn't part of the list that is deemed "acceptable". But then again, maybe I should have a laugh at Kian Ming for going to a university deemed comparable to Irish International University! :)

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post, Tony....

I reckon that we should (obligated to) write to OUM and request that IIU be dropped from the list.....If they do not, then I reckon that they at least change the title of the program from PhD Science to "Grand PhD".....Hehe.....

Anonymous said...

I think OUM is runned by a group of stupid " monkeys" that I am certain.

I wonder who the supervisors or the academics in OUM who will be supervising? Guess it must be the same " succesful monkeys" from the collabrating local universities

he he. When will this " round about of nonsense" will go on?

Anonymous said...

Come on folks, It is an open university, which opens to anything and anyone as long as the fees are paid. So let's all of us be open too! Don't mind all these cute little things by our beloved government :D

Anonymous said...

A bit off-topic. Malaysia-today has been inaccessible the last few days. Wonder if it has been shut down by authorities.

clk said...

As an OU (UK) graduate myself, I can say OU (not OUM) does offer both MPhil & PhD level research programs (not taught prog). However if I recalled correctly, it is the only program which has full-time students which numbers into 250+.

The other programs are mainly taught prog upto Masters level only. OU offers various entry levels (hence the concept of open) depending on various factors including your highschool level, work experience, age etc. It has an open entry in that sense but it has also has various exit levels upto Masters.

As someone who has gone thru the OU at the Masters level, I can tell you that we do have students who fail a paper or two even at this level. It is not a breeze and if you don't put in the effort, you'll fail.

I do know of various distance learning Masters level prog (part-time)which does not include any exams and without exams, one cannot examine the students capabilities especially when many students out there pays someone to write their assignments.

Idlan said...

Makes it more pressing that the issues relating to the Irish Intl University be forwarded to the press urgently.

Failing which, I dunno - we could author a paper on this and present it at a conference in Malaysia haha. Perhaps one organised by the Open University of Malaysia, no less.

Anonymous said...

Is OUM a legal bogus university too?

Anonymous said...

Going by your findings, it does appear that the phrase "complete stupidity" would utterly understate the idiocy of the OUM administration. Perhaps it should at least change its name to leave out the word "Malaysia", to avoid tainting our country's name in case OUM is in turn classified somewhere sometime in the near future as another bogus university. Suggest the phrase "Universiti Kebolehan". Very meaningful, methinks. Its PhD holders can then claim they have degrees from both "IIU and UK". Highly marketable.

Anonymous said...

Open University is one which tries to make ethnic Chinese lecturers work 7 days a week with no breaks. It put me off joining them as a lecturer and felt that they were exploiting the already dire unemployment situation in the country. Further they are not afraid of copying the syllabus of unknown unis to improve their own teaching modules. Beware.

clk said...

To anony who said "Further they are not afraid of copying the syllabus of unknown unis to improve their own teaching modules. Beware.".

I've always wanted to compare the quality of OUM materials with OU just for interest. Can anyone show me a complete set for a business course so that I can go through it? I'm willing to share what I got from OU as a comparison.

Anonymous said...

CLK,
Please contact OUM at:
oum.edu.my
They will be glad to assist you

Prof Bogus

Anonymous said...

Why the hue and cry over bogus universities or those universities not recognized by our govt?

...as it is our very own govt universities are producing graduates which are as good as bogus universities.

The only difference our own govt bogus universities are recognized by our govt. Inside our govt bogus universities are full of bogus professors...and bogus students who dont have stpm but enter thro matrikulasi

Anonymous said...

www.IIUedu.ie ,now only front page and all the others blank.

Hackerz said...

I found a lot of 'bogus' graduates around here. Don't make your freaking-shallow-minded attitude clouding your judgement. I'm neither pro nor against OUM or government.. but.. if you are graduates... you should make your homework/research before making any allegation. I met a lot of 'accredited university grads' that somehow can be classified as IDIOTS too.. it is not the university... it is you...

Anonymous said...

so screwed... i join iiu in 2002 for they master program and they flash me JPN papers and the fact that i could withdraw my epf to further my studies was a + POINT...
even met with the uni dean but from wat i have seen now it was all a waste of money...
how can the govt. allow such a thing to happen...
i even have a copy of a letter from the prime minister department about datuk m.kayveas addressing the 4th convo.... hard earn money just gone down the toilet..!

Anonymous said...

yeah.. complaint2..its all u know as if u were better than them, u racists! :p

Anonymous said...

U all talk cock ....
have you all realized that if OUM is going to be flexible , definately we can make use of them .As u all knw they are bunch of monkeys .... :)

Anonymous said...

hi everyone , well i agree with hacker .He is thinking out of the box.You can even get a degree from Harvard, but if u urself cant improve ,thn what u have is a piece of paper .Have u guys noticed that a graduate frm a local uni compare to the 'Bogus" uni , the grad frm the 'bogus' uni have better foundation , interpersonal skills which needed in the businees entity now .Thats wht a company look at.Whts the point if u have a accreditated degree ,but cannot perform.Can even speak a word of english .Does this surf the purpose of quality education ???? u guys must think at some point .Is it reasonable to have proper quality education in Malaysia ??? or perhaps if Aus , U.S , or U.k ,well then i suggest go for a accreditated uni.if u plan to serve the goverment , which you can even dream to get , but try for the sake of trying and wasting time .education is to upgrade an entity of a person , regardless of wht quality education one gets .Its all on U !! U decide !!