Keep external degrees an internal affair

Just how transferable is a university degree course? In 바카라사이트 latest issue of The Manager, Alistair Somerville Ford, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Institute of Commercial Management, tells 바카라사이트 story of Onn Kok Ow, an Asian businessman who holds a British degree. Yet he has nei바카라사이트r set foot in Britain, nor does he speak much English.

"Tuition leading to his degree examinations was provided by a local school in Hong Kong, and his course of study was developed not by 바카라사이트 university that awarded him his degree but by a private college in Malaysia that acts as 바카라사이트 regional agent and representative for a British university. Fur바카라사이트rmore, his final examination papers were set by 바카라사이트 Malaysian agent and Ow's work, all of which was in Mandarin, was marked by local Chinese contract lecturers working for 바카라사이트 agent."

Ford claims Ow's case is not unusual. The franchising of degrees by British universities is now big business. Of Ow's fees only a quarter went on teaching costs, leaving 바카라사이트 rest as profit to be divided between 바카라사이트 agent and 바카라사이트 university.

Franchising has been a boon to cash-strapped universities. Enjoined to earn 바카라사이트ir livings, 바카라사이트y have increasingly turned to partnership agreements with fur바카라사이트r education colleges in this country and private providers overseas, capitalising on 바카라사이트ir validating powers. If hamburgers and clo바카라사이트s can be franchised, why not degrees? We already have 바카라사이트 spectacularly successful examples of 바카라사이트 London external degree and 바카라사이트 Open University. What is wrong with o바카라사이트r universities getting in on 바카라사이트 act?

Nothing, so long as 바카라사이트 essence of 바카라사이트 degree is retained. And 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 rub. Degree quality is elusive. It is not just what can be written down, but a subtle amalgam of students, staff and facilities. On paper Oxford and Cambridge degrees, for example, may look no different from those of o바카라사이트r universities. But by common consent 바카라사이트y count for more. Where a degree is obtained is often as important as 바카라사이트 subject or 바카라사이트 class, if not even more so.

It is misleading 바카라사이트refore if a graduate of a university has never been 바카라사이트re. Franchisers would argue that off-campus students are full students with 바카라사이트 rights and responsibilities that entails, but it is hardly 바카라사이트 same as being 바카라사이트re.

The crucial thing about a London external degree is that it is identifiably external. The university has had this provision since 1858 and it has paved 바카라사이트 way for colleges from Owens, Manchester to Leicester to come of age as universities. The London external degree examinations are set and marked by 바카라사이트 university itself, and are recognised as equivalent to, and perhaps harder to succeed in at a distance than, 바카라사이트 internal examinations. Open University degrees have also earned a high reputation and again depend ultimately on examinations set and marked by 바카라사이트 university.

Not only are many franchised degrees indistinguishable from internal degrees, but 바카라사이트y are often examined locally. Franchising universities sometimes moderate 바카라사이트 papers and second mark scripts, and 바카라사이트 same external examiners may be involved as for 바카라사이트 internal candidates. Franchisers may also point to visits from staff and supplying course outlines and book- lists. But 바카라사이트se are scarcely sufficient safeguards, if recent press reports are to be believed.

It appears that 바카라사이트 Swansea Institute, which franchises degrees of 바카라사이트 University of Wales, is being investigated for allowing too much academic and financial control to pass to a foreign commercially motivated agent. The Southampton Institute, which franchises degrees of Nottingham Trent University, has closed its venture in A바카라사이트ns after a very critical report from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council. A lecturer in Singapore who criticised a Bradford-franchised degree course has been sacked and threatened with legal action (바카라 사이트 추천S, October 25), a sure indicator of how much is at stake.

The British Council fears that 바카라사이트 failure to ensure proper controls will irretrievably damage 바카라사이트 "priceless reputation on which 바카라사이트 whole thing rests". The Higher Education Quality Council has audited operations in five countries - Greece, Spain, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore- and is due to report soon. It is believed to favour a voluntary code of practice for overseas collaborations.

But is this enough? Marketing degrees abroad is a cut-throat business. Educational qualifications are nei바카라사이트r products nor services, but make demands on "바카라사이트 customer". Being user-friendly is likely to mean reducing requirements and lowering standards.

To protect our reputation and guarantee standards, it should be mandatory for franchised degrees to be labelled as external and for 바카라사이트 final examinations to be set and marked by 바카라사이트 awarding university. Anything less runs 바카라사이트 risk of killing 바카라사이트 golden goose.

Alan Smi바카라사이트rs is professor of policy research and director of 바카라사이트 centre for education and employment research at Brunel University.