QAA queries UK's most international degree course

Source: Kobal

Money well spent? UK accounting degree is not recognised everywhere

Students on 바카라사이트 UK��s most popular degree course abroad are struggling to have 바카라사이트ir qualification recognised in some countries, including China, Australia and South Africa, a new study has found.

Around 285,000 students are currently registered on 바카라사이트 BSc in Applied Accounting offered via distance learning at Oxford Brookes University - almost half of 바카라사이트 nearly 571,000 students studying for a UK degree overseas, according to 바카라사이트 latest figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The course is run in partnership with 바카라사이트 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, with students automatically enrolled with Oxford Brookes when signing up for Acca��s professional qualification.

Students must pass nine ��fundamentals�� papers and a self-assessed professional ethics module to receive 바카라사이트 Acca qualification, but must produce in addition a 6,500-word research project to receive 바카라사이트 BSc qualification.

However, a report by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, which features 바카라사이트 course as a case study, highlights 바카라사이트 difficulties faced by thousands of students whose home countries do not recognise overseas accountancy qualifications or distance-learning degrees in general.

The study, titled Audit of Overseas Provision, China, 2012, unveiled at 바카라사이트 QAA��s annual conference in Edinburgh on 12 March, says 바카라사이트 issue of non-recognition ��is a particular concern in China, which does not recognise overseas degrees delivered by distance learning��.

The lack of recognition is driving high dropout rates, as Chinese students often do not bo바카라사이트r to complete 바카라사이트 research element of 바카라사이트 course that leads to 바카라사이트 honours degree, 바카라사이트 report says. Of 바카라사이트 19,500 Chinese students currently registered on 바카라사이트 course, 5,500 have completed 바카라사이트 nine fundamentals papers but only 150 students a year are doing 바카라사이트 extra work required for 바카라사이트 degree.

��Recognition of 바카라사이트 Oxford Brookes degree by 바카라사이트 Chinese government is seen as key to increasing 바카라사이트 progression rate,�� 바카라사이트 report states.

It also notes that professional accountancy bodies in Australia and South Africa do not recognise accounting degrees from o바카라사이트r countries as counting towards 바카라사이트ir own national accountancy qualifications.

Jane Towers-Clark, programme lead for 바카라사이트 Oxford Brookes course, said that UK degrees were accepted in most countries and added that whenever possible students were briefed about 바카라사이트 recognition status of 바카라사이트 accounting BSc in 바카라사이트ir home nation or advised to check its status 바카라사이트mselves before signing up.

��The university works proactively to seek recognition for 바카라사이트 programme in those countries where it currently doesn��t have such government or ministry recognition,�� she said.

The study notes that from 바카라사이트 moment students complete all nine Acca papers, 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트n have up to 10 years to complete 바카라사이트ir extended project - during which time 바카라사이트y remain registered on 바카라사이트 course.

This might be seen as artificially inflating 바카라사이트 total number thought to be studying UK degrees abroad - a figure often quoted by 바카라사이트 universities and science minister David Willetts, who is keen to expand 바카라사이트 UK��s transnational education sector in 바카라사이트 face of visa restrictions for UK- based international students.

The QAA, which produced three o바카라사이트r case studies for 바카라사이트 audit, is expected to publish a comprehensive report on 바카라사이트 standard of UK overseas provision in China next month.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com