ALKHOBAR, 18 March 2008 — Last week’s article about online diploma scams touched a nerve with many readers. The desire for a university degree the “easy way” has led numerous individuals to look into offers that require no tests, classes, books or examinations. These bogus diplomas have been obtained by “professionals” all over the world including physicians, university professors and even a former senior director at the US Department of Homeland Security.
“It is really agonizing that the literate class which even includes professionals like lawyers and engineers fall prey to the promotional gambit of unaccredited institutions in their eagerness to prefix titles to their names. I wish they could only have realized that it is preposterous to earn a doctorate without undergoing the rigors of learning and there are no short cuts. Many such organizations are thriving on this unwarranted appetite for degrees in the Middle East,” wrote Safi H. Jannaty from Dammam.
Jannaty has investigated several of diploma mills that are active in the Kingdom and he wanted to alert everyone to their fraudulent practices.
The first is the Royal College for Professional Technology (www.royalcollegeireland.com).
“This college poses as a research and scientific body and grants Honorary Doctorates. There is a network in Saudi Arabia which contacts businessmen and professionals with offers of honorary doctorates from this college against hefty considerations,” noted Jannaty. “When I contacted several educational authorities in Ireland to check the veracity of this college, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council of Ireland (www.hetac.ie) advised me that they had never heard of any such learning institution.”
Jannaty also mentioned the University of Northern Washington (www.unw.edu) and the American University of London (www.americanuniversity.org.uk).
The second organization is particularly obnoxious because it might be easily confused with the well-known American University in London.
Terrible too, is that the American University of London is accredited by accreditation bodies whose primary purpose, according to Jannaty is “just to spin money from gullible folks.”
Reader Lewis Bonner commented on diploma mills, which are particularly persistent.
“The first SPAM mail subject line was ‘Prosper with University Degree.’ Next came ‘University Degree for Everyone.’ Then yesterday, ‘Online University Degrees.’ All these e-mails were from the same sender,” wrote Bonner. “There’s also another series. ‘A call for nominations: Ph.d.,’ followed by ‘Degree award: you’re nominated,’ and ‘We need Ph.d. nominees.’ These three e-mails are from different senders but they all specify that the same telephone number should be contacted — (206)666-6129.”
Wilma P. e-mailed from Riyadh to chastise Arab News for promoting diploma mills.
“Your article warns against giving money to online educational institutions which are fraudulent,” Wilma P. wrote, “but I have seen advertisements in Arab News for universities which are diploma mills.”
The lady has a point. Looking back over the pages of Arab News, on March 1, we published an advertisement from Washington International University (www.washint.edu). The advertisement read: “Adults stay home and earn your degree. Authenticated by the American Government.”
What authenticated means in regards to the university is not clear, but investigation shows that it is not an accredited institution of higher learning. That this is a diploma mill is established from the university’s website which advises that for its accelerate diploma : “There are no textbooks to read, curriculum to follow or formal exams to take.” Washington International University claims to have just six advisers — not professors — and no university campus. The university is forbidden to advertise its programs in Australia.
In Arab News’ defense it must be pointed out that Washington International University took a paid advertisement. Information published about this organization was not editorial content. With all advertisements, it’s a case of “buyer beware,” whether the ads claim the product will make your home smell like a meadow, give you irresistible white skin, or provide you with a diploma in a week. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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