Singapore’s knowledge economy proceeds apace! Turns out that we
might have found a key pillar of our GDP – allowing just about
anyone to operate a printing press to churn out MBAs and PhDs
certificates for Fido, aka “education hub”. As a public service to
Singaporeans who are thinking of upgrading their skills for jobs at
the IRs, here’s a list of institutions (courtesy of ST) that you
might want to avoid from here on. (or if you’re a part time real
estate agent looking for a fast degree, you might want to consider
them for a “degree flip”)....
Cranston University, Templeton University –
these two printers seem to specialize in account management
courses. It’s worthwhile noting that Templeton U is registered
under a Las Vegas PO box number (IR here I come!), and offers
discount coupons for its courses on Merchant Circle.
Trident University of Technology – From a
writeup in Palin U: “A long standing tradition of academic
excellence in the field of Business and Technology education. This
year the university was re-named Trident University of Technology
to signify its continual growth and improvement as it looks ever
forward to fulfilling its mission of becoming an internationally
recognised, world-class university of technology.” And to try to
escape the banned list, no doubt. The website is, of course, down.
Vancouver University Worldwide – From a cached
webpage (the actual VUW website was listed by my security software
as a malware site, so please don’t go there) “Vancouver University
Worldwide is (1) a consortium of globally-dispersed constituent and
affiliate member colleges and programs, and (2) conducts a
collateral ‘external’ aggregate-learning degrees process.”
Translated: (1) you can’t really track us down if you’re looking
for a refund, and (2) we print degrees.
Westmore University – The official website
looks a free blog site, with nothing very much on it. Domain is for
sale, if you’re interested. The cost of a degree ranges from $400
for a high school degree to $1500 for a PhD. Imagine: for the cost
of paying a few years of (new) HDB taxes, you get to be called
“Doctor”.
Lee Community College – The crowning glory.
This is the shop that you pass by everytime you want to take a
coffee break at Telok Ayer Food Market. Specializing in
“psychology” and “counselling”, it offers external degree courses
despite the small problem of MOE not allowing them to do so. MOE
said they will “investigate”. You gotta feel sorry for the China
students who plonked down US$20K for these soon-to-be-shut-down
course programs.
Full article at:
http://singaporeuncletrader.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/singapore-as-an-education-hub-aka-phd-for-fido/