Job Discussion Forums

[Jim Bigelow]

Greetings,

A friend of mine was offered a job at a University here in KSA. I advised him that he should just make sure that before leaving his current job he should make sure that all of his documents are in order and he will not face any unexpected suprises (the uni had asked him to take a final exit and come back in as opposed to a transfer, they said it is much easier and quicker) when he leaves to come back out.

So after a few enquiries we confirmed that when he gets back to the UK he will need to get all his certs. approved form the Saudi Cultural Bureau in London. He spoke to them and they told him that because his BA is from the States (and his BA was via distance although this was not the reason) he will need to send his Degree to the office in Washington.

He called the Saudi Cultural Bureau in America and they told then told him that they can not approve anything done via distance no matter which University it is from!
He went back to the University to see if there was anything that could be done and he was then told that it is a very grey area....

Is this really the case or was the man on the phone simply assuming they wouldnt accept it? I have never heard of this before and would really be very gratefull of any insight into the procedure in the States of getting your Cert. approved and espcially if they have bben achieved via distance.

Many thanks!

Jim

[Jim Bigelow]

Just bumping this up!

Is every body aware of this? When something similiar was posted on the UAE it was big news but it seems maybe I'm the only one who didn't know that KSA will not authorise any Distance Degrees from the US?

Any input, thanks.

[veiledsentiments]

Jim,

Is it just me - I have never heard of anyone with a distance BA. Lots of distance MAs and PhDs, but this is a new one.

Sorry to jump in but just wondering

VS

[Jim Bigelow]

Hi VS,

Well my friend did his with the Open University. I'm not sure about other Uni's but the OU is pretty popular for distance BA's.

My worry was also concerning the non-acceptance of distance MA's.

[Chrisbee]

Usually so long as the college is accreditated it should not matter. Likewise, I have never heard of a college putting "this degree was attained via distance learning" on their degrees. That being the case, how would they know?

[GlobalDawg]

I'm inclined to agree with Chrisbee. Although my BA was not through distance learning, I did have a bit of a problem with the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Washington D.C. After making a phone call, however, and speaking with the gentleman who actually verifies and approves that aspect of the visa processing procedure things went smoothly. The issue with the Cultural Mission, as the gentleman explained, is that they are very wary of degrees from fly-by-night institutions. He called the school from which I received my degree, because it wasn't on his list of accredited institutions, and was convinced that it was an accredited institution. It's a small college, but well known.

As for the distance learning degree, presently I am working on an MA through a university in the U.K. The university has assurred me that the degree will not indicate that it was obtained through distance learning; my status is merely that of a part-time student. So, take a look at your degree and note if it indeed indicates 'distant learning.' If it doesn't, then there should be no need for you to offer such information.

Good luck,
---global

[dmb]

Globaldawg I am in the same position as you. I am doing a distance MA in the UK aswell. But it won't take long for recruiters to see that the dates of the part-time MA in the Uk and 'abroad' coincide.= distance.

[GlobalDawg]

True dmb, however, I'm not too concerned about recruiters. I am hoping that the position I hold now will be my last. The college where I am presently teaching is supportive of my efforts and I'm not in a rush to leave. Acutally, acquiring the degree won't make a difference in my status, yet it will increase my chances of remaining on staff. The college is in the process of advancing from a technical diploma offering to bachelor and master offerings. The thought is that those who hold an MA will have a better chance of remaining should administration decide to revamp the staff with more postgrads in ESL. As well, if I do decide to leave or am forced to leave, I feel confident that my abilities will carry me to the next position. It's not just about the degree; where there's a will, there a way.

[Jolly]

I got my MA via Open Univeristy UK. Kuwait Univeristy would not accept it. It's as if some unis are saying degrees via distance learning are not real degrees. It's a pity really. I worked harder on my MA via distance learning than I did when I got my BS at City Univeristy of New York where I had to sit for lectures! Go figure it! Distance learning is not a correspondence course as in days of old.

[Twisting in the Wind]

I finished my BA via "distance learning" from Indiana University. Nowhere on the the degree does it say "Distance learning degree' or anything like that. Previously I had three years in residence at another college in the states. I worked dang hard for that degree, did the same coursework, wrote the same papers, and it shouldn't matter that it was distance or not. It was my life circumstances that made it easier for me to get my BA that way instead of in the traditional way. Yes, I agree with a previous poster--distance learning programs are not the flaky correspondence courses of yore. It is my understanding that distance learning degrees are the same as residence degrees, so how would the hiring institution even know? (Unless maybe they put together the dates in your resume and it didn't add up, but someone like that has way too much time on their hands.)