Job Discussion Forums

passport220 · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 117

I am a native born, native speaker from America, have a B.S. from an American university. I am now considering a Master of Arts (TESOL) program from Thailand. Will a master�s degree from a Thai university meet the basic requirements of Middle East MOEs?

(Same post in Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi forums)

Iamherebecause · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:33 am Post subject:

Interesting one. It ought to be acceptable. Although the rules are notorious for changing - for example there have been a few kerfuffles about whether Masters gained by distance learning were acceptable or not over the years. Also Thai universities do vary in quality a lot - does the MoHE or the Min of Ed here have enough knowledge to distinguish between them?

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Is it a well-established uni? I'd be curious as to the outcome. I suppose you won't know until you apply. Can I ask why you opted to do the MA there?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I believe that he is just considering this option MM...

I have my MA in TEFL from a foreign university, but it has full American accreditation, and since it was in Egypt, it was accepted in the Gulf with no problem.

Accreditation may be the key to acceptability. Would it be recognized by the US to go on for a PhD? If not, I would avoid getting an MA there.

VS

Iamherebecause · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

Try asking the local British Council what UK universities think of the qualification you plan to do. If it's one of the well established ones such as the MA at KMITT it ought to be ok, but do as much checking as you can first.

passport220 · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 117

Thanks for the repies. Payap University Graduate School, Chiang Mai Thailand http://tesol.payap.org/MA.html is the program I am looking at.

I will stop by the UAE and a few other Middle East Embassies to see if they can tell me if this Univerisity is approved by the MOE.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

No one will take it seriously in the Gulf.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I fear that the Arab embassies may not be all that helpful with a question like this, but worth a try.

I would also go to the US embassy. The counselor section in many countries has an education officer who may be able to tell you if this degree would be accepted by US universities. If it is not, it would almost surely NOT be accepted by ME universities.

VS

seven seas · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 65

For various reasons, many people will automatically consider it as less valid than a degree from a university in the US.
You've got a lot of negative preconceptions to face.

A lot of people still say that a degree done via distance learning isn't real.

Good luck.

passport220 · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 117

773 · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 213

I just looked at this uni's website, and it appears to be a small, private Christian university that doesn't have any information about its accreditation on the website. That would concern me a bit.

You could do the same kind of Masters in one year for fairly cheaply in a place like Australia at a reputable uni. That would be taken far more seriously I would think.

seven seas · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 65

In the UAE, they tend to regard anything from the US/UK as inherently superior to anything from Asia.

But I haven't got any facts regardign the MOE's view and work visas.