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Approved degrees Approved to teach

 
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web fishing



Joined: 02 Jun 2005
Posts: 95

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:53 pm    Post subject: Approved degrees Approved to teach Reply with quote

I recently came across threads on www.degreeinfo.com forum
(a distance learning website) by a person name Adrienne A. Reynolds who claims she works in the Human Resource department at UGRU in the United Arab Emirates.

The question asked on forum: State-approved degrees in the world

Adrienne said 11/2004:
Quote:
Although I can't speak for the entire world, in the Middle East governments maintain a list of universities and colleges that are approved, in terms of recognizing the degree which a person holds. For example, in the UAE, there are many schools in the U.S. (even RA) that the UAE gov't will not pay for scholarships for their citizens to attend. This is also true when checking credentials to hire folks in the educational systems here. In my case, my master's is fine, as the UAE gov't recognizes FSU as an acceptable institution by their criteria. However, once I earn my Ph.D. from Capella, it will not be, simply because it is earned at a distance.

So, in this context, it would probably be helpful to ascertain the exact criteria a specific non-U.S. gov't follows with regards to acceptable universities.


In another thread UAE and fake degrees

Adrienne wrote 9/2004:
Quote:
... The Ministry of Education, which oversees the secondary school system and the military schools, has not accepted DL degrees for some time, and in fact many teachers had their pay cut to BA level last year when it was discovered that their MA's were earned at a distance.

However, the Ministry of Higher Education, which oversees the tertiary institutions, up to this point, has been accepting DL degrees. My uni, and others in the country, accept them as approved when hiring faculty.


Anyone in the Middle East ever experience this? I am interested in the near future to teach in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman. I have a MA degree, but one day hope to get my PhD by an accredited distance learning instituition. With all the hard work I would be putting into getting a PhD, and then to have it not recognized, or to be put on a lower pay scale because of it is upsetting. Is it a case by case thing, or does it depend on the person who is hiring??? Confused
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

webfishing,

She is absolutely right and she is in a position to know. Note that she is referring to the UAE only here. If you read carefully, you probably noted that for teaching... if you apply with a university that is covered by the Ministry of Higher Education, they have up to this point accepted distance degrees from recognized universities. (ie... not an office building that mails out diplomas after your check clears...)

It is at the secondary school and other institutions under the Ministry of Education that do not recognize distance programs. There is rumor that they will eventually, but rumor... is rumor... It doesn't depend on the person hiring or your negotiation skills or anything other than Ministry rules. Since as a PhD, you would be teaching at university level anyway, it shouldn't be a problem.

But, watch this space... the one constant is change...

VS
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Joined: 02 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

veiledsentiments,

Maybe I'm not reading it correctly, but the part that seems confusing is:
9/2004:
Quote:
the Ministry of Higher Education, which oversees the tertiary institutions, up to this point, has been accepting DL degrees. My uni, and others in the country, accept them as approved when hiring faculty.


11/2004:
Quote:
This is also true when checking credentials to hire folks in the educational systems here. In my case, my master's is fine, as the UAE gov't recognizes FSU as an acceptable institution by their criteria. However, once I earn my Ph.D. from Capella, it will not be, simply because it is earned at a distance.


Her MA degree from Florida State University is accepted and recognized, however, it seems that her PhD would not be because it is a degree from a distance learning instituition, or because it is from an instituiton that is not on the list of recognized universities???
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Easy answer which wasn't made clear in your snippets, she is not a teacher, but is in administration now.

VS
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web fishing



Joined: 02 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I know she is in administration. I mentioned that she is working in the Human Resource department. And, she has been in this position for about three years now prior to her 2004 postings, and before that she was teaching ESL at UGRU.

So can you elaborated a little more please.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To be honest, I'm not sure what your point is. You did allude to her 'claims.' I don't think her current employment details are relevent here especially since you seem to know more than I do. I suggest that you get in touch with her personally if you want more information. If you are a member on this other board, perhaps you could send her a PM.

As to her comments on the current rules on distance PhDs in the Emirates, obviously those are accurate. So, I suggest that you don't plan your life around the UAE rules although they are probably going to change anyway. What with the fact that these degrees will become more common as time goes by, I expect that the Ministry of Education will have to go along with the rest of the world and accept those that are from accredited universities.

VS
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web fishing



Joined: 02 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You read my mind, that is what I'm planning to do. I'm awaiting activation.
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