Job Discussion Forums

[Linguist]

A friend of mind would like to do a degree online/distance learning and has asked me if it will be a problem later on when applying for teaching jobs here in Saudi.

I would like to know what you think about it. I know for sure that online and distance learning degrees are not acceptable in general, but have heard people doing even PhDs online. I need some help here.

[veiledsentiments]

No one can give any kind of definitive answer on this. Common sense would say that as online degrees become more and more common, employers and ministries will accept them more readily.

BUT...

This is the Middle East, and rules are often made that don't seem to make much sense... to us. Your friend can merely do what he must do... based on his tolerance of the risks.

I think the most important detail for him to look at is whether degrees from the university are accepted by the Ministry. Personally I would only do an online degree from an institution that has an actual campus and is already well-known and accepted by ME governments.

VS

[babur]

The Open University is the only one I'd trust. Saudi universities are very wary of on-line qualifications, especially Masters degrees. KSA is full of teachers with off-the-shelf qualifications from places like speedydegreesdotcom (that one actually exists).

[Linguist]

Veiled and Babur: thanks a lot.

Babur you mentioned that the Open University is the only one I'd trust. What do you mean by that?

[cairanya]

What about Harvard Extension?

[babur]

The problem with online degrees is that employers can't check that you actually did all the work yourself.

Avoid any "virtual" institution, especially the ones that offer bargain basement "life experience" based degrees. Take a look at these sites.

http://www.degreeinfo.com/content/

http://www.onlinedegrees.org/degree-mills.htm

[cairanya]

[Complica Ted]

[genericusername]

There are many respected schools now getting into the online game, especially for graduate degrees. George Washington, NYU and U. of Toronto all have extensive programs. I'd check before I began whether the diploma and transcript indicate it was an online degree.

If I were doing the hiring, I'd accept some online graduate degrees but not undergrad. Graduate degrees tend to be self directed anyway, but the lack of TA experience would be troublesome.

[trapezius]

I don't see why employers wouldn't accept distance education qualifications. I mean, there is a whole Saudi university offering such degrees only: Saudi Electronic University

http://seu.edu.sa/en/index.php

What if someone (a Saudi) graduated from there? Would Saudi employers refuse them?

[johnslat]

Dear trapezius,

Good heavens, trap - you've been in Saudi way long, much too long to expect logic or consistency.

Regards,
John

[trapezius]

Aha, right! Actually, my post was longer, and I deleted some of it. I also typed about this article I read in Arab News some years ago about a pharmacy school in Saudi that graduated a bunch of students, but they were denied licenses by the Ministry of Health to become practicing pharmacists! Apparently, there was some problem with the accreditation of the university where the pharmacy school was situated.

So yeah, you are right!

And yeah, I have been here too long, so long that I am about to lose my mind, and I am just in my 30s

If the stars are aligned just perfectly though, I will be out of here at the end of June, most probably never to set foot on Saudi soil ever again

[Ixchel]

[veiledsentiments]

[trapezius]

Whoops, forgot to say the obligatory magic word, Insha'Allah!

Thanks VS