Webster University a "diploma mill"?

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seasides
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Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by seasides »

Interesting article by never-tired Andrew Drummond on Webster University north of Hua Hin:

Amazing allegations of embezzlement, corruption, and incompetence have been made against Webster’s University of Thailand which has its major campus in Cham-Am.

The allegations have been made by a former educator there who has sent the file to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha complaining about the administration, which is in the main Indian.

The academic’s report makes a fascinating read and is backed up by many documents.

Essentially the author, Jesse Nichols, claims that Webster University is no more than a diploma mill, which fabricates its educational successes and whose senior figures pocket cash meant for education to go on jollies.

It appears the parent Webster University in the United States has not yet done an audit, but representatives have visited and have been wined and dined.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2015/03/ ... rsity.html
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by richard »

I know one tutor in Bangkok who is perpetually globe trotting
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usual suspect
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by usual suspect »

I thought this practice of 'buying' a diploma has been widespread throughout this nation for many,many years now, & has become accepted as the standard means by which the Hi-So's offspring ALL gain their certificates..
..(many of them to busy partying & driving around in expensive cars to be hampered with sitting in class & concentrating on anything academic)
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by albaker »

Cannot comment on the "Amazing allegations of embezzlement, corruption, and incompetence have been made against Webster’s University of Thailand which has its major campus in Cham-Am."
But do know and have met representatives that have visited from USA and have been wined and dined plus all expenses met .
What are the Diplomas that this University are handing out , thought most Universities give out degrees ?
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by Spitfire »

University degrees are bought and sold all over the world, which is why most from Asia, Africa and Latin America are considered as nothing more than toilet paper really.

So many of the rich kids and young students everywhere have this feeling of self-entitlement now that they think they don't have to lift a finger anymore to get a good life and are entitled to it because they paid the fees.....cheating is so rampant everywhere now which is how uselessness and stupidity is perpetuated into the system.

They see it as no different than going into 7-11 and paying for a pack of crisps....I paid so I get.

BBC did a good one on Indian exams last few days.....lol, worth a read and good for a laugh.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31998343
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by laser »

I've followed the included links and it was an interesting, revealing reading... what a disgrace.

However, unlike this Webster franchise, many of the 'real' (typically older, well-established and mostly public) Thai Unis are reputable and do meet international/developed standards. Based on some hands-on experience and ongoing (research) cooperation with a few, I have a good opinion of them.
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by Spitfire »

As for Thai universities....I would guess you are refering to the the ones that are government funded but are termed as 'autonomous', which tend to be better as they are not interfered with much by the government/MoE.
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by sand_dancer »

This will probably help explain it.....

http://news.sky.com/story/1448924/extre ... exam-fraud
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by Takiap »

A bit of topic, but........


While some institutions in Thailand might be willing to sell qualifications, not all of them are. My BIL failed his studies last year, and was given a chance to resit his exam/s. He failed again, and as a result, he had to do his final year again.


Anyway :offtopic:
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by StevePIraq »

I don't actually think it is a case of buying a degree, the problem lies in making it so easy to pass. I have children at a government and the standards are atrocious with no real education. One daughter has told me that no one fails, they get a pass but with low grades.
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by johnsonda »

Webster University of Thailand (WUT) in Cha-Am is definitely NOT a "diploma mill". The academic standards are the same as any American university. Anyone who writes that it is a "diploma mill", i.e. an institution that hands out fake degrees in exchange for money, doesn't know what they are talking about and should definitely be sued for libel.

I teach psychology there and have for over the past year. I have also lived in Thailand for 12 years and taught in Thailand at three other Thai universities: Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai, Chiristian University of Thailand in Nakhon Pathom, and Mahidol University in Salaya (MUIC and the Faculty of Graduate Studies). I would say the standards and the quality of students is comparable to Mahidol's International College, where I taught as an adjunct lecturer for four years.

Yes, we have our problems. Retention of faculty and staff is one; recruitment and retention of students is another; low pay (particularly when compared to what faculty earn at the home campus in St. Louis) is a third. We could also use better facilities. But, overall, whatever problems we have, things are not as bad as at traditional Thai institutions of higher learning. Most Thai universities they spend at lot of money on maintaining appearances ("face"), but the students (except at MUIC) are not motivated to learn and cannot speak English (they can barely read and write in Thai), the Thai faculty tend not to be focused on student-centered learning (rather, they follow the "I lecture, you write down what I say and don't ask any questions" approach), and the leadership is stifling, hierarchical, and very top-down. It is very performance oriented (focused on looking good on QC ratings), rather than mastery oriented (being concerned with the quality of what students learn and innovation).

The article in CollegeTimes was written by someone who worked for WUT for less than a month, and definitely has an axe to grind. I never met him. Some students and some faculty apparently have grievances, but I can only report that I have been treated fairly in the year I have worked here. I focus on doing my best to teach my students and get very good student evaluations, and I have published two research papers over the last year. We are hoping to grow our student numbers in psychology so we can hire additional faculty. We are one of the few places in Thailand where a student can earn a BA degree in psychology, and because we are an accredited American university our students actually have an easier time being accepted into graduate degree programs in the US than do students from Thai universities. Our students also have the opportunity to study abroad, either at our St. Louis campus or one of seven other campuses, including London, Geneva, and Leiden in Europe. So, overall, I would report we are making positive progress and this is a good place to study, particularly in psychology!
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by StevePIraq »

@Johnsonda,
Thanks for a great post. I have no personal experience with WU only with Thai Government Unis and you statement confirms my own belief.

I wish we could get more responses from people actively involved with issues, this is something that is very lacking here.
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by caller »

The problem with John's post is that he doesn't address any of the very serious specific allegations made in the article and report he is commenting on. He states the author - not Drummond - only worked there a month and has an axe to grind.

Now I don't know how long he actually worked there for, but the author opens his report as follows:

During my short time there as a part-time instructor of computer electives, here are a few revelations that I encountered, leading to my unwavering conclusion that WUT is nothing short of a diploma mill

So that get's that one out of the way. The allegations are then numerous, detailed and in many instances, supported.
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by dtaai-maai »

:agree: There have been rumours about Webster for years, and the detailed and documented accusations in the article are not going to go away because someone says "that's not my experience".

There are two things that concern me about jonsonda's post, apart from the lack of detailed responses.

1. He seems to be comparing Webster's with Thai universities. Webster is not a Thai university, it is in international university based in Thailand. I assume it operates on the basis that the students will get the same degree, and therefore the same standard of education, they would receive in the USA. A degree from virtually any Thai university will not be worth the paper it is written on outside of Thailand. How many Thai students are there at Webster? My guess (and it's no more than that) is that any Thai family that could afford to send its offspring there would rather send them abroad.

2. Although I have no argument with most of his comments about Thai students in Thai universities, that is of absolutely no relevance to Webster. He goes on to say that Thai students "can barely read and write in Thai". For all of their numerous faults, that is not one of them. Far from it - I'd say that standards of literacy (particularly handwriting) in Thai at university level are at least as high their western counterparts in English, if not higher.
StevePIraq wrote:@Johnsonda,
Thanks for a great post. I have no personal experience with WU only with Thai Government Unis and you statement confirms my own belief.

I wish we could get more responses from people actively involved with issues, this is something that is very lacking here.
You're easily satisfied.

The problem with demanding more people actively involved is that it's a category that only includes people working or studying at Webster.

Let me be clear: I have no axe to grind here. I'm certainly not supporting Thai educational standards at any level, and I have no personal connection past or present to Webster.
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Re: Webster University a "diploma mill"?

Post by StevePIraq »

I believe John was not attempting to answer any of the issues raised in the article but was stating his own experience. From what I can see WU are not being investigated by any authorities in the USA and the USA WU is not considered a Diploma Mill.
In my opinion it is good to have someone with direct exposure to an issue post on here, far to often all that is posted are newspaper articles and everyone stating their opinion when few if anyone knows facts.
And I am satisfied with Johns comments in regard to Thai universities, as I stated I have no experience of WU.
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