Ghost schools, fake diplomas, unlicensed universities, TI says

Transparency International recently released its “2013 Global Corruption Report: Education”. Its key finding – ghost schools, fake diplomas and undue corporate influence in university research are among the many things corrupting the world’s educational sector. 

What’s the situation like in Thailand?

I hate to point out the fact that some so-called higher-education institutions here are not qualified to conduct their courses in the very basic sense. Adamson University and Rochville University are among them. 

Both universities have operated in Thailand but without proper permission from the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Ohec). These universities are uncertified. This means no matter what courses they have conducted, their graduates will never get any recognition in the country’s civil-service sector. Their degrees will mean nothing, as soon as employers find out the truth. 

Ohec has recently instructed universities to re-examine the education credentials of their lecturers. 

Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, deputy secretary-general of Ohec, said if the lecturers used degrees from uncertified institutions, their qualifications as lecturers would be in doubt. 

Thonburi University president Bancha Kerdmanee said he sacked many lecturers after finding their doctorate degrees were not certified by Ohec.

“Without the certified doctorate degrees, they are not qualified to do their job at my university,” he said.

Uncertified institutions have often used aggressive marketing to lure students. Among the many victims are school administrators from rural provinces who hope a higher academic degree will help them advance professionally. Some of them are also attracted to the uncertified universities’ tempting promises. 

Adamson University, for example, has promised to take its students to the Philippines. 

A school administrator, who works in Thailand’s Northeast, places much trust in Adamson University despite the latest uproar. She has paid Bt430,000 to the university for its course, which includes overseas field trips. 

But corrupt practice in the educational sector has clearly delivered a huge financial loss to many unknowing students. Graduates, after all, will have no chance of getting promoted by producing a degree from Adamson University. Adamson students may be happy today but they will very likely lament in the future that they spent Bt430,000 and their time for virtually nothing. Promotion chances aside, they may not get any real or precious knowledge. 

Uncertified universities must have had some quality problems, otherwise they should have not failed to win proper permission from Ohec. 

In the event that some of the uncertified universities’ graduates secure teaching jobs, the toll will be on their students because they may not at all be qualified to teach.

This information has already provided a glimpse into the ghost schools and fake diplomas mentioned in Transparency International’s report. 

Then what about undue corporate influence?

Many Thai universities now receive partial funding from companies to sponsor their research. The number of papers can give lecturers a better chance of rising in rank and getting bigger allowances. To universities, the number of papers boosts their credibility. 

Thai academics have insisted that they and their institutions have maintained their credibility and objectivity. Although they have insisted that money from firms will not bias their judgement when conducting research, the public may not be fully convinced. Over time, the judgement by some can be clouded because a conflict of interest may be present. 

All authorities and stakeholders should pay attention to the findings from the latest report by Transparency International – then do something to address the problems. 

If regulatory bodies are strong and efficient, no institution should be able to operate without a proper licence.

If they can prescribe strict regulations on research funding by the private sector, they should be able to prevent the granting of research funds where conflicts of interest may arise. 

Last but not least, I also would like the government to allocate a bigger budget for research because when conducted transparently and efficiently, research findings can deliver better productivity and improve people’s wellbeing and not just in Thailand. In some cases, impacts may even be felt across the world.