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Evaluating International Qualifications and Combating Education Fraud
Simon Potter
qualifications are better understood
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Session Overview
• UK NARIC
• Evaluating qualifications
• What is education fraud?
• What’s on offer
• What documents to request
• Fake documents
• Degree mills
• English language
• Where to find help
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UK NARIC
UK NARIC is the National Agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from overseas.
• recognition of international qualifications• comprehensive and up-to-date information on the education
systems of other countries• developing and maintaining systems to help members to compare
international qualifications• identifying fraudulent documents• research services offering more in-depth analysis and benchmarking
comparisons• assistance in the immigration and managed migration process
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International Cooperation
Professional Bodies
Thematic Steering GroupsFE and HE
institutions
Quality Standards
Group
Core Services
Monitoring Group
UK NARIC
Quality Assurance
Bodies
ENIC-NARIC
Network
ENIC–NARIC Network
Comprises 54 recognition centres linking European countries, Australasia, North America
Sharing and providing information on:
•Recognition of foreign qualifications
•Education systems internationally and in the centre’s own country to other recognition centres, institutions, employers and other relevant stakeholders
•Best practice in recognition
Government
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Evaluation Criteria – what should you assess
• Entrance / Admission Requirements
• Duration of Study
• Course Content and Structure
• Examination Methods
• Research Elements / Thesis
• Title of Final Qualification
• Learning outcomes
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UK NARIC Evaluation Criteria
•Methodology based upon the key principles of credential evaluation
•Comparisons derived using the NARIC Band Framework as a reference point
•One criterion does not dominate in the assessment procedure
•Considers the needs of the national system in question
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UK NARIC Band Framework
• Serves as a reference point
• Designed to ensure accuracy and consistency of comparability statements
• Designed to represent all different types of international qualification and provide meaningful linkages to the most similar UK awards
• The term Band is used to reflect the broad grouping of international qualifications that may be categorised together
• Accommodates and reflects value comparisons of a wide range of international awards and transferable skills
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Education Fraud
• How do you know whether a qualification is legitimate?
• Who should you consult?
• What is education fraud?
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Education Fraud
No developed country is safe from the risk of falling victim to fake credentials unless they have the knowledge and skills to combat education fraud and safeguard genuine and good quality education
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Who commits fraud?
• Education fraud falls into two areas:– By an individual– By an institution
• Individuals wishing to ‘improve’ themselves through claiming to have qualifications
• They believe they are doing no harm; it is merely in order to gain access to jobs, education or entry to countries
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Who commits fraud?
In fact they are committing a crime;
‘…if a person applies for an advertised job which demands that the applicant holds a particular degree, they commit the offence of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception if they dishonestly obtain the job as a result of a deception that they have the degree…’
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Working with bogus qualifications
• Education fraud can affect us all• It is important that regulated professions are protected by increasing
awareness of bogus qualifications and how to combat them
• Gene Morrison• Bogus forensic detective
(UK) – 30 yrs• Bought degree on the web
• Stein Bagger• Danish Entrepreneur of the Year• Held fake qualifications - 'San
Francisco Technical University'
• Abdul Pirzada• Fake doctor jailed over CV lies• Claimed to have Pakistani
qualifications
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Fraud Worldwide
China: Fake documents widely available e.g. Back Alley Press
USA: Varying state legislation means that degree mills can often freely operate
Both India and Pakistan have extensive lists of fake universities operating
Corruption is a major problem in Russia, facilitating educational fraud
Nigeria and Cameroon suffer from an endemic traffic in fraudulent documents
Many Caribbean islands do not have fully accredited programmes; particularly medical universities
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What documents to request
Documents that you should request include:
• Final Certificate
• Transcripts / Academic Records
• Diploma Supplement (Bologna degrees)
• Certified translations if the documents are not in English / Malay
• Evidence of name changes if appropriate
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Translations
What to request:
• Certified translation
• Copy of original language documents
Words of warning:
• Has the degree title been translated into Bachelor or Master?
• Use of the word Doctor
• University, Institute, School, College and Academy
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Document Appearance
• The variety of fonts used
• Lack of official stamps
• Paper quality
• Misalignment
• Size and shape
• Handwriting
• Scanned signatures
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Linguistic features and other possible signs
• Informal language• Unlikely degree titles• Spelling errors• Inconsistent terminology• Incorrect translations into English
• Discordant dates and duration• Awarding bodies• Logos incorrect or in the wrong position
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What documents to request: Iraq
Scientific or Literature
Subjects appropriate to stream
First course – first attemptSecond course – second attemptAfter this, students must repeat the year
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What documents to request - WAEC
Perforated paper
Candidate number
Certificate number
Hologram
Stamp
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What documents to request - WAEC
Hologram
Statement number
Certified Statement
Watermark
Background pattern
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What documents to request - Pakistan
Is the board recognised?
Which group?
Certificate number
Identification mark
Compulsory subjects
Electives
Date
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What documents to request - India
<Name> <No.>
Is the board recognised?
Grading information
Board emblem
Index number
Watermark
Background pattern
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Genuine or fake?
Two titles
Scanned photograph
Poor quality image
A rosette?
This certificate should be bilingual: English and Arabic
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That’s not right
Signatures scanned in
Cape of Good Hope (Hoop is Afrikaans)
If a document is original then there is no need to state it
Crest is incorrect and misaligned
Generally there are too many fonts
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When in doubt…
• Ask for – original certificates in the original language– previous qualifications (especially the entry qualification)
• Establish internal image bank– quick way to familiarise oneself with the format of documents– effective reference point
• Request transcripts/other relevant documents – in sealed envelopes – posted to your offices directly from the institution concerned– or contact the institution directly yourself
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Degree Mills
“Diploma Mill: An Institution of Higher education operating without supervision of a state or professional agency and granting diplomas which are either fraudulent or because of the lack of proper standards worthless.”
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary
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Degree Mills
The following are common features to be on the look out for:
• Strong emphasis on fee levels and payment plans• Often very low prices• Short duration of courses – days or weeks• Long list of accreditation agencies and affiliated bodies• Offer to accredit life experience• Links such as “Order Now” and “free evaluation forms” are often found at the
lower end of the market• Unlikely degree titles• No contact address• Contact details that differ from claimed location of the institution
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Examples of Degree Mills – what do they offer
Degree or Diploma Certificate – $230.00 (includes two copies of degree certificate)
Degree or Diploma Transcripts – $250.00 (includes two copies of degree transcripts)
Degree Certificate and Transcripts Package – $380.00 (includes 2 copies of degree or diploma certificate along with 2 copies of transcripts) You Save Over 20%!
2 Degrees + 2 Transcripts (2 different degrees, corresponding transcripts) –$600.00
3 Degrees + 3 Transcripts (3 different degrees, corresponding transcripts) –$850.00
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Examples of Degree Mills – what do they offer
Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate $120.00
Premium/Platinum Package $2500.00(includes Passport, valid citizenship (your choice of 8 countries), birth, and marriage certificates, Visa or MasterCard, Utility Bills, Lease agreement(s) and Bank Account)
Gold Package $1500.00 (includes citizenship – your choice of 3 countries, passport, birth, and marriage certificates, utility bills, lease agreement(s), MasterCard and Bank Account)
Silver Package $1000.00(Includes citizenship – your choice of 3 countries, passport, birth and marriage certificates)
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Degree Mills - Accreditation
In order to operate as a successful degree mill, accreditation is necessary. Reputable accreditation agencies and ministries of education cannot be approached, leaving the prospective degree mill with 4 choices:
• Lie• Pay bribes• Gain accreditation from a body that does not provide accreditation• Invent an accreditation agency
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Where to find help
•UK NARIC*•The Institution•The Agent
*Many of UK NARIC’s members are using the counter fraud service to compile their own database of genuine certificates (creating their own White / Black lists)
62% increase in the number of assessments that UK NARIC is undertakingLinks to relevant websites with list of diploma mills/unaccredited institutions
•Oregon List of Diploma Mills: http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/diploma_mill.html
•Maine List of unaccredited institutions: http://www.maine.gov/education/highered/Non-Accredited/a-am.htm
•List of bogus accrediting agencies : http://www.degree.net/resources/accreditation/fake-accrediting-agencies_200911122319.html
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Useful Sources of Information
Country specific sources for verifying documents
• Bangladesh: Secondary and higher secondary examination results • http://www.educationboardresults.gov.bd/• China: http://www.vetassess.com.au/migrate_to_australia/verify_chinese_documents.cfm• Gambia: (WAEC) http://www.waecgambia.org/resultchecker/• Ghana: (WAEC) http://ghana.waecdirect.org/• India: http://www.cbse.nic.in/
http://www.indiaresults.com/• Kenya: (KNEC) http://www.examscouncil.or.ke/index.php• Nigeria: (WAEC) http://www.waecdirect.org/• (NECO): http://www.neconigeria.org/• Pakistan:
– Secondary and Intermediate Examination results can be verified via the relevant examining boards’ website
– Degree verification: http://www.hec.gov.pk/insidehec/divisions/QALI/DegreeAttestationEquivalence/DegreeAttestationServices/Pages/Default.aspx
– Verification for the University of the Punjab: http://www.pu.edu.pk/results/• Romania: http://www.ebacalaureat.ro/rezultate/• Sierra Leone: (WAEC) http://www.waecsierra-leone.org/• South Africa: Matric Results section of www.education.gov.za• http://www.nqf.org.za/pls/cms/page?s=3263,8281,0,0,177,348127,How_do_I_verify_learner_achieve
ments_of_qualifications• Sweden: Some universities issue transcripts with a code that can be checked on the universities’ website • Tanzania: ACSE results can be viewed on the Tanzania Examinations Council website www.necta.go.tz• Moldova: http://www.acte.edu.md/• Ukraine: http://www.osvita.net
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Fighting Fraud
• Training and awareness
• Contact the institutions
• Request as many documents as you can
• Increased security measures
• Verification systems
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UK NARIC - Services for Organisations
A range of databases, tools, calculators, converters and training are offered to varied client groups on international qualifications
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UK NARIC Training Programme
UK NARIC Training ProvisionBespoke and scheduled training sessions available including:
General Courses Specialised, Advanced Courses
• Using UK NARIC’s Online Databases • Education in China
• Evaluating International Qualifications • Education in Eastern EU Member States
• Degrees of Deception – Combating Education Fraud
• Education in English Speaking Africa
• Evaluating International Secondary Qualifications
• Education in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
• Education in the Middle East
• Education in the UK
• Understanding the Bologna Process