An American
official from the State of Columbia(centre) at a ceremony at ITS with Dr.
Edirisinghe
"An American degree in Sri Lanka," exhorted one
newspaper advertisement. "American degrees at your doorstep," said
another.
For parents who dream of sending their children for university education in the United States but cannot find thousands of dollars to do it, the news was also pleasing. It seemed as if their children could become graduates of an American University without all the hassles - no dollars, no visas, no air tickets and no separation from their families. And yet, they would be American qualified graduates.
One case in point was an advertisement from an "American University of Asia." Do they represent any American University?
The Sunday Times asked this from the United States Education Foundation.
The reply was that 'the American University of Asia' is not accredited by any agency recognised by the Commission on Recognition of Post Secondary Accreditation in the United States. Accordingly, any degree conferred by the American University of Asia' would not be recognised internationally outside the District of Columbia within the United States."
According to Dr. Tissa Jayatilaka, Executive Director of the USEF in Sri Lanka, a significant number of students and parents who called over at this foundation for about study in the United States have made inquiries about the status of 'American University of Asia'.(AUA).
Several parents responded to the advertisement. But many who thought these advertisements were answer to their children's problems were disappointed, an investigation by The Sunday Times revealed. But for obvious reasons they did not wish their names to be stated.
Dr.E.M.S.
Edirisinghe
A parent of a first year psychology student complained that
although the advertisement states that American degrees can be obtained easily
on their part, if the students attend the AUA, they had to apply independently
to the American Universities with no support from the AUA.
"I thought that they will arrange everything and all we have to do was to get the ticket ready and fly to the States, as implied in the advertisement. But I was wrong. We had to do everything from getting the tickets and visas ready, to finding universities and accommodation. My children had to apply as any other student regardless of whether they went to the American University of Asia or not," she said.
.
New building with lecture halls
"My son went to the Beakin
International, a university in Australia. The AUA authorities gave my son a
transcript certificate to help get into a university . I assume that it helped
him to enter into this Australian University. We had no choice but to apply
independently," said another parent whose son completed his Management
studies at the AUA recently.
Majority of the parents said that the reason why they admitted their children into the AUA was in hope that they would have a secured future, after having obtained an American degree. But some parents revealed that according to what they have heard, there was no such American University in existence but only an office in a building.
"The university is not listed in the index on Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Programmes Candidates, which is a book containing Institutions internationally accepted as accredited" Dr. A. Jayatilaka said.
Dr. Jayatilaka who has also conducted his own inquiries into the recognition of the university added that according to his sources in America, they have never come across such a university or such a campus listed in the index of universities either.
According to him, the American University in Washington D.C. claims that it has nothing to do with this university and that it has never heard of it.
When we asked the Education Ministry's Additional Secretary .D. Abeygunawardena, he said initially they ( the ITS ) were given permission to conduct two computer related courses, but at present they are conducting several degree programmes and other courses.
"In' 93 we got the approval to expand under BOI for external degrees and to meet this we renamed it and started as the American University of Asia subsequently," Dr. E.M.S.Edirisinghe, Director of the university said.
Under the new programme the degree certificates are said to be issued with the Washington.D.C. seal and with their approval and thus automatically recognized along with the Washington D.C. university around the world. But according to Dr.A. Jayatilaka, the Washington D.C. Licence gives the "American University of Asia" permission to establish an institution in the district of Columbia, and to conduct degree programmes recognized only within the District of Columbia.
"In other words, the degrees are not even recognized outside the District of Columbia which is a minuscule part of America," Dr.Jayatilaka said.
But, according to Dr.Edirisinghe, students of the American University can transfer to any American university or even enter Richmond College if they wish to do so.
The university attracts a student population of about 150 each year. Students at AUA stated that the officials were not very clear about the accreditation and that they are not sure about how recognized the university was. But lack of option had led them to seek an education there.
"When I went to the US I found out that it was not affiliated to all the universities it says that it is affiliated to. I went to an Oklahoma university which was supposed to be affiliated, but later on realized that it was not. Except at Houston Clear Lake the Asian University is not recognized at all, even in the US. They have not even heard of such a university," said a student.
The students stated that whether the university lives upto the description given in the newspaper advertisements is a question. "At the same time, the lecturers are not qualified either," they said.
"Once I had an economics lecturer who was a senior banking executive who had little idea of what he was talking about or of the subject," said a student of economics. Everyone knows that they do not care about the student and that they are not genuine, but due to lack of options decide to stay on,the students said. But on the subject of the advertisements, the ITS claims "get an American degree here" is certainly misleading. (See box).
To many of the students it is springboard to get to America. "Although we know that they are not what they claim to be and though we have a question in our minds whether we will be able to get a job or do anything after getting the degree, this seems to be the only option that we have, because where can we get "degrees" without wasting time," one student said.
Students also complained that lecturers come and go as they please. Sometimes, we have several lecturers who are supposed to have come for a long period but leave almost as soon as they arrive," another student said.
Dr.Edirisinghe said there were several students who.had been qualified to enter local campuses but decide to enter their institution because they feel that it is a better option. "The AUA is only a name, I do not see why people should make a big issue out of it," he added.
When The Sunday Times visited the University, a senior official and councillor told us with reference to the question on the recognition of the 'university', you cannot find jobs by going to local universities, but here we have a very good employment rate. Besides, how many local universities are recognized internationally? A job is what matters and not the a accreditation, right?".
The title of the advertisement in itself misleads students and the general "Get an American degree in Sri Lanka," they advertise, which the students claim is definitely a misleading pitch.
The difference between the ITS and the AUA being that under the ITS programmes, students had to leave to America to complete their degrees and if they wish for their degrees to be recognized.
Under the American University of Asia students need not go to America to complete their degres. They can do it locally.
Each year around 150 students apply to enter the university and the institution conducts degree programmes from engineering to psychology, arts and management. It hopes to set up a medical college in the premises as well.
Every student at the institution has to complete about 128 credit hours, depending on which course he has applied for at a cost of Rs 2,500 per credit hour. The average monthly payment for four year course is more than Rs. 6,000. Students are also expected to pay Rs. 10,000 (US$ 400) as registration fees, Rs 5,000(US$ 100) as security deposit, Rs 200 as activity pay per semester Rs. 300 as labouratory fee per subfeect rs 2500 as transfer processing fees .
"Course fee does not include the amount that is needed to stay in America for studies, which adds to about Rs 4 million", Dr. Edirisinghe said.
Parents said although the brochures state that all text books were free of charge they were required to pay separately for them. Earlier students had to pay a book deposit and now students have to by the photocopied text books. Another Rs 550 if the students require parking space, and building donations of around Rs 2000 which is a must have to be paid.
And students said regardless of whether one has been a student at the AUA or not, if one wishes to enter an American University he or she has to have the Toefel and SAT qualifications.
"If you have your A/Ls then 550 marks at the Toefel will get you into an American University. If all you have is your O/L then you need your Toefel and your SAT. At the SAT you should have at least 1150 points to enter an American University, even if you have been to AUA," said a student.
Thus they are at no advantage over another student in having attended AUA. But many parents and students feel that being a student at AUA will guarantee them a place in an American university as implied in the advertisements.
"The American University of Asia" is only a name, says the Director of the University E. M. S. Edirisinghe. ( See main story.) Sure. If that is the case, why does the University advertise for students claiming it can get an "American degree in Sri Lanka." If "American University of Asia" is only a name, is the American degree advertised, also only by name?
The advertisement suggests to both students and parents, ( at least some of them ) that the degree granted by the so called American University of Asia is an American degree, meaning (a) that it is recognized in America, and (b) that it has something to do, (at least an affiliation) with an American University. However, the facts are that the so-called university has no affiliation, or any accreditation except a licence to conduct degree programmes in the District of Columbia only. Such degrees will be recognized in the District of Columbia and nowhere else. In which case, it is certainly not a degree recognised in the whole of America. That means students getting the "American degree" as advertised in the papers from The "American University of Asia" have no right to demand that their degrees are recognised in any part of America except the tiny District of Columbia. The degree is of no legal validity when it comes to jobs, or transfers to campuses in America. Therefore, the claim that "you can transfer to any University in America with.an American University of Asia degree" is dubious, even though there may be some Universities which accept transfer credits. For all intents and purposes, the "American degree" granted by the American University of Asia is no " American degree" its only a name, as the founder of the institution himself says. There is no misleading here? You be the judge.
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