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The reason that these edits should stand is that they introduce an unbiased view, echoed in the many comments and concerns mentioned in the discussion area
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{{Distinguish2|the [[University of Canterbury]] in [[New Zealand]] or the [[Canterbury Christ Church University]] in [[England]]}}
{{Distinguish2|the [[University of Canterbury]] in [[New Zealand]] or the [[Canterbury Christ Church University]] in [[England]]}}
'''Canterbury University''' is an [[educational accreditation|unaccredited]],<ref name="oda">[http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx Unaccredited colleges], [[Oregon Office of Degree Authorization]] </ref> [[private]], degree-granting institution.


It is not clear if Canterbury University was ever associated with the university known as "Canterbury University of the Seychelles."
According to its website, Canterbury University was established in 1974 in Hyde-Cheshire, Manchester, United Kingdom and is an independent university that delivers various specialized scientific courses.<ref>[http://www.canterburyuni.net/about.htm Official website of Canterbury University], retrieved [[2008-09-17]]</ref> Earlier an unaccredited institution by the same name that offered degrees internationally was reported to be incorporated in the [[Republic of Seychelles]].<ref name=Brown/>

The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization claims that '''Canterbury University''' is an [[educational accreditation|unaccredited]],<ref name="oda">[http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx Unaccredited colleges], [[Oregon Office of Degree Authorization]] </ref> [[private]], degree-granting institution incorporated in the [[Republic of Seychelles]]. Others disagree and cite years of hard work and dedication put into a degree that may now be made worthless due to such allegations.<ref name="forum">[http://online.degree.net/accredited-unaccredited-state-approved-diploma-mill/t-canterbury-university-1310.html Canterbury University Discussion]</ref>

According to their website, Canterbury University was established in 1974 in Hyde-Cheshire, Manchester, United Kingdom and is an independent university that delivers various specialized scientific courses.<ref>[http://www.canterburyuni.net/about.htm Official website of Canterbury University], retrieved [[2008-09-17]]</ref>

==Criticism==

Canterbury University has been discussed in the article "Fighting Credential Fraud" in ''World Education News & Reviews'', published by the non-profit [[World Education Services]], as being towards what the article writer calls the "no acceptability" end of a continuum of acceptability and the "illegal" end of the continuum of legitimacy, though it should be emphasized that the institution's operations themselves are not illegal per se within the jurisdiction in which Canterbury University is chartered.<ref>[http://www.wes.org/ewenr/05oct/feature.htm Fighting Credential Fraud] - World Education News & Reviews website, retrieved 24 May 2007</ref>

There have been other articles that refer to Canterbury University in non-flattering terms. In the Jackson County Floridan a PhD degree and a Master's degree from Canterbury University was referred to in the following way: "It appears that the degrees listed on his job application allegedly came from a [[diploma mill]] rather than a legitimate school of higher learning."<ref>[http://www.jcfloridan.com/jcf/news/local/article/trial_date_set_for_former_sneads_city_manager_charged_with_cheating_making_/11047/ Trial date set for former Sneads city manager charged with cheating, making false claims], by Deborah Buckhalter, Jackson County Floridan, [[April 15]] [[2008]]</ref>

Difficulties arise when accreditation is examined. What makes a university legitimate? Which accrediting institution is acceptable to all? And finally, even if a university does not carry accreditation, does this mean that the degree holder "cheated" or did they perform actual coursework to obtain the degree? In such circumstances, it is helpful to ask for transcripts in order to see any coursework which the candidate may have performed.<ref name="ask for transcripts">[http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/governorlocke/speeches/speech-view.asp?SpeechSeq=239 Ask for Transcripts]</ref>


==Status of degrees awarded by Canterbury University==
==Status of degrees awarded by Canterbury University==



According to the British [[Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills]], Canterbury University is neither a recognised body for [[UK]] degree awards,<ref name="dfes1">{{cite web |url=http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/index.cfm?fuseaction=institutes.list&InstituteCategoryID=1&OrderBy=Category
According to the British [[Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills]], Canterbury University is neither a recognised body for [[UK]] degree awards,<ref name="dfes1">{{cite web |url=http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/index.cfm?fuseaction=institutes.list&InstituteCategoryID=1&OrderBy=Category
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|title=Bogus Degrees Warning
|title=Bogus Degrees Warning
|publisher=[[Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills]], Government of the United Kingdom
|publisher=[[Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills]], Government of the United Kingdom
|date=[[2008-06-11]] |accessdate=[[2009-01-16]]}}</ref>
|date=[[2008-06-11]] |accessdate=[[2009-01-16]]}}</ref> A 2005 article in ''World Education News & Reviews'' discussed the continua of legitimacy and acceptability of academic institutions, ranging from "highly legitimate" and "highly acceptable" to "illegal" and "no acceptability," respectively, and named Canterbury University (incorporated in the Seychelles) as an example of an institution "further down" both scales, although not operating illegally and providing degrees acceptable to some.<ref name=Brown>George Brown, [http://www.wes.org/ewenr/05oct/feature.htm Fighting Credential Fraud: A Brief Critique of Australian and American Approaches to Qualification Verification and Authentication], ''World Education News & Reviews'', Volume 18, Issue 5, October 2005, retrieved from website 24 May 2007 and 16 February 2009</ref>

The [[city manager]] of a [[Florida]] municipality was fired in 2007 and later charged with the [[criminal offense]] of making [[false claims]] after it was discovered that his claimed [[PhD]] and [[master's degree]]s were from Canterbury University, which was described as "a '[[diploma mill]]' rather than a legitimate school of higher learning."<ref>[http://www.jcfloridan.com/jcf/news/local/article/trial_date_set_for_former_sneads_city_manager_charged_with_cheating_making_/11047/ Trial date set for former Sneads city manager charged with cheating, making false claims], by Deborah Buckhalter, ''Jackson County Floridan'', April 15, 2008</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.canterburyuniv.com Website of Canterbury University]
*[http://www.canterburyuniv.com Website of Canterbury University]
*[http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,1037681,00.html Sounds Grand] - [[The Guardian]]
*[http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,1037681,00.html Sounds Grand] - [[The Guardian]]
*[http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,1038045,00.html Far from funny] - The Guardian
*[http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,1038045,00.html Far from funny] - The Guardian
*[http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41247&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html]-third instance

[[Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning]]
[[Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1974]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1974]]

Revision as of 14:25, 16 February 2009

Template:Distinguish2

It is not clear if Canterbury University was ever associated with the university known as "Canterbury University of the Seychelles."

The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization claims that Canterbury University is an unaccredited,[1] private, degree-granting institution incorporated in the Republic of Seychelles. Others disagree and cite years of hard work and dedication put into a degree that may now be made worthless due to such allegations.[2]

According to their website, Canterbury University was established in 1974 in Hyde-Cheshire, Manchester, United Kingdom and is an independent university that delivers various specialized scientific courses.[3]

Criticism

Canterbury University has been discussed in the article "Fighting Credential Fraud" in World Education News & Reviews, published by the non-profit World Education Services, as being towards what the article writer calls the "no acceptability" end of a continuum of acceptability and the "illegal" end of the continuum of legitimacy, though it should be emphasized that the institution's operations themselves are not illegal per se within the jurisdiction in which Canterbury University is chartered.[4]

There have been other articles that refer to Canterbury University in non-flattering terms. In the Jackson County Floridan a PhD degree and a Master's degree from Canterbury University was referred to in the following way: "It appears that the degrees listed on his job application allegedly came from a “diploma mill” rather than a legitimate school of higher learning."[5]

Difficulties arise when accreditation is examined. What makes a university legitimate? Which accrediting institution is acceptable to all? And finally, even if a university does not carry accreditation, does this mean that the degree holder "cheated" or did they perform actual coursework to obtain the degree? In such circumstances, it is helpful to ask for transcripts in order to see any coursework which the candidate may have performed.[6]

Status of degrees awarded by Canterbury University

According to the British Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Canterbury University is neither a recognised body for UK degree awards,[7] nor is it a listed body[8], neither is Canterbury University accredited by any higher education accreditation organization recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and its degrees may not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions. [9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Unaccredited colleges, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
  2. ^ Canterbury University Discussion
  3. ^ Official website of Canterbury University, retrieved 2008-09-17
  4. ^ Fighting Credential Fraud - World Education News & Reviews website, retrieved 24 May 2007
  5. ^ Trial date set for former Sneads city manager charged with cheating, making false claims, by Deborah Buckhalter, Jackson County Floridan, April 15 2008
  6. ^ Ask for Transcripts
  7. ^ "Recognised UK degrees". Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Government of the United Kingdom. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Listed Bodies search". Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Government of the United Kingdom. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Bogus Degrees Warning". Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Government of the United Kingdom. 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2009-01-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)