|
[service learning network members - I thought
you would be interested in a copy of this.....]
Some time ago there were posts asking about
organisations offering programmes in Oxford and Cambridge and the validity of
these organisations. I'm sorry I was not able to respond at the time - I was
tied up earning a living ("Goodness - what IS his job.....?). I am sure
this post will, in many cases be "teaching my grandmother to suck
eggs", but perhaps it will help some.
There was a reported case some time ago concerning students
attending an Oxford College, paying inflated fees, believing this was part of
Oxford University.They soon discovered it was not, that facilities and programme
were way below standard, and some students, having invested a great deal of
money in their experience, found themselves stranded until rescued by a
genuine College of the University who offered them places. A different case
involved students signing up for a programme offered by a "College" in
Islington, London who arrived to find it was a deserted, run down house with
nobody at home. These cases are very rare - the two I quote occurred a couple of
years ago. The Government was concerned that students attending international
programmes here would be treated well - although, so far as I know, the
Regulations promised at the time have still not appeared.
Although these instances are rare, and should
not put students off international education, you will all know that in all
countries - even the UK! - there is need for constant vigilance. For example,
even this very day there is a report of international students paying top fees
to attend a College in Hull which "educates and prepares people for
development work in the Third World" - exactly what many students, perhaps
especially Gap students, would seek. Except on further investigation students
receive no classes and spend their time repairing the college and raising funds.
Difficult for them to "escape" once having arrived and spent an
initial £2,000 to enter.... And it is not British - it is Scandinavian
connected to the Tvind/Humana organisation about which there has been much
concern. ("Travelling folk-colleges").
My patch is Oxford - but it is equally true of Cambridge. The
genuine Colleges of the University can easily be checked out. There are some
Colleges which have links with the Universities, but are not Colleges of the
University. (For example, Westminster College, Oxford where - until the end of
this academnic year when it transfers to Oxford Brookes - one of the degrees
offered is an Oxford University degree, but other degrees were also
offered). And, of course, there are totally genuine organisations which are
based in Oxford and Cambridge that offer programmes of high value. (They are
usually there because the organisation, or people connected to it have
links).
And, of course, there are organisations which are there simply
to cash in on the name "Oxford" or "Cambridge" in their
title. It's not a new phenomena - or even, perhaps illegitimate. Doing it in
reverse, would it not be nice to have a Harvard Square address - or Pennsylvania
Avenue....? We know it doesn't mean much - especially, perhaps Pennsylvania
Avenue (!), but some don't know that.
The answer is "check it out" of course. UK Centres
is happy to help, if we can - even if you are not using UK Centres for your
programmes. But, of course, we can only tell you what we know.....
Cheers
Tony
visit us on
http://www.btinternet.com/~ukcentres Anthony Evans Director UK Centres for Experiential Learning 136 Crackley Bank Chesterton Newcastle, STAFFS ST5 7AA International Community Service
and
Westminster College, Oxford Service-Learning NEW PROGRAM - PERFORMING ARTS |