[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
International Community Service
and
Westminster College, Oxford Service-Learning
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