IMEX Malta |
IMEX Malta - It's a personal service. The Gateway to Europe. |
 | 
|
Maltese Online PhD Offered in Austria Deemed Not Legal by Austrian Authorities
Last changed: August 03 2024 07:26 by PCLMedia
An Austrian company is promoting part-time PhDs through an online business school based in Malta for up to €32,000, despite Austrian authorities asserting that these courses are not legitimately offered in Austria.
The Hohe Warte Study Centre in Austria provides part-time Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), and PhD qualifications through Signum Magnum College (SMC) in Malta. However, Austria's state agency for higher education quality assurance contends that these courses are illegal because SMC is not registered with the Austrian agency.
Although SMC is accredited and fully licensed by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), Austrian regulations require courses to be registered with local education authorities to be offered legally in Austria.
SMC has stated that the Austrian company is an "independent recruiting agency" and that no activities requiring registration have been conducted in Austria. The Hohe Warte Study Centre, calling itself a "contact office" for SMC, claims that Austrian registration is unnecessary, despite referring to SMC as a “university partner” on its website.
Nevertheless, the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) insists that Maltese study programs must be reported. "What is not reported is not legal," they stated. The Austrian Education Ministry also supports this stance, noting that unregistered degree courses can incur fines of up to €25,000.
While there is no evidence that SMC is acting illegally in Malta, and its accreditation is verified on the MFHEA website, the issue lies in the lack of registration with Austrian authorities.
Online Business School Operations
Signum Magnum College is an online business school with offices in St Julian’s, Malta, and Miami, according to its website, which identifies the Malta branch as its 'Academic HQ'. However, when Times of Malta visited the Portomaso Signature offices, reception staff indicated that SMC staff were rarely present and that no lessons occurred there. SMC clarified via email that it is an “online-only higher education institution without public campus” and does “not attend visitors without prior appointment.”
'Letterbox Universities' Phenomenon
AQ Austria managing director Jürgen Petersen told Austrian newspaper Weiner Zeitung that "letterbox universities" are common in Malta, emphasizing that their degrees are not recognized in Austria without registration. Petersen highlighted that the university awarding the degree is responsible for the course implementation and confirmed that Signum Magnum College, in cooperation with the Hohe Warte, is not recognized by AQ Austria. An investigation is ongoing.
SMC has distanced itself from the term “letterbox university” but acknowledged that such entities might exist in Malta. They emphasized that SMC has permanent physical offices, a local team, and local faculty members, noting it is "common practice" for educational institutions to collaborate with overseas agencies.
Accreditation and Recognition
Degrees from SMC are accredited by the MFHEA, which licenses private educational institutions and accredits Maltese qualifications under the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF). The MQF equates PhDs to level eight, post-graduate degrees to level seven, and bachelor’s degrees to level six.
MFHEA CEO Rose Anne Cuschieri stated that the authority conducts spot checks to ensure student attendance and rigorous standards before granting licenses. The MFHEA is part of the European Network of Information Centres (ENIC-NARIC), facilitating recognition of national degrees across the EU, but only fully accredited institutions like the University of Malta, MCAST, and ITS are self-accredited and recognized as universities.
Despite being an affiliate of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the MFHEA is not a full member but is seeking this prestigious recognition.
Concerns and Quality Assurance
University of Malta rector Alfred Vella underscored the role of accreditation agencies in protecting students and society from dubious educational services. He views ENQA membership as a mark of quality, noting the variability in the quality of institutions offering online degrees. Vella prefers blended learning, which combines online and in-person instruction, for its better regulation and security in assessments.
Wiener Zeitung reported that the Hohe Warte Study Centre has been offering degrees through SMC since autumn without reporting them to Austrian authorities. Following the investigation, AQ Austria requested SMC to report its courses, with a decision expected in September.
Accreditation Process Details for Higher Education Institutions
Accreditation is a quality assurance process where an external body evaluates an educational institution and its programs to determine if they meet certain standards of excellence. We will give you with this overview the steps involved in the accreditation process, the roles of various accrediting bodies, the importance of accreditation, the challenges it presents, and future trends shaping its evolution.
1. Application and Self-Evaluation:
- Initial Application: The accreditation journey begins with the institution submitting a detailed application to the relevant accrediting body. This application provides comprehensive information about the institution’s mission, governance, academic programs, faculty, facilities, and financial stability.
- Self-Evaluation Report: The institution conducts an internal review to assess its compliance with the accrediting body’s standards. This self-evaluation report is a thorough analysis identifying areas of strength and those requiring improvement.
2. Review and Assessment:
- Documentation Review: The accrediting body meticulously reviews the self-evaluation report and other submitted documents to ensure they are complete and accurate.
- Site Visit: A team of evaluators from the accrediting body conducts an on-site visit. They assess the institution’s facilities, interview faculty, staff, and students, and verify the information provided in the self-evaluation report.
3. Accreditation Decision:
- Evaluation Report: Post site visit, the evaluation team compiles a report detailing their findings, highlighting both strengths and areas needing improvement.
- Institutional Response: The institution may be given a chance to respond to the evaluation report, addressing any concerns or recommendations raised by the evaluators.
- Accreditation Decision: The accrediting body’s commission reviews the evaluation report and the institution’s response to make a final decision. The outcomes can include full accreditation, conditional accreditation with required improvements, or denial of accreditation.
4. Post-Accreditation Monitoring:
- Ongoing Compliance: Accredited institutions must continuously comply with accreditation standards, often involving the submission of annual reports and undergoing periodic reviews.
- Reaccreditation: Accreditation is typically granted for a specific period (e.g., 5-10 years). Institutions must undergo the reaccreditation process at the end of this period to maintain their accredited status.
Accreditation Bodies and Their Roles
- National Accreditation Agencies: These agencies, such as the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) in Malta, accredit institutions within their respective countries.
- Regional Accreditation Agencies: In countries like the United States, regional agencies accredit institutions within specific geographic areas.
- Professional and Specialized Accreditation: Certain programs, especially in fields like engineering, medicine, and business, seek additional accreditation from specialized bodies that focus on specific disciplines.
Importance of Accreditation
- Quality Assurance: Accreditation ensures that an institution meets established quality standards, providing students with a reliable education.
- Recognition: Accredited degrees are more likely to be recognized by employers and other educational institutions, facilitating further education and career advancement.
- Funding and Financial Aid: In many countries, only students attending accredited institutions are eligible for government financial aid and grants.
- International Mobility: Accreditation aids in the recognition of degrees internationally, enabling graduates to pursue opportunities abroad.
Challenges and Criticisms
- Bureaucracy: The accreditation process can be lengthy and bureaucratic, requiring significant resources from institutions.
- Inconsistencies: There can be inconsistencies in standards and practices among different accrediting bodies.
- Impact on Innovation: Some argue that the accreditation process may stifle innovation by imposing rigid standards that institutions must adhere to.
Future Trends
- Increased Focus on Outcomes: There is a growing emphasis on measuring educational outcomes, such as graduation rates and job placement rates, as part of the accreditation process.
- Technology Integration: The rise of online education and technological advancements are prompting accrediting bodies to develop new standards and evaluation methods.
- Globalization: As education becomes more globalized, there is a push for greater international cooperation and standardization in accreditation practices.
Do not hesitat to contact us for more information.