Photo credit: Adrian Pranata
China's Ministry of Education and South Korea's Ministry of Education have ramped up inspections of foreign universities, focusing on institutions in Southeast Asia after finding serious faults in their processes for authenticating credentials. Yesterday, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), which verifies foreign qualifications, warned students to "reconsider carefully" when applying to 13 universities across five countries: the Philippines, Mongolia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
This is the sixth such advisory since 2021 and the second in 2024, after a similar one was issued back in July. CSCSE referred to "substantial irregularities" in data related to master's and doctoral programs at these institutions, which came to light after an increase in student complaints. Now, verification of degrees from these universities will now take at least 60 business days, up from the usual 10-15 days, further raising concerns about the validity of these programs and protection of students' interests.
While the CSCSE did not elaborate on specific issues, Sang Mingze, president of the Beijing Overseas Study Service Association, said a rapid rise in graduates from some institutions has set off warning signals. "A growth rate of more than 15-20% in one year is seen as suspicious," Sang said, adding that such practices were especially rampant during the pandemic when schools increased their online courses. However, many online courses were of poor quality, leading students to complain of delayed graduations and unmet expectations.
Further complicating the problem, some universities have faced criticism for misleading advertising. Students are often lured with promises of "easy graduation" or "fast-track PhDs," only to later find themselves facing unexpected language requirements or extended periods to complete their degrees.
The concerns notwithstanding, Southeast Asia retains its place as one of the increasingly popular destinations for Asian students due to proximity, lower tuition fees, and shorter study programs compared to Western countries. Southeast Asia has witnessed a rapid inflow this year with over 100,000 Chinese students in 2023, according to New Oriental, one of the largest providers of overseas education services in China.
But this boom has also brought about a backlash. A number of graduates from the five listed countries have taken to social media to express their grievances over job discrimination due to negative attitudes towards degrees from certain universities in Southeast Asia.
While Singapore and Malaysia's institutions boast good international rankings, others in the region are increasingly facing distrust. As a result, students who enroll in courses that guarantee "low investment, high return" could find that foreign degree is not as highly valued when it comes time to compete for jobs in Asia. South Korean students may face similar hurdles in the domestic job market, where degrees from lesser-known or poorly ranked institutions are often scrutinized.
The Ministry of Education in South Korea has also been receiving more complaints about foreign degrees, and experts advise caution over those universities that advertise "fast-track" degrees or low admission requirements. The government of South Korea has also implemented certain regulations that have enhanced recognition of the obtained foreign degrees to avoid fraud and ensure quality. This includes a formal procedure of degree recognition, accreditation checking, as well as perusing online foreign programs.
A list of unaccredited institutions is also maintained by the Ministry, and degrees from these universities might not be recognized in South Korea. Besides this, it imposes strict penalties, which include fines and legal action, on those individuals who use fraudulent degrees. The Ministry is also organizing awareness among students and their families regarding the risk of choosing inferior universities abroad.
With the continued evolution of the global education landscape due to the rapid growth of online learning and alternative destinations of study, the vigilance from countries that are leaders in education to quality check foreign degrees is becoming all the more vital. Stronger regulation, along with clear explanations to students and employers alike, protects both educational standards and the integrity of the Asian job market. These steps have also reminded students who study abroad to choose quality and accreditation as part of their choice in education, so that the qualifications they fight for are recognized and respected upon their return.
저작권자 ⓒ 국제학교뉴스, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지