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A supposed
university, suspected of issuing bogus degrees, opened its doors to
investigation with threatening words and a diploma scam in Vietnam
becoming a major issue.
This diploma, a PhD. in Economics that was awarded to Nguyen Ngoc An,
raised the suspicions of authorities in Vietnam. Photo: SGTT
The Dan Tri/DTiNews desk received a threatening letter on July 28,
sparking an investigation into the so-called university which sent it.
As a United States citizen, I was immediately baffled by the letter
which has a U.S. contact address and is a university that I’d never
heard of. They claimed Dan Tri had published incorrect information about
a business operating under the name of “Southern Pacific University” (SPU)
and threatened legal action if we printed anything else negative about
them.
The letter was written in broken English and left no information as to
how we could reply. Things unfolded very quickly after that. It appeared
to me that a paranoid scam machine was on the defensive about people
exposing them. Plain and simple. Questionable degrees aren’t a new
thing, it has been a growing issue in a region that is developing
quickly and seeking education desperately. Receiving “diplomas” for
cash, Internet degrees, and fake certificates have become a matter of
growing concern. Unqualified institutions (that are really just
incorporated businesses) accept money and issue certificates and
diplomas that have absolutely no academic credibility whatsoever.
Southern Pacific University (SPU) was reported by several Vietnamese
news sources as having issued bogus degrees recently and the paranoid,
and seemingly angry letter, led us to pursue our own investigation as to
where these accusations were coming from.
A few things became clear immediately after initial research and
evaluation of the letter and the school:
1) Southern Pacific University is not an accredited establishment in the
United States or included in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary
Institutions and Programs listed by the U.S. Department of Education.
2) The “university” is incorporated in Delaware, United States (which is
on the Atlantic Ocean side, not the Pacific which their title would
suggest, raising immediate questions).
3) The letter itself, from President “Prof. Dr. Geoff Taylor”, was
written in broken English. (This is supposed to be a respected, English
speaking university)
4) The school uses Belize and St. Kitts as its reference for
credibility, really just proof of incorporation, and is hardly an
international standard. (If it is an “American” institution, where are
their credentials and why are they using these countries to legitimize
their credibility?)
5) There is no campus or direct contact in Vietnam.
6) The website boasts, “No classroom, seminar or on campus attendance,”
and buried inside the site is the acknowledgement that, “SPU do not
guarantee any recognition (of their degrees).”
7) Their only United States locale was Hawaii, and the state ordered
them to be shut down.
8) This “school” is not recognized by the ODA (Oregon Degree
Authorization), one of the most reliable and credible sources in the
United States. (When viewing their “accreditation” tab on the website,
they have a list of registration and incorporation but no legitimate
education accreditation.) It is however, accredited by a UK agency
called UKAS - United Kingdom Accreditation Services.
9) SPU’s registered address in the U.S. is a chain store called Mailbox
Etc., which is a company who provides mailing services and operates as
little more than a mailbox, it is not a physical address of a
functioning educational facility.
10) In my opinion, this evidence points to a scam.
Recently, Vietnamese news sources have exposed two public figures,
holding degrees from Southern Pacific University; Director of Phu Tho
Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Nguyen Ngoc An,
who received a PhD in Economics from SPU and Deputy Secretary of the Yen
Bai Province Party Committee - Nguyen Van Ngoc who holds a PhD in
Economics from SPU as well as another questionable MBA from Irvine
University. They have admittedly received degrees from this
organization. Nguyen Ngoc An acknowledged that he does not speak
English. How can somebody receive a DOCTORATE in economics from an
English-based university without speaking a lick of English? It was also
claimed that it took only six months for them to receive a doctorate
degree which Nguyen Ngoc An claimed to cost him 17,000 U.S. dollars.
Credibility of the degree has lost weight in public opinion and our
further investigation has only seemed to add to the point.
SPU’s website reveals that this institution has basically no admissions
requirements other than a non-refundable 50 USD payment and they
announce, “As soon as we receive your application form together with all
relevant documents and $50.00 non-refundable admission fee, Southern
Pacific University will send you an official offer letter and receipt
for payment.”
This statement is shocking as no reputable university in the United
States would ever guarantee admission. Essentially, 50 dollars at
Southern Pacific University promises you admission. But admission to
what? There is no verifiable campus so at best, this would be
“distance-learning”.
There are no direct ways to contact the institution or a representative.
They do have a skype account but contacting them through this method has
been so far, unsuccessful. They also have not replied to our email
inquiries. SPU operates in China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Pakistan,
Taiwan, Thailand, and the UK as well. In Vietnam, there are two
“Accredited Centers” listed on their website. Neither has an address and
Internet searches reveal nothing as to if these places actually exist.
This organization is currently under further investigation by DTiNews as
more details surface.
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