Diploma mills grind out 'prestige'
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According to renowned "Science Cop" Fang Zhouzi, a famous science writer and blogger known for his efforts to combat fraudulent research and academic misconduct, the vice president of China Agricultural University Zhang Jianhua's MBA degree is from a US "diploma mill" called California American University.
For often-hefty fees, a diploma mill confers academic degrees and diplomas for minimal or no academic study and is not recognized by official educational accrediting bodies in China.
Fang found Zhang's resume on the official website of China Agricultural University, stating that Zhang graduated from California American University with a MBA degree, but the resume did not cite any details of Zhang's learning experience in the university.
In 2002, Fang stated that California American University was a diploma mill, which means the university is not accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the US.
"It is quite easy to establish a university in the US, but only those recognized by CHEA will be approved by legitimate employers. If a person bought a degree from diploma mill, he (or she) might be regarded as committing fraud," Fang told the Global Times.
"Some entrepreneurs in China have degrees from diploma mills, but I don't understand why the vice president of a famous university also bought a degree from such an unqualified university," Fang added.
Blogging his defense
In response to Fang's accusation, Zhang said on his blog that he entered California American University in 2000 and graduated in 2001.
He said he chose it based on recommendations of friends. Zhang added that his boss agreed to him attending California American University at the time, and he simply wanted to learn more, rather than profit from the degree.
However, Fang told the Global Times that he could not agree with Zhang's statement, because it was difficult to verify.
Calls to Zhang and several departments of China Agricultural University by the Global Times were unanswered.
According to Fang, Zhang is not the only famous person who purchased a degree from a US diploma mill.
Tang Jun, the former president of Microsoft China, was reported by Fang to have graduated from an unaccredited US school called Pacific Western University.
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