(Last Updated on March 26, 2014 by Editor)
NEWLY-APPOINTED Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya reportedly attained his PhD in Business Administration from an unaccredited institution of higher learning, Washington International University (WIU), it has emerged.
BY STAFF REPORTER
According to information at hand, Mangudya is a holder of several qualifications that make him fit for the central bank position, but it is the PhD at WIU that has set tongues wagging.
He also holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Economics degrees from the University of Zimbabwe.
WIU is described by Wikipedia as: “An unaccredited institution of higher education founded in 1994 and currently incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.
“It describes itself as a ‘university without borders’ serving clients from around the world via distance education.”
The university’s website states that WIU’s graduates were from 112 countries.
Mangudya yesterday could not comment on the matter, saying he was in a meeting.
“At the moment, I can’t talk, I am in a meeting, but we can talk tomorrow (tomorrow),” he said.
Wikipedia said: “Lack of accreditation has consequences for WIU degree holders in some circumstances. For instance, the Michigan Civil Service Commission lists WIU among unaccredited institutions from which degrees will not be accepted to satisfy educational requirements indicated on job specifications.”
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) lists degrees awarded from WIU as “sub-standard” meaning according to the THECB in this case, a degree conferred outside the United States by an institution that the coordinating board determined was not the equivalent of an accredited or authorised degree.
The THECB described WIU as having no accreditation from a CB (Coordinating Board) recognised accreditor.
“There are no textbooks to read, curriculum to follow or formal exams to take.