The University Council of Jamaica – Assuring Quality in Higher Education

BEWARE OF DIPLOMA MILLS

A diploma mill (or degree mill) is a dubious provider of education that offers certificates, diplomas, and degrees that are considered bogus and/or of questionable quality. Diplomas or degrees offered by “mills” do not meet the standards required for such qualifications. In many cases, degrees can be bought for a stated sum of money, without attendance at classes.

Some questions that will help persons make a determination as to whether a degree provider is a “mill” are:

Is there a claim of accreditation when there is no evidence of this status?
Is there a claim of accreditation from a questionable accrediting organization?
Does the entity have the authority to operate?
Is a very short period of time required to earn a degree?
Are degrees based mainly on experience and resume review?
Does the entity have a name similar to another well-known, legitimate college or university (e.g. Oxford International University)?
Does the operation make claims in its publications, for which there is no evidence
Are fees relatively low, and seemingly unrelated to the true cost of providing legitimate education?

If in doubt about the legitimacy of an institution, check with the University Council of Jamaica.

Is your programme or institution EPIC?
As the National External Quality Assurance Agency for higher education in Jamaica, the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) registers and assures the quality of local programmes and institutions, and foreign programmes being offered in Jamaica. It also functions as the national information centre for local, regional, and international higher education institutions and qualifications. The UCJ is the single competent authority in Jamaica for the recognition of foreign qualifications. Before you…
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UCJ Mobilizing Assistance for Higher Education Institutions
The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), the National External Quality Assurance Agency for higher education in Jamaica, acting on its mandate of Assuring Quality in Higher Education is doing all that it can to maintain quality and continuous improvement throughout the Jamaican higher education sector during this COVID-19 period. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major shift in the landscape of the education sector in Jamaica with the closing of…
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