The Distance Learning Center
John Bear
The Distance Learning Center, which is putting on "Asia's Largest and Most
Prestigious Academic Conference and University Fair" next September.
The website (www.distance-learning.org) turns out to be run to Anthony
Al-Jamie, who has a close affiliation with Newport Asia Pacific
University, the unaccredited entity apparently started by some Kensington
University administrators after Kensington was closed down by the state of
California.
Al-Jamie is a master of the art of -- well, what is the name for what
happens when a child says to his father, "Can I go to the movies," and Dad
says, "Only if your mother says it is OK," and then the child goes to the
mother and says, "Dad says I can go to the movies; is it OK with you?" and
so on.
Al-Jamie somehow secured the Heriot-Watt MBA agency for Japan. After the
university heard from people who answered a Heriot-Watt ad but were
recruited by Newport Asia Pacific, they apparently decided not to renew
his contract.
Now, if we are to believe the ad, this conference is endorsed by the US
Embassy, the British Council, the Australian Embassy, and the Embassy of
Canada, as well as sponsored by AT&T, Time Inc., and Coca-Cola, all for
the greater glory of Newport Asia Pacific University.
It would seem there is nothing illegal going on here, just a classic case
of 'working the system.'