Started Woolf Masters in AI [Udacity]

[Tomas]

>> Unless I enrol before 2027?? (doesn't matter so much when I finish by?)
Proabably yes, schools are usually allowed to finish current students in cases where school lost accreditation or similar type of change occurred.

>> Does this from 2027 basically kill the Udacity Master of AI dead in the water??
No idea, my interpretation is that 80% of lectures must be live and that it would be very costly thus current pricing with discounts not possible. But I might be wrong.

Also I am aware Woolf setup some legal structures that pose as Woolf colleges. The trouble is to understand, whether the structure they choose satisfies MFHEA requirements, and if it does (as Woolf support answer seems to imply), what MFHEA announcement is about/against.

MFHEA writes "Any teaching conducted in the name of Woolf by any entity not formally approved by MFHEA is not covered by Woolf’s MFHEA licence.", but doesn't inform students which are those problematic entities. That is not helpful, same as audit still ongoing in October, when Woolf license expired in April.

[SteveFoerster]

This may be of interest here:

Woolf’s license is renewed to 2029
https://woolf.university/blog/woolf-lice...ed-to-2029

[wow]

This may be of interest here:

Woolf’s license is renewed to 2029
https://woolf.university/blog/woolf-lice...ed-to-2029

It will be interesting to see if the MFHEA agrees.

[Robson]

What is the cost of this program? How does Malta accreditation translate to WES?

[SteveFoerster]

What is the cost of this program?

It varies, because it's a subscription model, but very low by North American standards, can be as low as $3000 to $4000 total depending on your level of commitment.

How does Malta accreditation translate to WES?

Woolf isn't listed in the WES Degree Equivalency Tool, which is not a great sign, but isn't definitive. Perhaps someone else knows the details.

But WES is notoriously arbitrary. If by "WES" you really mean any recognized foreign credential evaluator, then I believe ECE, FIS, and iEE evaluate degrees from Woolf as equivalent to US degrees.

[artem]

What is the cost of this program? How does Malta accreditation translate to WES?

WES does not recognize Woolf.
Also,  I had problems accepting Woolf's transcripts in some European countries.

[Eleanor]

This may be of interest here:

Woolf’s license is renewed to 2029
https://woolf.university/blog/woolf-lice...ed-to-2029

It will be interesting to see if the MFHEA agrees.

Unlikely. 

Woolf Education is a scheme. here is just one example of one of their colleges:
https://shw-college.com/

SHW College, aka Studienzentrum Hohe Warte needs no introduction. They are definitely "independent" and not owned or managed by Woolf, but by the Linnert family. Their deceptive website ("EU accredited") is the exact reason why the MFHEA, recently on steroids (rightly so), published the September 25 communication.

Woolf Education is not telling the truth in their blog. SHW is independent. SHW still pitches "accelerated" PhD paths with little effort. SHW contractors are teaching the courses. In German, from Vienna. For the German-speaking "can I place Dr. in my passport" audience.

Folks like "Dr." Michael Linnert, who pretends to possess a doctorate degree are listed as Woolf faculty. Michael Linnert does not have a recognized EQF Level 8 doctorate degree. He obtained a so-called "kleines Doktorat" from some Slovak outfit, under the supervision of his father Perter Linnert. The story is well-known.

The trick with the faculty is, that Woolf issues a simple "Appointment Letter" to all these member college people. Magic trick.

Compliance and transparency looks different.

Oh, and 5-year renewal would end in 2031. Woolf's new license period ends in 2029.

[Maltus]

Even so MFHEA has announced that it doesn't accept degrees taught by "colleges" of woolf it is still possible to sign up to a lot of courses... does woolf not care or are they trying to scam people into worthless pdf-Diplomas?
Or do I get it wrong and the programms listed at woolf are still legit?

[Eleanor]

Even so MFHEA has announced that it doesn't accept degrees taught by "colleges" of woolf it is still possible to sign up to a lot of courses... does woolf not care or are they trying to scam people into worthless pdf-Diplomas?
Or do I get it wrong and the programms listed at woolf are still legit?

They do not care. Their entire recent blog post is a brazen attempt to blend.

Regarding the listed programs - this is another dimension of Woolf's scheming. Programs they publish on their main site are presented largely compliant, because this is where MFHEA's compliance department checks and has power. But MFHEA has no power over all their third party sites. It is these third party sites where the scam really thrives. That's the whole purpose of their "collegiate" model. Via their network, Woolf offers seemingly accredited programs under the same or similar names, label them accredited, and offer them for fraction of the price. 

How does this work? Well, the accredited program must have a significant amount of direct contact (synchronous learning). That comes at a high cost, because faculty and other costs must be covered, and that reflects in high tuition, which does not sell so well. But go to Udacity, enroll in the "same" program, pay a fraction of the price for an asynchronous program, watch a few very short Moocs, and get your PDF degree - which is not accredited. 

A perfect disguise. We might see that. But hundreds or thousands of learners acting in good faith do not see that and end up wasting their time and money.

[Maltus]

woolf:
Our collegiate structure and the recent notice

On 25 September the MFHEA published a notice about the conditions attached to Woolf’s license. Its wording has prompted student questions about Woolf’s collegiate structure. To be clear: no third party teaches Woolf’s students, and none ever has.

We have written to the Authority asking that the notice be clarified so that its wording does not leave students or the public uncertain about that distinction. Every Woolf student has signed an enrollment agreement with Woolf and holds a Woolf ID card, and every faculty member has signed an agreement with Woolf. If you have these, you are a full member of Woolf: your program is accredited and your degree is awarded by Woolf. Enrollment in Woolf degrees by third parties has never been allowed.
Woolf is one institution. Its colleges are internal academic units within it, and teaching within them is teaching undertaken by Woolf, as it has been since our foundation.

So what they say is: Fear not, we will give you a piece of plastic with "woolf" on it so you can proof you are a woolf-student. And of course MFHEA got it all wrong! All "colleges" are not seperate entities but "belong" to woolf.
I doubt that'll do for MFHEA...