Biz Unusual

Behind the fancy foreign diplomas

By He Na, Hu Yongqi and Peng Yining in Beijing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-15 13:59

Two high school students read Tang Jun's book at the Xidan Bookstore in downtown Beijing after they learn about Tang's alleged fake academic credentials. [Liu Zhe / for China Daily]

Many Chinese 'elites' buy fake academic credentials to burnish their careers. He Na, Hu Yongqi and Peng Yining in Beijing report.

Hudong Wiki, a pilot online Chinese-language encyclopedia, has seen a lot of traffic in recent days.

Following accusations aimed at Tang Jun, former Microsoft China president, that he fabricated his academic credentials, more than 100 Chinese "elites" have rushed to the website to revise their backgrounds and listed qualifications.

The rush was sparked by columnist Fang Zhouzi's much-publicized claim that the college that awarded Tang his PhD degree in electrical engineering, the Pacific Western University in California, is a fake school where students can buy degrees, otherwise known as a "diploma mill".

Pacific Western had two campuses, according to Fang: One in Hawaii, which closed in 2006 as part of the island state's six-year legal action against almost 70 unaccredited schools, and the other in California, which was renamed California Miramar University in 2007 and has never been qualified to award doctorates.

Related readings:  Bourse hiccups tied to ex-Microsoft chief  Former Microsoft chief fights back  Tang Jun dives back into IT  Diploma Folly

Both sell credentials at different prices, he said.

An online report by the United States government's accountability office shows that Tang's alma mater was sued for offering bachelor's degrees for $2,295, master's degrees for $2,395 and PhDs for $2,595.

Caixin website also reported recipients of these degrees are awarded diplomas without attending any classes and that a list published online shows some of the Chinese who graduated from Pacific Western. Names include a number of Chinese "elites" who received doctorates of business administration from the college, as well as several executives and lawyers.

Tang, who is featured on the Caixin list, was unavailable to comment when contacted by China Daily.

"Some people have an obsession with decorating their fancy offices with framed diplomas of Western universities. They don't care if it's fake," said Sang Peng, director of the Beijing Overseas Study Service Association and a former official with the capital's education commission.

He said vainglorious businessmen are the main customers for diploma mills.