[Introduction to North Cyprus]
North Cyprus Universities
[Complaints and Feedback page]
Web Changes
This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first.
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GIRNE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT SERIOUSLY INJURED IN SEXUALLY MOTIVATED ATTACK. click here Home |
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See Homer file for NEW Summer/Fall 2009 edition - Don't forget, 'previous 'Homerfile 2007' articles are available in the Homer File Archives section. For archives before 2007 please email us. |
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SEE GAU for information on its 'Collaboration agreements' |
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Our new complaints and Feedback page updated letters concerning METU.NCC 03 08 07. |
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'Book Review', a guest writer, Virginia Ham, reviews: 'Reflective Management & Supervision in EFL Schools, Dr. Suleyman. D. Goker. Use the Link button on the menu or click here ISAS Services Page |
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Article concerning the European University of Lefke by Mr. David Christie- click here to view David Christie see 'Homer File'- |
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Student suicide at The European University of Lefke:- click here for information and press reports Müjdat Kőroğlu |
Recent Media Coverage, or reports concerning Universities in North Cyprus.
Flash News received late PM 07.04.08 re:
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF LEFKE/EUL/LAU- ‘EUHELL ON SEA’.
Whilst the diploma pushers are off trying to sell this rotten place over in the Middle East (Dubai), all hell has broken loose back at base camp EUL in North Cyprus.
It is rumoured that several senior teachers and administrators have been sacked, or suspended, in the past few days after disgruntled staff members tried to form a trades union last month: it’s unclear if they tried to set up a ‘new’ union, or start an EUL branch of an existing KKTC teachers union. The dispute, which has been rumbling on for several weeks, is now coming to a head. The Head of a local teachers union was arrested at EUL by police, and a national KKTC strike of teachers is planned for the 8th March, 2008. It is also reported that a group of students are planning to take the management of EUL to court over the withdrawal of education that they have paid ‘up front’ for. Exam time is rapidly approaching and any disruption at this time is bound to have a detrimental effect upon the students of EUL.
It is difficult to guess where all this is leading to, but we are told that plans are afoot that will enable students to attend classes at other universities if the dispute continues.
Perhaps it would be churlish of me to go into detail, at this time about the so called ‘Agreements’ that EUL claims to have with a number of Foreign Universities, but being a churlish homerfile misogynist, I will-briefly, for now. It would appear that many of the claims made about these agreements by EUL on its website are quite bogus. The universities of Sunderland and Nottingham deny having any agreements with EUL and Coventry University signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with EUL a couple of years ago but, this is not an academic agreement, or contract, but a sort of unfulfilled letter of intent! Yanbian University, situated in a remote part of China, could not be contacted and your attention is drawn to the warning on Google not to attempt to open the Yanbian University website as it will harm your computer - SO DON’T OPEN IT! More about this and the industrial action when I get back from the peace and tranquillity of Paris!
Statement's from: www.isas-ch.org
WARNING
ACCREDITATION STATUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA (UNVA), CYPRUS CAMPUS: SITUATED AT THE GIRNE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY aka ‘THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.’
IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE:-
ISAS-CH has received notification from ACICS (16/11/07) – the accrediting body for UNVA’s diplomas- that following a Preliminary Court Order in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia -Alexandria Division, UNVA’s accreditation status has reverted to ‘PROBATION,’ pending further court order and final decisions.:- SEE COURT ORDER BELOW.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Alexandria Division
THE UNIVERSITY OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INC.
Plaintiff,
v.
ACCREDITING COUNCIL FOR
INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND
SCHOOLS
Defendant.
FILED
NOV 1 4 2007
CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT
NORFOLK. VA
Civil Action No. l:O7cvlO57
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ORDER
THIS MATTER came for a hearing on November 6, 2007 on the motion of the Plaintiff, The University of Northern Virginia ("UNVA"), for a preliminary injunction. After considering the oral arguments, written briefs, declarations, and other evidence submitted by the parties, it is hereby
ORDERED that the Plaintiffs Motion for a Preliminary Injunction is granted, and it is further ORDERED that:
1) UNVA's accreditation with the Defendant Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is hereby reinstated to its status in effect immediately prior to October 3, 2007;
2) UNVA will post a bond in the amount of $75,000 on or before November 13, 2007. The preliminary injunction will take effect upon the posting of the bond with the Clerk's Office. The bond may be posted as a cash bond and subsequently replaced by a surety bond;
3) Copies of this Preliminary Injunction Order shall be sent by ACICS, in writing, by email, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, to the United States Department of Education and any and all other parties notified of UNVA's prior denial of accreditation. Receipt of a copy of this Order shall serve as notice that UNVA has been reinstated to accreditation with ACICS;
4) ACICS shall, as soon as practicable, but no later than 5:00 p.m. on the next business day following the posting of the bond post a copy of this Preliminary Injunction Order on its website which shall remain until further order of this court, and ACICS shall assure that
Case 1:07-cv-01057-HCM-TRJ Document 15 Filed 11/14/2007 Page 1 of 2
all references to UNVA on its website reference the restoration of accreditation pursuant to the preliminary injunction contained on the website;
5) AC1CS shall comply with all of its standards, rules, and procedures with respect to UNVA and UNVA shall be subject to all requirements of accreditation maintained by AC1CS, provided that ACICS will act in accordance with its regularly established procedures and consistent with its treatment of all accredited institutions;
6) ACICS may continue to provide all notices required to be provided by applicable US Department of Education regulations, in compliance with such regulations;
7) This Preliminary Injunction Order shall remain in full force and effect and binding upon the parties, pending further order of this Court or a final decision on the merits in the case.
ENTERED this 13th day of November, 2007.
The Honorable Henry Coke Morgan, Jr.
United States District Judge
SEEN AND AGREED:
R. Scott Caulkins (VSB No. 23584)
Lee E. Goodman (VSB No. 31695)
Joanna L. Faust (VSB No. 72930)
LeClairRyan, A Professional Corporation
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 700
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Counsel for Plaintiff, The University of Northern Virginia
SEEN AND OBJECTED TO:
Michael C. Gartner,
Kenneth J. Ingrain, Esq.
WHITEFORD, TAYLOR & PRESTON, LLP
3190 Fairvice Park Drive, Suite 300
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Counsel for Defendant, Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools
Case 1:07-cv-01057-HCM-TRJ Document 15 Filed 11/14/2007 Page 2 of 2
WE SUGGEST UNTIL UNVA’s ACCREDITATION ISSUE CONCERNING IS FINALLY RESOLVED:-TREAT ACCREDITATION CLAIMS WITH EXTREME CAUTION: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES HAND OVER ANY REGISTRATION FEES UNTIL YOU HAVE CHECKED THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS THE LICENCE TO ISSUE ACCREDITED DEGREES BY THE ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATION THEY CLAIM TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH; ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE ACCREDITING AUTHORITY. YOU SHOULD ALSO CAREFULLY CONSIDER IF ANY ACCREDITED DEGREE IS OF VALUE IN THE COUNTRY YOU WILL RETURN TOO AFTER YOUR STUDIES ARE COMPLETED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS PLEASE CONTACT ‘Urs Thyssen’ or ‘HOMERFILE' via our email address isasch@isas-ch.org.
2. ISAS-CH's POSITION REGARDING YŐK, THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES AND SECULARISM DEBATE.
Homerfile’s last issue contained reference to passengers on a university bus in North Cyprus most of whom were wearing the turban/headscarf. His article attracted the wrath of several supporters ‘for allowing’ the wearing of the headscarf/turban in Turkey. Homerfile has asked us to place on record where we stand on this issue, and to reiterate our support for those chosen to defend the secular state as founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
We support the members of the board of YŐK and their efforts to stem the encroachment of Islamification of the Turkish Higher Education system. Unlike some institutions, who pay lip service to the necessary rules and regulations only to continue getting the benefits that YŐK accreditation brings to their diploma’s, whilst turning a blind eye to the infringement of the headscarf ban and other regulations for financial reasons.
The headscarf has been banned for a number of years in public buildings because it is regarded as a religious symbol. A university is a public building and its purpose is for education and not religious worship. We share the view of the Board of YŐK that the ban covering the turban/headscarf be rigorously enforced in all universities that are governed by current YŐK rules and regulations.
Furthermore, isas-ch supports, without reservation the Turkish Armed Forces as the defenders of secularism and the modern Turkish state. Statements made recently by military leaders can leave no one in any doubt that they intend to defend the Republic of Turkey, its institutions, and the secular state that has served the people of Turkey so well for over seventy years now. The General Staff of the Turkish Armed forces have however been a little slow to respond to the EU statement that the military should keep out of the Presidential Election debate. The EU has never lived up to its promises made to Turkey over its bid for EU membership, or its ending of the isolations against the Turkish Cypriots, and clearly has no intention of doing so in the future. The constitution as it is today is more or less the same as that during the last 30 years when Europe was only too happy to see Turkish soldiers, sailors and airman standing guard to protect Turkey and Europe from the threat posed by the former Soviet Union and renegade Islamic states. That the TSK has the duty to defend Turkey and its constitution has not changed since the constitution was formed. Perhaps put in diplomatic language, it is time for the TSK to politely, but firmly tell the EU and any other dissenters to go forth and multiply!
The Administrator
www.isas-ch.org
29/4/07.