The University of Nottingham in United Kingdom today confirmed that there has been an appeal by a MBA student from its Malaysian campus (UNMC) relating to a 'degree classification', which it said was not connected to the allegations made over the quality of its programme.

Its Public Affairs Director Jonathan Ray said it was an 'academic appeal' and therefore different from 'a complaint about institutional quality, or about aspects of any individual or departmental performance'.

"One academic appeal, of which (UNMC CEO and vice-president) Prof (Brian P) Atkin and myself were unaware when we spoke to you, has been received and handled by the Nottingham University Business School and University of Nottingham Academic Registry.

"It was lodged by a student and related to a degree classification. It was carefully assessed but dismissed on all of the four counts raised," he said in a statement e-mailed to malaysiakini today.

He said an academic appeal relates to an academic award and that such appeals are commonly heard in higher learning institutions the world over.

"A straightforward academic appeal would not routinely be brought to the attention of senior executive officers with overall management responsibility across faculties and departments.

"Prof Atkin told me and malaysiakini in the very best of faith that he knew of no complaint, and I was happy to communicate this to you.

"I am equally happy to make the position clear about the academic appeal, having been prompted by you to clarify this."

He added that 'complaints about computer failure during exams is news to all of us, both here, and in Malaysia'.

Ray was responding to allegations , all of which the UNMC has denied, that raised doubts as to the quality of the MBA programme offered at the campus in Semenyih, 40km south of Kuala Lumpur.

Legal advice sought

A former staff, Dr Geoffrey Williams, who made the allegations, said he had submitted a 170-page document of evidence to the Association of MBAs (AMBA) - the watchdog which maintains the programme's quality control standards - last year.

Ray said Nottingham University in Malaysia and in the UK 'vigorously rejects the allegations'.

"We have instructed a London-based libel law specialist to advise and act for us in this matter. The university has sought legal opinion for alleged defamation in relation to the claims.

"The claims in the malaysiakini report are unfair, untrue and damaging, and will be rigorously contested wherever they are repeated.

"This story has been presented in a manner intended to maximise institutional embarrassment, when, in fact, it is mostly an airing of the grievances and personal views of a single former employee.

"I am grateful for the second malaysiakini article which was intended to introduce balance, but appalled by the unfairness of the third ."

He did not elaborate on the unfairness.

In his statement, Ray conceded that geographical limitations and the time difference between Malaysia and the UK had led to delays in immediate responses.

"I am mindful that journalists have been directed to several locations and different people in both the UK and Malaysia, and that time differences have also made swift confirmation or comment more difficult to obtain.

"I hope that with this clarification the story has now run its course, that malaysiakini will make clear our position, that further coverage, whilst unlikely, will be fair and balanced, and I am, of course, always content to assist."

( Malaysiakini had contacted the UNMC, AMBA and Nottingham UK since early January via phone calls and e-mails with requests for interviews. Nothing was forthcoming until the first response from Prof Atkin on Jan 25. His denials were immediately published).

Future enquiries

He said all future enquiries about the university should be directed to him 'in the interest of consistency'.

"I will endeavour to reply promptly and fully, but expect an opportunity to contribute before further potentially damaging claims are made."

Referring to Williams' allegations that a brain drain from the UNMC Business School had compromised the quality of the MBA programme, Ray said 'this is unfair and untrue'.

"There is now and has always been a high ratio of UK/Western staff at the Malaysia campus teaching the MBA and other degree programmes, and there is absolutely no 'doubt' about the accreditation of the MBA's quality at the Malaysia campus.

"The Nottingham University Business School will, on Monday, be in the Financial Times World 100 MBA rankings for its MBA courses and quality. The Malaysia course shares these quality assurances and accreditation."

Refuting Williams' dissatisfaction with the MBA assessment, he said the process in Malaysia 'is rigorous and we do not share his view'.

"Examination scripts are marked twice in Malaysia, again in Nottingham, and then sent to an external examiner. This is a higher degree of assessment than in many institutions.

"One could, therefore, argue that standards are higher in Malaysia, and that we have gone the 'extra mile' to provide and uphold quality," he said, reiterating the standards are the same as in the UK.

"We repeat - the Malaysian MBA recently received unconditional accreditation. This fundamentally undermines the negative views expressed by one aggrieved former member of staff."

Ray also insisted that the alleged haemorrhage of British academics was 'wildly unfair'. "We have recruited staff with comparable or higher quality credentials where staff have left us. One retired."

He said Williams resigned and is 'currently threatening to sue the University of Nottingham for constructive dismissal'.

"Any such action will be defended robustly. Dr Williams clearly has an agenda to use the media in order to pursue his grievances."

Confirming the resignation of associate professor of marketing and strategy and director of external affairs Dr John Zinkin, Ray said he was employed through his own company.

"He was not directly employed by the University of Nottingham. His company sought to negotiate enhanced terms. Dr Zinkin opted ultimately to pursue interests elsewhere, for his own commercial reasons.

"The department is led by a distinguished European academic and Nottingham-based staff visit often, to supplement the already high number of resident Nottingham UK academics."

Replacement staff

He said replacements included 'highly qualified and able people' from Monash Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.

On Williams' letter urging students to file an appeal given the alleged compromised on the local MBA's quality, he said the 'claims were wrong, and his action unilateral'.

"As soon as it came to light, the head of the Nottingham University Business School wrote to students in Malaysia, to state that there were no such deficiencies as claimed by Dr Williams.

"The claims, of course, have subsequently been proved incorrect by our successful accreditation, and the Business School correctly assured students that Dr Williams's concerns were without foundation."

On the AMBA accreditation, Ray said there were no conditions or requirements imposed on the Malaysia MBA.

"The accreditation went smoothly, and verbal accreditation has already been given. The full written report has not yet been published but AMBA tell us that this will be available shortly.

"In future the Malaysia MBA will not be assessed separately. The inspecting body is content to assess on a cross-institution basis."

Although minor recommendations were made as is the normal practice 'by any inspecting body in any sector', he said these were not requirements or conditions.

He said the Malaysian MBA was accredited 'on the understanding that it would be reviewed two years later' as per the industry practice.

"Following this review, the Malaysia MBA was again inspected, and was recently fully accredited. This new endorsement will be running in parallel with the Nottingham UK school, which has three years to run of its current accreditation."

In three years' time, said Ray, both MBAs will be assessed as one and thus eliminate any doubt about the Malaysia MBA's validity.