In the case of BSkyB vs HP Enterprise Services (2010), a contractual wrangling over a failed IT rollout, it become important to consider the professional qualifications of the staff HP had assigned to the contract. One of them, Joe Galloway, the managing director of the division of HP that had done the work, claimed to have an MBA. This degree, however, came from a “degree mill” i.e. a place that sells degrees to anyone who will pay for one:
In his first witness statement at paragraph 8, Joe Galloway stated that “I hold an MBA from Concordia College, St. Johns (1995 to 1996)”. … In fact, Concordia College is a website which provides on-line degrees for anyone who makes an application and pays the required fee.
One of the prosecution lawyers then proceeded to demonstrate just how shady Concordia College was in this marvellous manner:
This was effectively and amusingly demonstrated by an application which was made on the website for an MBA degree for a dog “Lulu” belonging to Mark Howard QC. Without any difficulty the dog was able to obtain a degree certificate and transcripts which were in identical form to those later produced by Joe Galloway but with marks which, in fact, were better than those given to him. In addition, a recommendation letter was provided to Mr Galloway and the dog by a person who purported to be President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia College and University…
If you like this, the Wikipedia page list of animals with fraudulent diplomas is definitely for you.
3 Notes