EDUCATIONAlert: Misuse of UNESCO Name by Bogus Institutions
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of requests from individuals, recognition bodies and accrediting agencies concerning dubious providers of higher education that use UNESCO’s name or logo to give the impression that they are recognized providers of higher education.
UNESCO is an intergovernmental body. It does not have the mandate to accredit nor to recognise higher education institutions, programmes, diplomas or accrediting agencies.
Any provider of higher education or accrediting agency which claims or gives the impression of being accredited and/or recognised by UNESCO should be looked upon with caution. Such institutions or accrediting agencies may use different fraudulent modes.
For example:
Institutions offering/delivering fake diplomas which feature UNESCO’s logo;
Institutions claiming that one may contact UNESCO to have its accreditation confirmed;
Institutions stating to be listed in a so-called “UNESCO Higher Education Institutions Registry”, which does not exist in reality;
Institutions claiming to promote the values and ideals of UNESCO; e.g.; “the Educational Creed of UNESCO”, or the WCHE recommendations, etc.;
Institutions inserting UNESCO’s name in their URL address to give the impression of official link;
Institutions claiming to be recognised by UNESCO because of -they are hosting a UNESCO chair; and
False claims by Bogus institutions that are linked to NGOs affiliated with UNESCO.
In case of doubt, one can refer to the competent relevant higher education body in the country of the institution.
