I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of La Verne, California. I completed the degree at the University’s Athens campus because I live in Greece. The country of sun, sea, Gods, Ouzo and the birth place of civilization, democracy and education. The small SE European country that also just straightened things up on the path to “fulfilling” its Bologna Process freely-entered-into commitments by recognizing foreign education institutions as ‘Centres of After-School Education’ (KEME).

I don’t want my degree recognized.

Certainly not as a KEME! I put myself – and my parents – through 4 years of 36 subjects (FULL attendance), 20 hours work-study per week (the most any university allows a student to take on), seminars, workshops, term papers, baby-sitting, on-site practicums, President of This, Secretary of That, Founder of the Other, scholarships and study grants, and a 3.8 GPA at the end of my transcripts. Am I boasting? No – I’m setting the foundation! Just as I thought I was doing back then… when I was going through all of this in order to secure my future. I knew the degree wasn’t recognized by the Greek State, but we all knew the market recognized its worth.

I don’t want my degree recognized.

But I do want my efforts, money, blood, sweat, tears, contributions, and market-worth recognized for the knowledge I gained and, as a result, what I now have to offer by prospective employers and future colleagues. But that can’t be if my degree isn’t recognized. Which, according to Greek law, it will not be. That’s ok. You know why?

I don’t WANT my degree recognized.

Thanks to Greece (oh, Πατρίς…) and the EU for opening up the world to me – only to keep me now on the outside with my nose pressed up against the window looking in at what I can’t have: professional rights. You knew we were at an illegal institution (illegal because they presented it as a university); why didn’t you protect your youth and close it down like you did similar institutions this week?

Then again, you’re still not protecting your youth with these latest actions; ‘endorsing’ the operations of 30 KEMEs, the graduating papers (because they’re NOT considered as degrees) from which will STILL not be enough to put their graduates (officially) on a par with those from public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These KEMEs will NOT be able to hire the very people they are today recruiting, enrolling, accepting tuition payments from and educating!! Do their students and their parents KNOW THIS?! Has the Greek State informed them? Is THIS the recognition that private education had set its sights on? Is this what I should aspire to also attain for MY university degree? NO!

I don’t want my DEGREE recognized.

I should have become a _____ (fill in trade), but no … not the daughter of ‘So & So’. I had a bright future ahead of me and, anyway, I was interested in bettering and preparing myself for the world without borders, the world the EU envisioned (I did leave a less developed country to come to Greece), the world that was my oyster!

I do so hope they will take that into account when I go apply for a job cleaning toilets at the airport.

So, after a characteristically verbose lead-up, my question is: why have they closed down AUA and HAU this week, when La Verne was doing exactly the same thing – presenting itself as a university? Don’t presume to tell me the Greek State didn’t know that ULV was operating and promoting itself as a university; I’m sure they must have gotten at least wind of it following visits from the likes of George Papandreou, his brother Nick, the then US Ambassador to Greece, Nicholas Burns, the leaflets, advertisements…

Why wasn’t the unlawful practice shut down then to protect us?

At least ULV California had the presence of mind to come do it, albeit for a different set of reasons. Of course, they had other interests at stake … their name and stakeholders to tend to. A State – well, at least the Greek State – doesn’t have to worry about things like that because, well, you just can’t please everyone and since the majority is not in a huff about something like this, who cares!

Except, George Papandreou SHOULD care when he knows it is the likes of such internationally accredited institutions that will ultimately drive knowledge creation and transfer through the education of forward-thinking, critically capable and productive individuals. That’s not to say graduates of Greek HEIs are not… But I’ve yet to learn that the children of our Prime Minister and his Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs (how many packs of cigarettes and Frappedes did they go through to arrive at THAT title?!), Ms. Diamantopoulou, attend public schools…

Taking a look at the title of the department responsible for the education of our youth – tomorrow’s leaders, that is – I find it to be very apt and wholly symbolic of the state of education in Greece. You attend an educational institution, it becomes a lifelong affair (Greece must top the charts on eternal students; the Constitution even states that the mandatory duration of study canNOT be less than 9 years!) and then you inevitably turn to religion because, well, the first two didn’t do diddly squat for you!

For anyone that disagrees, take a look at the current state of this ‘cradle of civilization’ and tell me the foreigners and their “fast food approach” to knowledge sharing and creation are to blame. I guess Annoula’s right, “everyone has to be careful when making their choices” – I will take that into account when considering how to go about righting the wrongs my birthplace has done me.

I don’t want my degree recognized. Because it is a degree. From a private higher education institution recognized and accredited by international standards … “with all the Rights, Privileges and Honors thereto pertaining.”

Stay posted…