Another investor proposes school

Another group of investors met with Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday to push for the setting up of an MBA and nursing program on Saipan.

Led by its consultant, former Northern Marianas College president Agnes McPhetres, the Hong Kong-based American World University team presented their proposal yesterday morning to Babauta.

“We want to bring students from China and other Asia-Pacific countries to study here,” said AWU representative Edward Lam, Ph.D.

He said that, while AWU has existing programs in different locations in China and Singapore, it still wants to locate on Saipan because it is a U.S. territory with an easier visa application procedure.

“It’s much easier for students to apply for visa here,” he said.

He said that when granted a license, AWU, which usually offers distance learning education, would set up an onsite campus on the island.

He said that based on his experience in China, Chinese students do not just settle for an online academic program.

He claimed that AWU in China has graduated more than 1,000 MBA students and more than a hundred in a doctorate program.

When asked, Lam said that he is aware of the recent fiasco involving the defunct Saipan University and said, “We would not do that.”

“I know that. That’s bad news because they cheated money from students….We’re not only here for the money but we want to offer the best education to students at the lowest tuition possible,” he said.

In 2003, a different representative of AWU had filed an intent to set up an office on Saipan with the State Board of Regents. Maxine Asher, Ph.D., who introduced herself as the AWU president, had said that she looks forward to relocating to the CNMI soon.

“We’ll bring in international students from China. We’ve done it in Singapore. We’ll do the same here,” she had said, adding that AWU had graduated over 2,000 foreign students in Singapore.

Asher said AWU operates in 20 countries. AWU offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs in over 50 fields through distance learning program.

In the CNMI, she said, AWU has been licensed as a business since six years ago.

McPhetres, who had also assisted Asher, said the university needs approval from the board to fully operate directly from the CNMI.

Asher said AWU was a registered postsecondary institution in Mississippi and Guam.

Early this month, a Philippines and U.S.-based group of investors also met with Babauta to present a proposal for a medical school on Saipan.

The investors, led by Loyola Medical College Foundation board chair Johnny Y. Fong M.D., want to offer a four-year degree program in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing.

The Babauta administration has been promoting the CNMI as an education hub in the Pacific region. Local authorities said the education industry would be the next big thing for the local economy.

The CNMI’s lone community college, Northern Marianas College, offers only associate degree programs, except for its one bachelor degree program in elementary education.

The privately-owned Eucon International College also offers selected post-education programs catering to foreign students, mostly from China.