The 'foreign degree not recognized' scandal: Much ambiguous information.

For over 10 years now, the London Fashion Academy in the United Kingdom has ceased to exist, but it continues to serve as an academic base for the London College of Design and Fashion.

THE "BOASTFUL" LETTER FROM THE MYSTERIOUS PERSON

Amidst the wave of outrage from students and parents after learning that bachelor's degrees awarded by Liverpool John Moores University (UK) through a joint program with the London College of Design and Fashion (Hanoi) - LCDF (hereinafter referred to as LCDF) - are not recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, an unexpected development has added fuel to the fire. On December 13th, former students of LCDF received emails from a completely unfamiliar name: Song Ping.

In the letter, instead of a firm legal commitment, Mr. Song Ping, who signed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of LCDF School Co., Ltd. (LCFS Company, the parent company of LCDF School), offered explanations that were more about self-promotion. He emphasized two "benefits" the school provides: helping students obtain a prestigious British Higher National Diploma (HND) right in Vietnam; and efforts to connect students to transfer to top UK universities.

LCDF School presents itself as the leading British design training institution in Vietnam.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT BY QUY HIEN

However, the tone of the letter made the recipients feel uneasy. "We always thought our school belonged to a British investor. The fact that someone with a Chinese name appeared for the first time not to apologize but to praise our achievements… surprised us, and at the same time, we felt there was a subtle threat in it," a student shared with Thanh Nien newspaper. This feeling of being "threatened" is not unfounded, as Ms. Ha Thi Hang (the school's CEO) had previously messaged former students, implying that those who sued the school, although talented, "had moral issues" and "who would dare hire them?"

The appearance of Mr. Song Ping inadvertently revealed a crucial piece of the puzzle regarding the true owner of this school, a far cry from the image of a "leading British design school in Vietnam" as presented by LCDF on its website.

Who owns LCDF school ?

According to Thanh Nien 's investigation, Mr. Song Ping, a Chinese national and husband of a famous Vietnamese designer, is the general director of a garment manufacturing company. Specifically, Song Ping is the legal representative of Arksun Vietnam, a company specializing in garment manufacturing. This is the "mystery factor" behind the glamorous name "London Fashion Academy in Hanoi ." According to the business registration certificate, Arksun Co., Ltd (located in the "tax haven" of Tortola Island, British Virgin Islands) holds 77% of the capital contribution in LCFS Company. Ms. Ha Thi Hang holds 15%, and a partner named London Centre for Fashion Studies (which is the London Fashion Academy in the UK that LCFS Company refers to) holds 8%.

Essentially, the largest investor in LCDF is a clothing manufacturing and processing company. However, this origin has been concealed for the past 20 years, replaced by the image of a legitimate training institution affiliated with the UK university education system. The school's English name is London College for Design & Fashion, which serves as a pretext for a misleading Vietnamese name: London Academy of Design and Fashion.

In 2004, Mr. Song Ping (General Director of Arksun Vietnam) acquired the franchise for the "London Centre for Fashion Studies" brand from Dr. Martin Shoben for use in Hanoi. This was the origin of the name "London Fashion and Design Academy Hanoi". On May 6, 2004, FashionUnited published an advertisement stating that the London Centre for Fashion Studies had opened a branch in Hanoi; Dr. Martin Shoben (owner of the London Centre for Fashion Studies) had adapted the LCFS-Hanoi training program to suit the Vietnamese fashion industry. This can be understood as a garment company acquiring the "training technology" and brand of a vocational school in England to provide educational services in Vietnam.

THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN DISSOLVED FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WHO ISSUES THE DEGREES?

The most serious legal issue in this case lies with the London Centre for Fashion Studies (LCFS) – the very entity that LCDF School frequently presents as its "academic pillar" and the source of its training programs.

In a recent letter No. 28.10/2025/LCDF sent to the Ministry of Education and Training, Mr. Douglas Maclennan (representing the investor) affirmed that the project was implemented with the dedication of its founder, Martin Shoben, and Arksun Co., Ltd. The document emphasized: "The UK side has transferred the entire curriculum and training program of the London Fashion Academy to LCDF School for use in training in Vietnam, on the basis of which diplomas will be awarded to students."

According to Official Letter 280/TCDN-TCN dated April 7, 2008, from the General Department of Vocational Training, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to LCFS Company, the General Department of Vocational Training clearly stated its agreement to allow LCFS Company to "issue diplomas and graduation certificates from the London Fashion Academy to students studying at the London Fashion College Hanoi Co., Ltd." (as registered by LCFS Company).

The Ministry of Education and Training will conduct a comprehensive review of LCDF School's operations.

According to document 28.10/2025/LCDF sent to the Ministry of Education and Training, LCFS Company proposed that the Ministry recognize the diplomas of 49 students, including 47 who graduated from Liverpool John Moores University and 2 who graduated from Hertfordshire University. Regarding the graduates from Liverpool John Moores University, the school stated that these students were enrolled in a transfer program, but studied online at LCDF.

Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper, a representative from the Ministry of Education and Training stated that initial indications suggest that LCDF School is operating illegally, at least at the university level. The Ministry of Education and Training will establish a working group to conduct a comprehensive inspection of LCDF School's operations, will handle any violations if found, and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of students.

However, what Thanh Nien newspaper has discovered reveals a different story. A search of UK business data (Companies House) shows that the London Centre for Fashion Studies has long ceased to exist. This information, along with other documents (interviews with Dr. Martin Shoben, his son, etc.), indicates that Dr. Martin Shoben sold the London Centre for Fashion Studies to Northumbria University (UK) around 2005-2006; after acquiring Dr. Shoben's fashion school, Northumbria University did not retain the name "London Centre for Fashion Studies".

Legally, Dr. Martin Shoben's company has been dissolved or transformed. Tim Shoben (Dr. Martin's son) confirmed that his father sold the school, and after 2008 the organization legally ceased to exist independently under its old name.

This means that since 2008, no organization named "London Centre for Fashion Studies" has been legally operating in the UK to "transfer," "supervise," or "award degrees" to schools in Vietnam. However, in its amended business registration certificate in 2022 and a 2025 letter sent to the Ministry of Education and Training, LCFS Company still lists "London Centre for Fashion Studies" as a contributing member and program transfer partner.

So, if the original partner has dissolved, who has been updating the curriculum for the past 10 years? Who is responsible for quality assurance of training and issuing college diplomas?

Data in records relating to the London Centre for Fashion Studies shows that Shoben Sr. has not been a director of the company that owns the school since April 2008.

Photo: Screenshot by Quy Hien

WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH PARTNERS?

According to the 2014 establishment decision of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, LCDF School is permitted to provide vocational training at three levels: college, intermediate, and basic. However, the school does not implement these activities, but mainly focuses on training programs with UK-level diplomas (HND). With this activity, will the HND diplomas awarded to many generations of LCDF students be recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training? The answer awaits the results of the Ministry's upcoming inspection and verification.

Since 2019, the school has been advertising a university transfer program in Vietnam with a UK degree. Among its "partner" institutions is Liverpool John Moores University. However, the school has never sought permission from the Ministry of Education and Training to establish such a partnership.

According to Thanh Nien 's investigation, even if LCDF College applied for permission, it would not be granted. Government Decree 86/2018, which regulates foreign investment cooperation in the education sector, does not allow colleges to collaborate with foreign partners to provide university-level training. The lack of permission means the training is conducted illegally, and naturally, the degrees are not recognized. However, the school has explained to the media, students, and parents that the reason for the lack of degree recognition is due to a "complex process."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vu-bang-dai-hoc-nuoc-ngoai-khong-duoc-cong-nhan-nhieu-thong-tin-map-mo-185251215231938041.htm