[JumpCrisscross]

> why not just buy the degree and save everyone a lot of time?

If you do business in the Middle East, you begin to notice the kids of the elites all went to weird no-name Western schools. Turns out they want a Western degree, but don’t want to be away from the capital too long. So they find random universities who will give them a degree for, essentially, no-show remote learning classes. Win-win.

[Loughla]

What is the point of that? They already have the connections and power. They're not learning anything. What's the point?

[rapidaneurism]

The son of the high ranking individual is appointed in a high position in some ministry. Anyone who cries nepotism is quickly reminded that he holds a prestigious western degree, and that is the reason for the appointment.

[tsimionescu]

It's the same impulse that led Romania's former dictator's wife to amass fake diplomas as a world-class chemist, from both Romanian and European universities (including being admitted as a fellow in the UK's Royal Institute of Chemistry), despite only having four years' worth of actual education when she was 10, and already being the most powerful woman in the country.

It is a form of pride and pretend superiority, false legitimacy and so on.

[phil21]

Pretend prestige. They have the connections and power but not pedigree.

As someone without a college degree in tech, and who has attempted but failed to get a tradition “corporate” job based on skills and track record I can sort of understand. Not the same thing at all, but you’d be amazed (or not?) at how much importance some folks put on having a piece of paper even in casual social settings in some circles. Actual skills need not apply.

[WalterBright]

It would seem to be hard to convince someone you had skills in a social setting. Hence the use of a proxy.

[lazide]

Sometimes it’s also a flex to have to certificate but clearly not have the actual skills.

[JumpCrisscross]

> What is the point of that? They already have the connections and power

One could say the same of a billionaire buying their idiot kid an Ivy League education. They're clearly not going to benefit from it. But it looks good and might fool a person here and there.