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universidad patito

English translation: Mickey Mouse college

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Spanish term or phrase:	universidad patito
English translation:	Mickey Mouse college
Entered by:	Claudia Robles

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20:55 Nov 2, 2009

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Education / Pedagogy

Spanish term or phrase: universidad patito

This goes to our Mexican coleagues. I have come across this term while translating a text related to universities in Mexico.
For what I have read on the net I think the term refers to private Universities that are considered to be of bad quality. Am I right?
Any idea if there si asimilar term in English?
other that the obvious bad quality universities??

Claudia Robles KudoZ activity Questions: 178 (1 open) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 8 United Kingdom
Local time: 02:37

Mickey Mouse college

Explanation:
It is a term used to describe something that is not well known, more like a "toy" than the real thing. I know Mickey Mouse is known, but I've heard this term as an equivalent. (and no offense to Mickey Mouse!)

Selected response from:

Maria Lemus
Mexico
Local time: 00:37

Grading comment

thank you!!!!!1
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided
5 +9	Mickey Mouse college	Maria Lemus
4	"ugly duckling" university	neilmac
4	low-quality private university	patinba
3	fly-by-night university	Heather Oland

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +9

Mickey Mouse college

Maria Lemus
Mexico
Local time: 00:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 7

Grading comment

thank you!!!!!1

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Gabriela Mejías: There are lots of hits in Google. http://www.yourdictionary.com/mickey-mouse

19 mins

-> Thank you, Gaby

agree

mgdletters: right on

28 mins

-> Thanks!

agree

Travelin Ann

1 hr

-> Thank you!

agree

philgoddard: Great translation! I wonder why people say Mickey Mouse rather than any other fictional character.

2 hrs

-> It´s a mystery to me too! Thanks

agree

Lamarche: agree.

2 hrs

-> Thanks!

agree

Jenniferts

8 hrs

-> Thank you :D

agree

LadyofArcadia

8 hrs

-> Thanks!

agree

Gilla Evans: excellent

13 hrs

-> Thanks a lot!

neutral

neilmac: The sense is not exactly right IMO. "Mickey Mouse" means worthless, cheap, not authentic (eg: a Mickey Mouse Rolex). Probably due to emasculation/sugaring of the original, darker Mickey figure.

13 hrs

-> It's exactly the same idea with "patito" "Marca Patito" is for something cheap, second- or third- class.

agree

James A Walsh: Yes.

1 day1 hr

22 mins confidence:

low-quality private university

Explanation:
"Así, el organismo internacional califica de "inquietante" la falta de regulación de la educación superior privada en México que ha propiciado la proliferación de centros educativos sin calidad, mejor conocidos como escuelas patito, que convierten a la educación en una mercancía."

patinba
Argentina
Local time: 04:37
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 24

13 hrs confidence:

"ugly duckling" university

Explanation:
From Hans Christian Andersen's tale "El Patito Feo" - (The Ugly Duckling) - meaning it is underfunded and therefore considered second rate.
Better in quotes IMO.

neilmac
Spain
Local time: 07:37
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 74

2 days8 mins confidence:

fly-by-night university

Explanation:
See the previous discussion at http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/government_poli... for further info.

Best wishes.

Heather Oland
United States
Local time: 01:37
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

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