Iraq
American University of Iraq Planned
The New York Times reports that plans and preparations for an American University of Iraq, modeled after the famous private universities in Cairo [1] and Beirut [2], are well advanced. Already, a board of trustees is in place; a business plan has been drafted by McKinsey & Company [3], an international consulting firm; three candidates for university president have been identified; and US$25 million has been pledged, mainly from the U.S. government and Kurdish sources. However, much more is needed: $200 million to $250 million over 15 years, according to the newly appointed board. If the university becomes a reality it will be built not in Baghdad, but in Sulaimaniya, the eastern capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The proposed location is of concern to some Arab education officials in Baghdad who argue that the university should be built there, not in a part of Iraq where secessionist ambitions are well known. But because of security threats, many universities in Baghdad have been closed since October. According to current plans, the first class to earn bachelor’s degrees would start in fall 2008; the program would take five years, with the first devoted to the study of English. In the university’s first five years, degree programs would focus on subjects that the board judges to be crucial to Iraq’s development, such as business, petroleum engineering and computer science.
— The New York Times [4]
Jan. 3, 2006
Morocco
European Visa Restrictions Boon for Moroccan Private Higher Ed
As European visa requirements for potential foreign students become stricter, the number of students enrolling at Moroccan universities is growing. Large numbers of Moroccan students earning baccalaureate credentials travel to Europe and predominantly France to pursue their higher education. But because many have recently been refused student visas, numbers in the country’s private institutions have substantially increased. In light of the 30 percent growth in private university enrollments, the Moroccan government is currently considering a new Higher Education Bill that will reverse old legislation prohibiting private institutions from providing official academic titles. Government officials believe that formally accrediting private institutions will create healthy market competition in the sector and ease the burden on over-crowded public universities and colleges. Under the new legislation private institutions, once accredited, will adhere to the same national-degree awarding scheme (License, Master, Doctorate) that the Moroccan government has adopted to bring the country more in line with the European higher education system.
— The Times Higher Education Supplement [5]
Jan. 10, 2007
Qatar
Sylvan Learning Expands into Qatar
Sylvan Learning Center [6], a U.S. provider of supplemental education services with locations all over the world, has opened a new center in Doha. The Qatar Sylvan Learning Center will provide programs in SAT prep, ACT prep, TOEFL, English reading, English writing, and study skills for students seeking individual tutoring in these subjects.
— The Peninsula [7]
Jan. 18, 2007
Saudi Arabia
Government Predicts Full Absorption of Secondary Students at Nation’s Universities by 2010
Saudi universities will be able to absorb all secondary school graduates in three years when 11 new universities currently being constructed will have full-fledged campuses and faculties, according to higher education officials. Last year, the number of students admitted to universities increased by 62 percent to 110,000 from 68,000 in 2003/04. The total number of government universities in the Kingdom has reached 19 from seven three years ago. In addition, the government reports that there are currently 16 medical colleges, seven dental colleges, nine colleges of pharmacology, 13 applied medical science colleges, four nursing colleges, 20 engineering colleges, 14 colleges for computer science, 21 science colleges and 12 university hospitals. There are also three private universities with 17 colleges.
— Arab News [8]
Feb. 5, 2007
US Oil Firm Sponsoring Student Tours to Saudi
Chevron is looking to improve U.S. perceptions of one of its main business partners, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by sponsoring more than 40 U.S. college students on a cultural tour of the Gulf state.
— Gulf News [9]
Jan. 13, 2007
Diploma Mills, Number of False PhD’s on the Rise
Saudi Arabian academics cited in a recent report by Al-Madinah Arabic Daily are very concerned about the prevalence of commercial businesses in their country that purport to be educational institutions, but are in fact selling fake credentials for a profit to increasing numbers of prospective job-seekers. Raja Al-Saiegh, dean of higher education at Taibah University [10], warned employers to scrutinize the credentials of all job-applicants before making a hiring decision. Saudi law makes it very difficult for employers to fire an underqualified employee after they become full-time contracted workers. In the current market a fake Saudi degree costs up to US$5,300, a bargain compared to the time and money required to complete a degree at an accredited university.
— Arab News [11]
Jan. 15, 2007
United Arab Emirates
Officials Urge Students to Confirm Institutional Accreditation before Enrollment
Officials at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research [12] of the United Arab Emirates are cautioning students to verify the accreditation status of all colleges and universities they are planning to attend before officially enrolling. According to Assistant Under-secretary of Scientific Research and Certificate Equivalence Rashed Al Mazroui, students often make the mistake of not checking for ministry accreditation before enrolling at unrecognized institutions or opting to enroll at distance-learning institutions. Students applying to institutions within the UAE with foreign credentials must also have their authenticity evaluated beforehand by the ministry.
— Khaleej Times [13]
Jan. 19, 2007
UAE, Irish University Tie-Up
Officials from the United Arab Emirates have signed a memorandum of understanding with Ireland’s Athlone Institute of Technology [14]. Under the agreement Athlone will enroll ten students annually from UAE higher colleges of technology.
— AME Info [15]
Jan. 20, 2007