Iran

Medical School Faces Closure

Iranian students and politicians are protesting a decision to shutter one of the country’s largest medical and educational centers. Health Minister Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi announced on October 30 that Tehran’s Iranian University of Medical Sciences was to be dissolved.

According to Vahid-Dastjerdi, students at the university are to be transferred to Tehran University and Shahid Beheshti University. Students began a two-day protest and sit-in on October 31, according to the Iranian Labor News Agency. In addition, 18 Iranian legislators have written to Vahid-Dastjerdi asking her to reconsider her ruling.

Iran observers speculate that as universities become the center of vocal protests against the establishment, the government is now trying to merge some universities with larger ones in order to tighten control over them. The Iran University of Medical Sciences was founded in Tehran in 1974. It currently has more than 6,000 students and 731 faculty members.

– RFE/RL
November 2, 2010

Qatar

University College London to Open Branch Campus

University College London (UCL) has announced plans to open a campus in Doha, Qatar, next year which will specialize in Arab and Islamic archaeology. UCL will be the first UK university to open a branch in Qatar. It will join top-ranked US universities and HEC Paris at Doha’s Education City.

An estimated 150 students a year will eventually be involved in research and masters degrees in archaeology, conservation and museum studies at UCL Qatar (UCL-Q). The idea is to develop Qatar “as an international center of excellence in research in archaeology, conservation, cultural heritage and museology,” according to a UCL news release. UCL staff will also teach at Qatar University and some of the US universities.

– UCL New Release
October 28, 2010

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Builds Regional Research Focus on Nanotechnology

Saudi Arabia has announced plans for the Arab region’s first international center for research and innovation in nanotechnology applications, as it continues its role as the region’s leader in the field.

In October, the King Abdullah Institute was opened at King Saud University, and the establishment of several other nanotechnology institutes at universities around the country was also announced at the same time. In addition to new research centers, the country recently launched its first nanotech company for the manufacture of nanomembranes that are used in the petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, desalination and agricultural industries. Also in October, Saudi officials announced plans to establish 20 technology incubators – science-based research enterprises that develop marketable new products – by 2015 and 30 incubators by 2025.

Other regional research centers are also being created in Bahrain and in Abu Dhabi, where the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research has also announced plans to set up a nanotechnology research center. This reflects the regions continued effort to refocus economic output away from hydrocarbons to more knowledge-based industries. The development of nanotechnology research in the Arab world began two years ago in Saudi Arabia.

– University World News
October 17, 2010

United Arab Emirates

International Academic City Turns Away 25 Universities

Dubai International Academic City reportedly turned down branch campus applications from 25 international institutions of higher education this year because they failed to meet standards set by the multi-university campus. The universities that were turned down are located in Australia, Canada, Finland, France, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US.

According to officials at Dubai Academic City interviewed by Khaleej Times, more than 35 percent of the 16,000 students studying at Dubai International Academic City come from outside the United Arab Emirates. A total of 30 universities offer over 300 academic programs.

– Khaleej Times
October 20, 2010