Every time a new global university ranking report is released, our typical reflex is to lament our failing higher education system that barely makes a blip on the world map. In leading university rankings generated by organisations like The Times Higher Education Supplement, Quacquarelli Symonds and China's Jiaotong University, a meagre five to seven Arab world universities makes it into the top 500 list. This has always disheartened those of us in the education sector.
Media commentators often try to blame the region's bleak higher education landscape on flawed social and economic policies that give little weight to human innovation. Advocates of this view find solace in the 2003 Arab Human Development Report that connected dismal regional education conditions to what it termed an "undemocratic political and social culture". By undemocratic, it meant a system that promoted rote learning and lacked critical thinking.
Critiques of higher education in the Arab world have some merit. But it is clear that much of the debate painfully ignores not only the peculiar history of regional universities, but also emerging long-term trends in higher education. I believe that these very trends will change the face of the global university landscape altogether. The launch of pioneering educational initiatives in the Gulf region in particular reinforce optimism that top global university rankings are no longer off limits to the region's higher education institutions.
In the words of Professor Judith Kinnear of Massey University, university rankings provide a "wonderful external acknowledgement of several university attributes, including the quality of its research, research training, teaching and employability". But not all is as it seems: university rankings can often be tainted by alarming problems. For example, between 2006 and 2007, Washington University in St Louis, Missouri fell from 48 to 161 because Quacquarelli Symond confused it with the University of Washington in Seattle.
The most serious problem with rankings, of course, arises from varying criteria that assess university standings around the world. And when it comes to universities outside the western hemisphere, the idiosyncrasies of our systems seem to be overlooked as all universities are subjected to a single standardised yardstick. This oblivion to the cultural and social context of university development in the Arab world, I believe, has given rise to speculation about why our institutions of higher education are not on par with global benchmarks. While Cairo University, the oldest modern university in this region, celebrates its centennial in four years, many of the leading world universities in the top rankings have been around for hundreds of years.
Of course, this region hosted universities during the golden ages of Arab-Islamic history in Baghdad, Cairo, Timbuktu and Tunis. But when it comes to modern academia, five centuries of Ottoman rule, combined with decades of colonial domination and post-independence underdevelopment have had a direct impact upon education. But the past should not hinder us from moving forward. In the last decade or so, major transitions in higher education in the Arab world, especially in the Gulf region, have given educators hope.
The main principle of higher education in the GCC has shifted towards not only critical and analytical thinking, but also towards the institution of research and development as key features of academic traditions. Here in the UAE, it is amazing to see how the Quacquarelli Symonds rankings of UAE University over the past three years has improved in line with its transition into a research university. The UAE University ranked 401 in 2008; 374 in 2009; and 372 in 2010.
But the Government has also played its part in regulating - and therefore benchmarking - both research and teaching. Across the UAE, the Commission for Academic Accreditation oversees higher education programmes offered by scores of government and private institutions. It's injected better standards into higher education. In Doha, the establishment of the Qatar Foundation in 1995 marked a significant development in taking education into a new frontier of excellence. Last year in Saudi Arabia, the launch of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology as a graduate-level research institution of higher education raised expectations for the region.
With the increasing globalisation of higher education, it is difficult to underestimate the implications of world university rankings for this region's educational system. But we should not forget the history of the region. In that light, we have little reason to panic. The future holds bright prospects indeed. Muhammad Ayish is a UAE-based media researcher and adviser
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
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Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
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(Because Music)
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
New schools in Dubai
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