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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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 Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: Saudis again head to US campuses -....... |
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| A record number of nearly 11,000 Saudis are pursuing higher education in the US, reversing a years-long decline in students from the oil-rich kingdom, particularly after the 2001 terrorist attacks. According to an article by Caryle Murphy and Susan Kinzie in the November 11th Washington Post, the surge is a result of recent measures taken by the US and Saudi governments, including a major Saudi scholarship program for study abroad and streamlined issuance of student visas by the US Embassy in the Kingdom. The education initiative, which also envisions a second scholarship program to enable US scholars to study and teach in Saudi Arabia, arose from a mutual desire to counter growing hostility between the populations of both nations sparked by the discovery that 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi citizens. (See http://www.washingtonpost.com) |
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Queen of Sheba
Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 397
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| Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| 007, we all read and comprehend the news pretty well, so where were you going with this article, or any other based around the news? I'm just making an observation that if you don't follow it up with a related question, its likely to go nowhere productive. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Hardly news is it. The scholarship program agreed by King Abdullah and George Bush II has been in force for a long time now. |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| It's probably news in America. And of course, unless like us you're directly affected by it, it can easily pass unnoticed even in Saudi. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Hardly news is it. The scholarship program agreed by King Abdullah and George Bush II has been in force for a long time now. |
Yes, the scholarship between the USA and SA has been since the 70s, but now things have changed after 09/11. And the new prposed scholarship, I think, will be ink on paper more than reality.
A significant proportion of Saudi students currently study abroad, with the US, UK and Canada accounting for about half of overseas enrolments, but recent developments could signal a growing diversification of study broad destinations. SA has announced plans to send more students to Australia and Asian countries including China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, for tertiary level studies in medicine, science and engineering.
Also, due to growing security concerns, since 13 November 2005 the US has imposed further restrictions on visas for all Saudis seeking to study in the country. The Riyadh Embassy website suggests that further delays may be experienced, and advises that some students might wish to request delayed admission to US universities and colleges.
Also, the cost of obtaining a higher education in traditional study destinations such as the US and the UK is high compared to that charged by higher education institutions in Asian countries such as India and Malaysia. In the UK, the British Council estimates that international students pay an approximate cost of $12,200 for undergraduate fees, and the US projects similar costs of US$12,600 for undergraduate tuition.
In Asia, the cost of a university education for overseas students is substantially lower, with tuition fees in some areas only half that charged by Western institutions and the cost of living even less. In addition, Saudi students have faced and are facing a lot of problems in USA, especially when they return to US after their holiday. Some have been refused entry clearance, and others their visa had been cancelled and they could not return to US to finish their studies.
I think, the Saudis themselves they realize that it will be difficult for them to go and study and live in US, and they know that they will be under strict observation from the US authorities, especially with the new USA Patriot Act.. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:00 am Post subject: |
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Over the last 18 months I have had many requests for advice from young males in Saudi Arabia who have been offered scholarships to the USA.
Should they go ? I try to encourage them to make up their own minds, but taking responsibility for their own decisions is not a strong point with them.
I usually end by telling them that if someone had given me that chance at age 18 I would have taken it. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| I try to encourage them to make up their own minds, but taking responsibility for their own decisions is not a strong point with them. |
Unfortunately, the Saudis, in general, are brought up not to take decisions by themselves, they are influenced by their family and tribe culture. So, I think, the Saudi students, in this situation, need direction, because they do not have the initiatives to go and search in the internet for information about the universities in the West.
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| .. usually end by telling them that if someone had given me that chance at age 18 I would have taken it. |
When asked about the universities, I always recommend the Saudi students to go to UK, Australia, and Japan. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:18 am Post subject: |
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For most of those awarded scholarships to the USA the choice is
1. Go to the USA to study
2. Stay in Saudi Arabia
The option of studying elsewhere is open only to a few. So, 007, how would you advise the young Saudi offered a scholarship to the USA ? |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| .. So, 007, how would you advise the young Saudi offered a scholarship to the USA ? |
I advise the students the following:
1. If you have a Wasta, go and change the scholarship destination to different country.
2. If your name is Al-Qahtani, Al-Shahrani, El-Shehri, and Bin-Laden, it would be better to change it, or you have to expect the un-expected when you reach the USA territory!
3. Go and take it, you have no choice, better than to loose the scholarship (worst option). |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| The choice is simple, 007, go to the US or stay in Al-Saudiya ! The scholarships available are for the USA not elsewhere. |
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Henry_Cowell
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 3352
Location: Berkeley
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| Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| 007 wrote: |
A significant proportion of Saudi students currently study abroad, with the US, UK and Canada accounting for about half of overseas enrolments, but recent developments could signal a growing diversification of study broad destinations. SA has announced plans to send more students to Australia and Asian countries including China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, for tertiary level studies in medicine, science and engineering.
Also, due to growing security concerns, since 13 November 2005 the US has imposed further restrictions on visas for all Saudis seeking to study in the country. The Riyadh Embassy website suggests that further delays may be experienced, and advises that some students might wish to request delayed admission to US universities and colleges.
Also, the cost of obtaining a higher education in traditional study destinations such as the US and the UK is high compared to that charged by higher education institutions in Asian countries such as India and Malaysia. In the UK, the British Council estimates that international students pay an approximate cost of $12,200 for undergraduate fees, and the US projects similar costs of US$12,600 for undergraduate tuition.
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007, where did this portion of your post come from? A source would be helpful. I don't think you wrote it yourself. Crediting your sources is always a good thing to do.
In fact, it came from here:
Saudi Arabia looks eastwards for higher education
http://www.ameinfo.com/81824.html |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Henry_Cowell wrote: |
[007, where did this portion of your post come from? A source would be helpful. I don't think you wrote it yourself. Crediting your sources is always a good thing to do.
In fact, it came from here:
Saudi Arabia looks eastwards for higher education
http://www.ameinfo.com/81824.html |
Yes, it came from the above link. May be it was a mistake from me not to credit the above source. |
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bje
Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, I think it may have been a mistake. It's what my students do all the time. |
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R_of_OK
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Narrowing of the River in "Village"
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| Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:03 pm Post subject: The United States:Great place to pursue one's studies |
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Whenever a student would ask me for some advice as to where to pursue his studies, I would always (unequivocally at that) urge him to study in the States.
The United States offers so many opportunities to broaden one's horizons and there are so many entertainment venues. What's more, the people are very nice.
I would enthusiastically tell him to Go for it!
On that note, let me wish everyone Season's Greetings & a Happy New Year
R_of_OK |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject: Re: The United States:Great place to pursue one's studies |
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| R_of_OK wrote: |
| The United States offers so many opportunities to broaden one's horizons and there are so many entertainment venues. What's more, the people are very nice. R_of_OK |
After 9/11, things have changed in US, especially for students or anyone from the Middle East, especially Saudis.
Yes, may be the people of US are nice, as in UK, Canada, Australia, etc. But, the problem now, in US, is with the government, and things are politically motivated, and Muslims students are sometimes harassed, and observed, and their Tel lines are tapped. In addition, they are harassed in most of US airports. For example, read the following story about six Muslim religious leaders were thrown off a US Airways flight in Minneapolis. Their crime? The imams were first deemed �suspicious� for observing their evening prayers in the airport, prior to boarding the flight last month (http://www.socialistworker.org/2006-2/612/612_02_Imams.shtml) |
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