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More on NYU in Abu Dhabi, from the NY Times

 
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Sheikh N Bake



Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:53 pm    Post subject: More on NYU in Abu Dhabi, from the NY Times Reply with quote

Interesting longish followup. I also enjoyed seeing how George Mason Univ. continues to be a laughing stock (mentioned somewhere in there).

First batch has an SAT average of 1440, and about a third are from the US. Good to see they're bona-fide college students--unlike the drooling slack-jaws GMU had scrounged up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/education/edlife/edl-17abudhabi-t.html?ref=global-home
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Citizenkane



Joined: 14 Jun 2009
Posts: 234
Location: Xanadu

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Which just goes to show that educational institutions are global brands like any other, to be sold to the highest bidder.

This place reminds me a bit of KAUST in Saudi Arabia. An elite institutiion, with nearly all foreign students, and with little contact with the society around it. Makes you wonder if these unis are designed to improve the general level of education in the whole country, or just to flatter some sheikh's ego?
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Citizenkane wrote:
Makes you wonder if these unis are designed to improve the general level of education in the whole country, or just to flatter some sheikh's ego?


BINGO!!!

Especially true of KAUST... where I hear that the use of the letters alone is frowned up and one should (must?) always use the full name so that the KING ABDULLAH part gets emphasized.

VS
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Sheikh N Bake



Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

His Hiney must be kissed. So far, though, at least NYU seems to be doing something worthwhile. Were I a student I'd rather be studying in the Big Apple than the culturally sterile Abu Dhabi any day, but the latter location has its usefulness for some students and is a nice free ride.
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Citizenkane



Joined: 14 Jun 2009
Posts: 234
Location: Xanadu

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm sure it's a great opportunity for the kids studying there. I just wonder how much - if anything - it will do to elevate the level of education in the Emirates as a whole. The article said the campus was near the local 'branches' of the guggenheim and Louvre (?) museums. Another example of buying up prestige names with no connection to the local culture, in an effort to impress foreign tourists and investors? Personally, if I want to visit the Louvre, I'll go to Paris and queue up with the rest of the plebs.
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Sheikh N Bake



Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1307
Location: Dis ting of ours

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Absolutely. I agree with every word. And just how much cultural freedom will find its way into those two famous museums in Abu Dhabi?? Give me a break. Oh, it might be OK now, but wait until they come up with something controversial.
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2buckets



Joined: 14 Dec 2010
Posts: 515
Location: Middle East

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:02 pm    Post subject: Guggenheim and Louvre Reply with quote

An art museum where religious themes and nudes are forbidden.

Go to any museum in Europe and I'd say 75% of the content is religious themes and nudes.

Art Museum for the blind.
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D. Merit



Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 203

PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Citizenkane wrote:
Personally, if I want to visit the Louvre, I'll go to Paris and queue up with the rest of the plebs.


Realistically though that isn't the choice on a warm Wednesday, is it?

The choice is more between the Louvre AD and Alvin and The Chipmunks 3.

Personally I quite fancy the Louvre AD once in a while.
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