Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I am suspicious not only of tomcats. here is something from my agents in Jeddah------------------------------

"and this for the other cat:

http://ksu.edu.sa/AboutKSU/Pages/Factsandstatistics.aspx

http://ksu.edu.sa/Students/ProspectiveStudents/Admissionrequirements/Pages/Masters.aspx

and

http://graduatestudies.kau.edu.sa/content.aspx?Site_ID=306&lng=EN&cid=1834

The applicant must be a Saudi, or, if not a Saudi, be on an official mission for graduate studies. As for non-Saudi residents, the general grade must be Excellent and the graduation date must not be later than five years"

007 · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject:

Well, the only place that accepts foreigners for Master and PhD without any strict limitations is KAUST.

KFUPM put a strict conditions for foreigners students, and not any foreigner can get a place (need strong wasta with Uncle Bandar!).
So, Uncle Scott in your link you forgot to put this very strict condition of KFUPM (see the last two line in their admission):
"The number of admissions to the University available to non-Saudi candidates is severely limited and competition for the available openings is keen. Therefore, unless the applicant ranks very high in the graduating class of his previous university, it is unlikely that admission will be granted."
http://www.kfupm.edu.sa/gs/admissions.htm

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Cryptic - so negotiable, like many things in this part of the world. My point is that it is not impossible, whereas your Tomcat friends just stated that it is not possible !

Now excuse me I have exams to write and mark and a vacation to take !

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

Miao! 喵 (this is Chinese miao, if you can see that Chinese character!) Meowwwww! (this is English meow!) Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Haha! Lol!

According to Thomas Troward in his book entitled "The Creative Process in the Individual", there is indeed a Law of Infinite Possibility, just as there is a law of gravity. http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/results

Adhering to one of the other laws that he mentions, namely, the Law of Positive Affirmation, "Where there's a will, there's a way!" Or as it seems to me now in SA, there's a way and you just need the will to go get it.

I'd like to express my feeling of elation that the posters on the forum possess such profound knowledge on the state of things in SA, that they have disseminated freely such information, and in so doing, that they have revealed their goodwill. Thank you!

In keeping with yet another law, the Law of Reciprocity, let me reciprocate by directing you to Troward's book, which is available for free via Gutenberg.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

My biggest worry would be whether it will be recognized anywhere else in the world. I can tell you for sure that it will not be respected.

VS

007 · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject:

Well, all animals, except dogs, know that the Law of Reciprocity exists! Laughing

trapezius · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject:

What field of knowledge do you want to do your PhD in?

I would respect a PhD from Kenya more than a PhD from Saudi (the degree, not the holder).

Are you going to use this PhD that you get from Saudi for any purposes? If not, and if your only goal is lifelong learning, go to http://ocw.mit.edu

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

Thank you for your quesiton:
"What field of knowledge do you want to do your PhD in? "

Your question has prompted the thought in my mind that I should write a Ph.d. research proposal!

I am thinking out loud here, I haven't thought it through, but I'd say, I'd keep looking for "The Truth" by looking into Language/psychology! I'd look at Steven Pinker's works, to which I gave only a cursory glance while reading for my MA AEL (App. Eng. Ling., obtained in 2009, GPA: 3.50)!

Here is a link for Pinker:
http://www.google.com.hk/search?q=steven+pinker&prog=aff&client=aff-googleads&hl=zh-cn&source=sdo_sb&sdo_rt=ChBMEz3TAAt53QocP8K_ZUKHEg5fX1JMX0RFRkFVTFRfXxoIiEQAslRqd3EoAVjKxZG2hZbMlhM

Here's a video of him presenting on Language and Thought.
http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_on_language_and_thought.html

I'd read his, "The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature", (which I haven't read yet). Perhaps the question, What does English as used by Saudi's tell us about Human Nature, contrary or complementary to Pinker's understanding of the notion? could be researched!

You wrote:
I would respect a PhD from Kenya more than a PhD from Saudi (the degree, not the holder).

Really, why is that?

You wrote:
Are you going to use this PhD that you get from Saudi for any purposes?

I'd have to find gainful employment in Saudi first in order to be able to afford to pay PhD fees & expenses (whether by distance learning or obtained on the ground there in SA), but if I am not mistaken, Ph.D.s serve the purpose of adding new knowledge to existing bodies of knowledge by the method of research.

You wrote:
If not, and if your only goal is lifelong learning, go to http://ocw.mit.edu

Ha ha haaa! I've been getting older for 45 years, and this year, lol, in adherence with the Law of Infinite Possibility, I've started getting younger and more beautiful! I think lifelonglearning is a worthy purpose in its own right, it gives the individual a sense of satisfaction, it gives him/her a challenge to work towards over time (as time marches on anyway). The knowledge gained as a result of lifelonglearning can be used to serve others in some way.

What do you think? (According to Troward's cause and effect, thoughts cause circumstances!)

007 · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:21 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I think the PhD is a regrettable introduction to academic life. It has neither purpose nor value. The world was a better place when scholars did not indulge in this Germano-American nonsense.

boysfromtheblackstuff · Joined: 15 May 2010 Posts: 35

Yup,

Agree totally

One of the Co-ordinators at KSU (ie the University Henchmen who tell us what to do) is just completing a PhD. and thus they are revered and think themselves unassailable.

Yet the material the produce and the judgements they make in the area of their PhD subjects are so wide of the mark to be laughable.

Booo, for PhDs

and talking of higher qualifications, can anyone tell me the point of an MA?

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: Hurray for Uncle Scot

trapezius

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Trapezius,
Have a look at the titles of PHD theses from any university in the field of the Humanities and Social Sciences. You will then see whereof I speak.

Even better, look at a couple of PhD holders actually teaching ordinary human beings and you will appreciate how this "Doctorolatry" is misplaced.
The trend to doing PhD's is a disease we contracted from the USA in the last 60 years or less.