From : shoufshouf2004@yahoo.co.uk
Sent : Wednesday, August 10, 2005 3:30 PM
To : arabtimesnewspaper@hotmail.com
Subject : A REPLY REGARDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARAB AND WESTERN UNIVERSITIES

Dear Friends at Arab Times
Hello and Greetings from the UK hoping that you are very well and up to the usual potential. I have read the articles regarding the differences between Arab and Western universities but unfortunately some people want to turn it again into a forum to spread nationalistic and racist messages. It is here where I found it necessary to intervene to make an early stop to all this.
Two short messages to the people concerned before giving a deep analysis into that former issue.
To Mr Yahya: What you have presented about the universities in Jordan is absolutely correct as I have done my first degree and lectured at a Jordanian university BUT the way you have addressed it is absolutely unfair as Jordan is not the only case. You find these things in EVERY Arab university including Egyptian, Syrian, Tunisian and Palestinian universities because the mentality of the Arab educational regime is the same rigid regressive mentality as our kings, princes and presidents therefore you enter the university in the first year and if you do not work very hard yourself and without dependence on the "notes" given by the lecturers, you will never succeed. Please be a bit fair in your analysis.

To Mr Mohammed Al-Udat: Come on man!! When are we going to stop this Jordanian - Palestinian nationalistic thing. You cannot say to a person you hate Jordan because you are Palestinian. You are an educated person and such words should not get out of your mouth. The stupid war ended 35 years ago and everybody made mistakes, everyone was a criminal and everyone was to blame!! As far as if someone were to study in Jordan he/she would fail, may I ask what are you doing in Montreal - Canada then?!

Coming to the issue of Arab and Western Universities, there are so many ways in which Arab universities can improve. Having posh buildings and good facilities will never improve a university. What will improve a university in the Arab world is the following:

1- END THE CORRUPTION - This will create more funding towards the creation of better teaching staff as well as more funds to establish research councils that fund research proposals presented by talented staff and students in order to exploit them to the best potential for the country's interests. For example here in the UK they have two major ones; EPSRC for physical and pure sciences and ESRC for social sciences. Also the phenomenon of liaison (wastat) should be combatted.

2- BETTER RELATION BETWEEN STAFF AND STUDENTS - University staff should treat students as human beings with capabilities and do the best to help those that need extra care and attention. This will cause the student to have more respect for staff members and a fair relation may be established.

3- ACCEPTANCE OF CRITICISM - Staff (particularly deans and HODs) need to be ready to accept criticism as we are human and make mistakes just as willingly as students need to do the same.

Three simple points that can definitely lead to making better our educational establishments. Many thanks for your attention and all the best.

Mohammed Mohammed
Manchester - UK