Comments on: More on KAUST

By: Engineering Faculty

Engineering Faculty — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:09:37 +0000

I have had very well intentioned and involved interactions with KAUST, including their Global Research Partnerships and the fellowships. I now have no doubt that this is yet another waste of huge financial resources that the population of this developing country badly needs. Saudi Arabia’s GDP is $20,000. This is not a rich country, they have an illiteracy problem, human rights problems, no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, a huge economical chasim between the rich and the severely poor. They are better off building their economy from the bottom up, i.e. better educating their population at the elementary, secondary, and college level. Such developments will naturally lead to well earned freedoms that will enable world class Graduate research institutions. This is a mislead and out of touch effort by elite ARAMCO officials and intellectuals. This maybe salvaged by adding a few Economists to their team, preferrably economists from developing countries such as India, Turkey, Malaysia and Singapore.

By: 123

123 — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:06:39 +0000

I feel pity for Quality of Girls’ education in Saudi; because they are not given enough choices and they don’t have enough resources as compared to the boys. It is beneficial if they adopt co-ed in Saudi because. It’ll help solve a lot of problems in the society to a large extent. For example this may be a start to more liberal libraries in terms of quality and quantity of resources available. And slowly it will be a normal thing all around the country. It will also allow people to study more, (maybe to impress) and increase their competitiveness, to pursue better grades, better research papers, reports and careers etc. This University can make it an ordinary kind of a thing. Even according to the Islamic Rules and Regulations it is not “Haraam” (forbidden) to study together, as long as you stay in certain limits. If someone wants to wear a veil, then its up to them. They can still study in the same class and do group projects for mutual benefit. Why does every one thinks about the oNe and only one thing? It’s the culture we are fighting with. People have to change their thinking and have trust in their sons and daughters. The Uni must have a strict admission policy to get outstanding students and to avoid different problems.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:11:26 +0000

There are still a lot of hurdles that need to be overcome, and some of those hurdles will be there for years to come.

I think it auspicious beginning, but great care and attention will be needed to ensure that KAUST works and continues to work.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:15:14 +0000

Ahmed,
I agree with you that the groundbreaking of KAUST is a historical moment for the Kingdom and also further documenting that change and reform in the Kingdom is very much underway.

American_Bedu

By: terres

terres — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:55:05 +0000

“‘King’ Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is a war criminal like GW Bush, Tony Blair, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell …. Without Abdullah’s approval, his financial and material support for ‘the coalition of the willing’ and their mercenaries, the Iraqi genocide would not have occurred.”