A Different World in the Kingdom

Readers need to understand that for students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, America is a completely different world. One has to search long and hard for a society that is as different to ours than that in Saudi Arabia. Saudi students have a difficult time in the United States and Canada, partially because of English language skills, which aren’t seriously taught in their public system, but mostly because of the religious and social differences, especially for women. Almost all scholarships are given to men, as are opportunities, because the Saudis still rest on a social/religious system that puts women into a secondary status: must wear abayas and head/face scarfs; can’t drive or be alone in public. Remember, in the Kingdom, over 51 percent of postsecondary students are women (in separate schools mostly), but only 7 percent of the workforce. There are different expectations. When students come to the US or Canada, they have an extraordinarily difficult time “blending” in due to the cultural disconnect. We are a candy store that they either embrace or reject. To learn more about our recent experience in Saudi Arabia, check out my block “Nine Days in Riyadh” at www.educationalpolicy.org.

Dr. Watson Scott Swail, President at Educational Policy Institute, at 6:55 am EDT on May 9, 2008

Saudi scholarships — response to Dr. C.L Palermo

Dr. Parlemo, with such ignorance I wonder how you relate to your international (Saudi) students. They are not ‘taking’ priceless education. They are buying it from a willing seller. And for their ‘Un American’ comments, there is something called ‘freedom of speech and expression’ in the US. If they break the law, we sure have free and competent legal system (unless you want to compare Libby Scooter justice vs. Jena VI justice). Moving to a foreign country can be challenging. Imagine, e.g., a female student from, say, Venice Beach, Calif who goes to a medical school in Dubai. She may not necessarily be able to go to the beach in bikini or nude in Dubai. The reason is differences in cultures. And, surely, what does a self-sponsored international student from Jordan attending an American university has to do with world oil prices? Hear yourself: “US university students and their families should be given scholarships for higher education, from the Saudi government to study in American universities,in exchange for the “good will” that continues to be given to Saudi and other foreign students.” I guess you expect students from poor countries also to give US students scholarships to attend US universities as a show of ‘good will.’ In some US universities, over 20% of academic staff hold passports from countries other than the US. What should the US do as a ’show for good will’ to the sending countries?There is great benefit of having foreign students. As a well read individual, just search for information and you will see for yourself why we need to attract more visa students to the US (I am sure you know this: for every $1 a US student pays in tuition at a US institution, foreign students pay between $2 and $2.1).

James Oloo, at 11:20 am EDT on May 9, 2008

Freedom of Speech goes both ways

James Oloo: Your statements about internationals “buying” education is simply incorrect. You are neglecting to consider the fact that, when internationals are admitted to American universities, there is almost always an American student who is denied admission to make room for them. Most universities are facing tighter enrollments and increasing competition for admissions. In order to calculate the true cost/benefit of admitting internationals you cannot neglect to consider the cost of denying Americans admission, as well as the fact that universities are more likely raise tuition rates due to increased demand.

Secondly, you talk about “freedom of speech and expression” — well, this goes both ways. If I wish to say that Saudi Arabia is a brutally oppressive government, would this be as tolerated as a Saudi student claiming that the US is an evil imperialist nation? Of course not. Saying anything negative about Saudi Arabia will inevitably be labeled as “racism,” “bigotry,” or “cultural insensitivity.” All too often Americans are expected to bend over backwards to accomodate other cultures and/or tolerate their America-bashing, yet saying anything negative about their culture/nation is NOT tolerated.

A recent case in point that occurred at my own university involed Chinese students and the issue of Tibet. When the recent violence occurred in Tibet, the local human-rights student group staged a “Free Tibet” rally, only to be met with cries of “racism” and “cultural insensitivity” from Chinese international students, who DEMANDED that the rally be prohibited by the administration! At the University of Washington, the Chinese student group even sought to keep the Dalai Lama from speaking at the University.

I can only wonder, Mr. Oloo, whether you support the rights of Americans to speak out against oppression and authoritarian governments as much as you support the right of international students to bash America. The current attitude on many campuses today seem to support the latter, but oppose the former.

jrob, at 10:45 am EDT on May 10, 2008