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Friday, 3 November 2006
Cultural learnings of Oxford for make benefit glorious Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
 Sorry, Borat, I had to steal your film title.
They say money can’t buy you love, but can it buy you a degree? In Nigeria, perhaps, or Saudi Arabia, but here in the UK? Perhaps at one of the universities-in-name-only, former polytechnics or technical colleges such as the University of Luton, or the University of Bolton. But not at a real university. Not at Oxford, surely? The Times reports otherwise: Fears have been raised that Oxford dons will be pressurised into accepting less academic students, after the university accepted a £2 million gift in a deal with the defence minister of Saudi Arabia. Oxford has promised to help “expedite the application process” of ten scholarship students from the Prince Sultan University (PSU) over 25 years, and identify suitable colleges for them. “Expedite the application process”? I assume this does not just refer to a more efficient filing system. The arrangement has infuriated senior academics who are concerned that it will blur fundraising and academic objectives at the university. In a memorandum of understanding, Oxford thanks Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud for his “munificant benefaction to the Ashmolean museum (at Oxford)” in support of its Islamic gallery and the scholarships in the Prince’s name. “Munificent”, surely? I hope this is a misprint in The Times, otherwise it would seem standards at Oxford are dropping already in the interests of “diversity”. And what is a “memorandum of understanding”? It sounds like mutual back-scratching to me. Oxford has to understand that Saudi students will have a different understanding of academic subjects from that of other students. Oxford must be understanding about this, and understands that more funds will be forthcoming as a reward for being so understanding. Oxford has academic arrangements with other international universities, but critics point out that they are largely arranged between individual colleges and leading institutions, such as the Ivy League universities in America. PSU was established in 1999 and offers degrees including computer science, information systems, accounting and marketing, largely for men. In other words, PSU is a glorified technical college, like the “Universities” of Luton and Bolton. I am not qualified to comment on degrees in computer science or information systems. Regarding accountancy, however, this is not a fit subject for an academic degree. Professional accountancy examinations, by which I mean those of the Chartered bodies, are extremely difficult and rigorous. However, graduates in accountancy who train for these examinations score no better in them than those who have a degree in another subject, even English or History. Accountancy degrees teach subjects like “the philosophy of the balance sheet”. The balance sheet does not need a philosophy; it is a useful tool. As for marketing, this is a skill I admire, but it is a skill. It is not an academic discipline at all, whether studied for a degree or for a professional qualification. Marketing, in this sense, is an arbitrary collection of spurious theories, couched in impenetrable – because meaningless – jargon. Alan Sugar in his prime could have sold ice to the Eskimos. Did he need to know about the “five p’s” – product, price, place, promotion and people? Five p’s that could easily be four p’s, or six p’s, or five t’s? No, Oxford should not “expedite” entry for these students. Nicholas Bamforth, a don at Queen’s College, said that the deal showed a need for scrutiny of the university council. “I’m surprised the university did a deal with such a new institution that doesn’t admit women to do the same range of degrees as men,” he added. He should be disappointed, certainly, but not surprised. Posted on 11/03/2006 8:01 AM by Mary Jackson
Comments
3 Nov 2006
 Hugh Fitzgerald
The fight to stop the Said Business School from being associated with Oxford, of benefiting from its name, was the first shot in the the war to define the idea of a universtiy. Old fogies such as Oswyn Murray wanted to maintain the notion of the university as a place for the study and transmission of civilization, culture, disciplines, fill in whatever you wish but you know what I mean. The Said Center was all about dynamism, and the marketplace, and getting with what's happening, baby -- in other words, vocational training, in other words, Harvard Business School's Triumph of the Will, in other words, the pedagogic equivalent of the theological decadence expressed in "Are You Running With Me, Jesus." And now come the primiitive Al-Saud, bearing poisoned chalices, eagerly accepted. Express your disgust how you will. Warn of what is past, and passing, and to come, with whatever words come to mind. But you must remember this: Radix malorum cupiditas est.
Does that ring a bell. open a book, light a candle in your mind?
Even faintly? Even half-way? Even dimly?
3 Nov 2006
Mary Jackson I don't think there's anything at all wrong with dynamism or the marketplace or getting with what's happening. I'm rather glad Bill Gates did all that, rather than "peace studies" or something at Harvard. There is nothing wrong with people making money and then, when they have bought enough houses, cars and champagne, giving to universities (or museums, or websites (BIG HINT!)), no strings attached. What I object to is when money is used to influence what is taught in those universities and when the distinction between business or vocational training on the one hand and scholarship on the other, is blurred. I also object to people buying degrees. These undeserving rich Saudi "students" will be taking up Oxford places which might have gone to far more deserving candidates. And unlike Bill Gates, the Saudis didn't even make their own money - the West gave it to them in exchange for oil. 3 Nov 2006
Robert Bove Filed under The Ugly Truth, Academia. 3 Nov 2006
Mary Jackson Radix malorum cupiditas est. Does that ring a bell. open a book, light a candle in your mind? Even faintly? Even half-way? Even dimly? Is this addressed to me?
3 Nov 2006
Paul Blaskowicz
There is a great deal of muslim activity in Oxford now. An elderly academic friend of mine, who concerns herself with the diocese of Oxford Inter-faith group, sent me a cutting from the Oxford Times of July 28. (Just checked: it's not on-line.) The title is hilarious and, of course, one would have liked to comment on it, but desisted:Families flock to fun day at new mosque. (Extra stonings? Couple of floggings, for the kiddies?). "An exhibition on Understanding Islam was accompanied by a talk on the role of the mosque in the Muslim society and society at large." Society at large? What role does a mosque have in non-muslim society? "The Central Oxford Mosque was first dreamed of by Mohammed Ehsan, a student at the then Oxford Polytechnic , in 1974" at that time the muslims were meeting for prayers in the cellar of a restaurant in Walton St. Since then three mosques have been built in Oxford, but none had the facilities for large numbers of worshippers. The new mosque is built on land formerly occupied by the Cowley Rd Hospital. I shudder when I look at it; my friend says it is very beautiful inside, and she feels honoured that the mosque committee (all men) asked her to be the co-ordinator of the collections made from non-muslim sources (churches, charitable organizations, colleges, &c) for the building, which is now almost complete. 14 Aug 2007
oswyn murray
In response to Hugh Fitzgerald who takes my name in vain: I regard myself as an old Turk not an old fogey, having fought many battles to protect overseas graduates against a philistine university; but I never expressed an opinion about the Said Business School, for or against. Still he is right that I believe the university is a place for the study of civilizations both western and Islamic. |