Source: prebano66

Saudi Arabian Embassy in London

UK universities¡¯ eagerness to recruit more overseas students has resulted in a ¡°lowering of standards¡± and ¡°incompetent graduates sometimes¡±, according to a startling critique delivered by a representative of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London.

An International ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Forum hosted by Universities UK and the UK ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø International Unit on 19 March included a session titled ¡°Seeing ourselves as others see us: global perceptions of UK higher education and the impact on your international strategy¡±.

But the hosts may not have expected one of the speakers, Faisal Abaalkhail, cultural attach¨¦ at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, to be quite so frank in his assessment.

He told the gathering in London that the ¡°very, very positive perception of institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom has been changing; hopefully we will be working towards restoring whatever confidence is needed¡±, while noting, however, that the weaknesses related to only a ¡°very small number of institutions ¨C they are the exception¡±.

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In the UK, higher education was ¡°now branded as an education export¡±, Dr Abaalkhail said, and ¡°wherever there is fast growth, there are a number of negative factors¡±.

There had been a ¡°lowering of standards, poor student experience and satisfaction, and more emphasis on generating revenues¡±, he said, while again emphasising that ¡°those are just the exceptions¡±.

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Agencies sponsoring Saudi undergraduates ¡°have noticed that there is this increasing number of students being admitted to degree programmes with insufficient amount of the English language¡±, he said.

Also, he added: ¡°Academic standards in some cases are being overlooked to allow students to progress [on their courses], resulting in incompetent graduates sometimes.¡±

Dr Abaalkhail concluded: ¡°Although the Saudi perception of UK higher education remains overall positive ¨C very positive ¨C the problems and difficulties¡­need to be addressed¡± to ensure a continued mutually beneficial partnership.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com