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Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps

Saudi Education: The nations Development Following American Educations footsteps Eman M AL hajji University of Kansas

Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps

Saudi Education: The nations Development

Introduction Political leaders, economic practitioners, and professional educators have been arguing about what has the most impact on nations development. Some people say that money is the power that can make a huge difference. Others argue that it is the cooperative society who can make a dream a real achievement by working hand in hand and being loyal to its nations goals. Others say that education is the tool that changes peoples attitudes and motivates them to take an action. Saudi Arabia, a country located in the Middle East, became a developed country after oil was discovered in its land in 1936. Since then, electricity, new technology including cars and industrial machines, and all kinds of luxuries that a modern society enjoys have started to flow into the desert kingdom. Even though this prosperity has made a huge change in Saudi Arabia, it is still not the most important factor in the nations development. When this wealth, which does not last forever, is used imprudently by uneducated people, it will end one day leaving no value behind it. Education raises people to be more productive, cooperative, and willing to change. These values are the ones that make a lasting improvement. When educational approaches are well established in a nation, all of the other elements that contribute to its development will be created. As Nelson Mandela said, Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world. As a result, in order for Saudi Arabia to have permanent development, it should invest in education by following the footsteps of US universities. However, improving

Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps Saudi higher education will be a road full of many obstacles, one of which is the complicated structure of Saudi universities. Purpose of Education in USA and KSA On one hand, it is worthwhile to note that many of the best universities around the world are US universities due to the fact that they have excellent educational approaches that enable the learners to be creative and more productive. Having the needed skills to face real world problems is essential to improve and maintain any nations development. One of my Saudi friends who is currently getting her masters at the University of Kansas in Computer Science and got her bachelor at King Saud University says that students in Saudi universities learn theoretically much more than they do in U.S universities; however, US universities focus more on practical knowledge, which is more beneficial for them in their future careers. On the other hand, students in Saudi Arabia are always complaining about the system of Saudi universities even though these universities are going under many improvements. Many of them say that their main purpose of getting into a university is to be able to get a good job although they know what they study has nothing to do with the real job duties. Consequently, Saudi students might not be able to be as efficient as expected at work. One primary value that has shaped US educational approaches is cognitive learning. According to Lipson, the goal of university education is learning that inspires intellectual engagement, emphasizing creativity and originality (2008). Another factor that has a major influence is Americans belief in achievement and work. Americans admire a diligent worker who attempts to accomplish something noteworthy (Althen, 2011, p. 22). By holding this value, the majority of American college students are serious about taking advantage of their studies in order to make a difference in their area. Another element that probably affects US educational

Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps approaches is the importance of being as clear and direct as possible. In the chapter Ways of Reasoning Althen states American speakers and writers are taught to include only the ideas and information directly and obviously related to the topic at hand (2011, p. 48). This illustrate how Americans seek results by being direct, which is vital to more productivity. The history of each country certainly has a significant impact on the quality of its education today. The first institution of higher education founded in United States was Harvard in 1636 (History of Harvard University, 2014) whereas the first one established in Saudi Arabia was King Saud University in 1957 (King Saud University | History, 2014). Having a long history of higher education positively affects the status of university education in the US. Therefore, universities and their research contribute to the nations development. Educational Development A bright Saudi educational future that leads to a greater developed nation is a dream for every Saudi whether he or she is academically successful or not. It is indeed everyone's responsibility to make a difference. Saudi students who have studied in the USA should be leaders or at least participants in Saudi education. They should use their own experience as a guide to enrich education and reflect that in their daily lives. People with political and economic power should help in raising the awareness of the importance of learning. Most significantly, Saudi universities should work on promoting graduate studies and research capacity. These goals take a lot of time and effort to be reached. L.Geiger says that within the overall development of the US research universities, the changing position of research was largely determined by four processes. The first process was structure: the relationship with other institutions including how activities were coordinated and how actions of a university affected

Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps others. The second process was intellectual learning that involved the cognitive growth. The third process was the growth of laboratories and libraries. The final process was the support for the research role of the university that benefited from the massive expansion of university resources (2004). Saudi universities should take the initiative to follow these steps to improve its education so that it make an advantageous contribution to the nations development. Acknowledgements and Challenges Saudi Arabia has the largest womens university called Prince Nora University; the best university in its field in the Middle East, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; and a new university equipped with up-to-the-minute research tools that has the cleanest research room in the world, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. You might note that most if not all universities in Saudi Arabia are named after a king or a prince. The reason might be since the system of education in Saudi Arabia is for free, the primary source for supporting the universities financially is the kingdoms family. Not any people who have the knowledge and the plan can easily found a university of their dream. They should have a power and a close relationship with the kingdoms family. This complicated structure might have limited the universities competiveness, which in turn might have affected the quality of Saudi Arabias development. Every Saudi citizen dreams of getting a good job then buying a house. The cost of housing is considered a serious problem in Saudi Arabia even though it is seen as one of the riches countries around the world. When all of what Saudis concern about is affording houses, which is ranked as one of the lower needs in Maslows pyramid of human needs, they do not have the capacity of meeting the goal of being creative, the goal of higher education. Maslow says in his theory that lacking the basic needs affects creativity, which is classified as a one of

Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps the top criteria that humans seek to achieve (1954). Saudis should be offered a better plan for housing in order to open the door for their creativity that will affect their nations development. Implications Since Education is the core part of every nations rising, the goal of generating a more developed country can be reached by taking US universities as an example and following their footsteps. It is believed that one of Saudi universities, KAUST, has adopted the education approaches of US universities, holding the same values and mission. This action has motivated other Saudi universities for improvement. Saudi scholars and leaders look at KAUST as a homegrown model of this educational movement.

Saudi Education: Following American Educations Footsteps

References Althen, G. (2011). American Ways (The third Edition ed.). Boston: Intercultural press. History of Harvard University. (2014, April Monday). Retrieved from Harvard University: http://www.harvard.edu/history King Saud University | History. (2014, April 14 Monday). Retrieved from King Saud University: http://ksu.edu.sa/AboutKSU/Pages/History1.aspx L.Geiger, R. (2004). To Advance Knowledge: The Growth of American Research Universities, 1900-1940. New Brunswick: Oxford University Press. Lipson, C. (2008). Succeeding as an International Student in the united States and Canda. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and Personality. New York: NY: Harper.

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