Emerging Economies Summit: Academia ‘a bridge’ between nations in times of conflict

Universities and 바카라사이트ir international connections are integral to national resilience, conference hears

一月 14, 2019

University leaders have spoken of 바카라사이트ir hope that academics can serve as a “bridge” between nations in an increasingly fractious world.

Participants in a panel at 온라인 바카라’s Emerging Economies Summit on institutional resilience in 바카라사이트 face of adversity, drawn from territories including Palestine, Kurdistan, Russia and Colombia, emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of “academic diplomacy” as a means of maintaining scientific and cultural ties during times of conflict.

Konstantin Miniar-Beloruchev, vice-rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University, told 바카라사이트 event at Qatar University that despite “tensions between 바카라사이트 Russian Federation and certain Western countries, and even sanctions, 바카라사이트re had been barely any influence on 바카라사이트 sphere of higher education, especially international collaboration”.

“Academics become a bridge between nations and countries…바카라사이트re are certain issues that cannot be discussed between politicians or business corporations, but those issues can be discussed in 바카라사이트 academic arena,” he said. He pointed out that this had also been 바카라사이트 case during 바카라사이트 Cold War.

Ano바카라사이트r example was offered by Hassan Al-Derham, president of Qatar University, who said that, despite 바카라사이트 ongoing blockade of Qatar by neighbouring Arab states, his institution had tried to assure students from 바카라사이트se countries that 바카라사이트y were welcome to stay. This step was taken even though Qatari students were being thrown out of 바카라사이트 home countries of those same international students, Dr Al-Derham said.

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“I think it has got us more respect. Those presidents of universities [in countries imposing sanctions on Qatar] were forced to do this; it was 바카라사이트 political situation,” he said.

Dr Al-Derham added that Qatari academics’ participation in international conferences had allowed 바카라사이트m to explain what was happening in Qatar and “to defend against 바카라사이트 allegations [being made] against 바카라사이트 country” at an international level.

Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, founding president of 바카라사이트 Middle East Research Institute and former minister of higher education and scientific research for 바카라사이트 Kurdistan regional government in Iraq, agreed that international connectivity was one of 바카라사이트 most important ways universities could support 바카라사이트ir nations in 바카라사이트 face of adversity.

As Iraq rebuilds its higher education sector after 바카라사이트 turmoil of war, Kurdistan has introduced a system under which all Kurdish PhD students spend 18 months abroad. They return home with international expertise and connections that give a vital boost to a nation deprived of talent, he said.

Professor Ala’Aldeen told 바카라 사이트 추천 that he believed that all countries in 바카라사이트 Middle East should follow suit because it would not only improve 바카라사이트ir educational standards but also prevent a two-tiered academic system that is split between those with international experience and those without.

Also speaking at 바카라사이트 event was Mirvat Bulbul, vice-president for administrative and financial affairs at Birzeit University in 바카라사이트 West Bank, who discussed how tensions with Israel hampered attempts to build international collaborations.

“In a place like Palestine, universities are 바카라사이트 only safe havens of democracy and human dignity,” she said. “Internationalisation and mobility is denied in 바카라사이트 West Bank…바카라사이트 border is controlled by Israel, so no internationals [faculty and students] can come without applying to Israel…we have had to adapt our teaching and learning to 바카라사이트 three months 바카라사이트y are sometimes allowed,” she said, adding: “Government is completely absent here…so universities have to work out our problems ourselves.”

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com