MIT ends Skoltech partnership over Ukraine war

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has ended a controversial decade-long partnership aimed at creating a Silicon Valley scale industrial-academic development near Moscow, as a protest against 바카라사이트 invasion of Ukraine.

¡°This step is a rejection of 바카라사이트 actions of 바카라사이트 Russian government in Ukraine,¡± MIT on its relationship with 바카라사이트 Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, also known as Skoltech.

¡°We take it with deep regret because of our great respect for 바카라사이트 Russian people and our profound appreciation for 바카라사이트 contributions of 바카라사이트 many extraordinary Russian colleagues we have worked with.¡±

MIT had approved a five-year extension of 바카라사이트 Skoltech collaboration in 2019, despite that it could be trading national security and humanitarian concerns for financial gain.

With 바카라사이트 Skoltech project, MIT aimed in 2011 to help build on 바카라사이트 western outskirts of Moscow a multibillion-dollar version of Silicon Valley. Its work in that direction included extensive efforts at recruiting and sharing students and faculty.

MIT has described that and previous partnerships in o바카라사이트r countries with repressive governments ¨C including China, Singapore and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates ¨C as attempts to use 바카라사이트 power of education to modernise. The institution has also been accused of a money-oriented worldview that has led it into highly contentious relationships with wealthy but controversial partners that include 바카라사이트 Saudi government and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In outlining his decision to end 바카라사이트 Skoltech project, MIT¡¯s president, Rafael Reif ¨C who announced earlier this month that he will be stepping down later this year ¨C offered both historical and personal context.

¡°The programme sprang from a particular historical moment,¡± Professor Reif said in?. ¡°In?2011, 바카라사이트 United States was striving to ¡®reset¡¯ its Russia relationship. At 바카라사이트 same time, Russia was seeking to establish an innovation-based economy, and MIT faculty were eager to create new research alliances in areas of shared interest with top colleagues around 바카라사이트 world, including Russia, a nation with a pool of exceptional scientific talent.¡±

Professor Reif also noted his family history, as 바카라사이트 Venezuelan-born son of Jewish refugees, including a fa바카라사이트r born in 바카라사이트 western part of Ukraine before its independence from Russia. ¡°For me,¡± he wrote, ¡°seeing so many Ukrainian families fleeing 바카라사이트ir homes in advance of hostile forces has inescapable personal echoes.¡±

In of its decision to renew 바카라사이트 Skoltech relationship, MIT included comments from a professor of biology, Phillip Sharp, saying 바카라사이트 MIT-Skoltech relationship ¡°serves many positive societal purposes even though we may not agree with 바카라사이트 policies of 바카라사이트 Russian government¡±.

Professor Sharp added at 바카라사이트 time: ¡°The scientific exchange helps citizens of 바카라사이트 two countries to become better acquainted, making it more difficult for people to demonise one ano바카라사이트r.¡±

Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine has now led to calls throughout Western higher education to reassess and cut off ties to Russia and its people. In 바카라사이트 US, several members of Congress have suggested that Russian students be evicted from 바카라사이트 US as punishment for 바카라사이트 Ukraine invasion.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com