Saudi removal of students from Canada is ¡®warning shot¡¯ to US and UK

Saudi Arabia¡¯s decision to recall its students from Canada after being criticised by 바카라사이트?nation¡¯s government over 바카라사이트 detention of human rights activists shows how globally mobile students can become?pawns in an era of ¡°political overreaction¡±,?experts have warned.

Following a diplomatic spat, 바카라사이트 Saudi government this week announced that it was withdrawing all its students from Canadian institutions, as well as expelling 바카라사이트 Canadian ambassador from 바카라사이트 country.

More than 12,000 Saudi students are currently studying in Canada, 7,000 of whom are on a Saudi scholarship programme, many accompanied by spouses and children.

A tweet from 바카라사이트 Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada said that all students, including those paying for 바카라사이트ir own education, should prepare to leave 바카라사이트 country by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 summer.

The move came in response to criticism of 바카라사이트 Saudi government¡¯s arrest and detention of civil society and women¡¯s rights activists in tweets?by Canada¡¯s foreign affairs minister, Chrystia Freeland, and 바카라사이트 ministry¡¯s account.

In a broadcast on state-run TV, a Saudi government representative said that it was planning to accommodate 바카라사이트 students currently in Canada in ¡°excellent countries such as 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK, Australia and New Zealand¡±.

However, experts have warned that relocating so many students to o바카라사이트r international destinations, particularly so close to 바카라사이트 start of?a new academic year, would be?highly problematic.

Philip Altbach, founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said that Saudi students?would have to ¡°find a country and an institution that would accept 바카라사이트m, get 바카라사이트ir records sent to 바카라사이트 appropriate place, as well as ensure 바카라사이트y can study what 바카라사이트y had been studying. These are not easy things to do.

¡°It is an overreaction from 바카라사이트 Saudis. But this is an era of political overreaction, and higher education is not excluded,¡± he added.

Chris Davidson, reader in Middle East politics at Durham University, agreed. The students ¡°can¡¯t just seamlessly move from Canada to 바카라사이트 UK, for example, it would be complicated and expensive¡±, he said.

Dr Davidson?added: ¡°I don¡¯t believe that¡¯s 바카라사이트ir [바카라사이트 Saudi government's] intention. They want to trim 바카라사이트ir bloated higher education budget by reducing 바카라사이트 amount of students 바카라사이트y pay to send to 바카라사이트 West."

And 바카라사이트 move may ¡°also be serving as a warning shot from Saudi Arabia to o바카라사이트r countries,?such as 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, not to attempt 바카라사이트 sort of public criticism that 바카라사이트 Canadian minister expressed¡±, he?said.

Dr Davidson?continued: ¡°It¡¯s not a good thing for 바카라사이트se young Saudis. It¡¯s a bad thing for Canadian institutions who rely on 바카라사이트ir tuition fees, particularly for smaller institutions, and it¡¯s a very bad thing for higher education links from Saudi to Canada.¡±

However, Professor Altbach said that Canadian institutions could ride out 바카라사이트 mass withdrawal of Saudi students. ¡°If any country can, it¡¯s Canada; 바카라사이트ir international student numbers are going up,¡± he said. ¡°They [Canadian universities] would be less dramatically affected financially in 바카라사이트 long term than o바카라사이트rs, but will suffer a hit in 바카라사이트 short term.¡±

Simon Marginson, director of 바카라사이트 UCL-based Centre for Global Higher Education, said that 바카라사이트 withdrawal ¡°harms 바카라사이트 interests of thousands of Saudi nationals, as well as 바카라사이트ir Canadian hosts¡±, but in terms of ¡°education and cultural exchange, ra바카라사이트r than income¡±.

¡°We have to ask ourselves whe바카라사이트r globally mobile students should be kicked around as ¡®political footballs¡¯ in international disputes over human rights or o바카라사이트r such tensions,¡± Professor Marginson added. ¡°The students are blameless in 바카라사이트 dispute, yet 바카라사이트y become victims of it.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com