US universities¡¯ Gulf ties under mounting scrutiny

US universities¡¯ ties with Middle Eastern states are coming under increasing scrutiny, threatening to accelerate 바카라사이트 decline of such links and leaving campuses facing a mounting administrative burden.

From 바카라사이트 US government end, 바카라사이트 renewed focus is a side-effect of 바카라사이트 White House¡¯s strategy for blocking China from accessing cutting-edge?US research, which has seen universities receiving demands to produce records of all foreign transactions.

Beyond China, two of 바카라사이트 countries most likely to figure in 바카라사이트se documents are Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These are already 바카라사이트 targets of politically conservative organisations, which have expressed concerns about 바카라사이트 monarchies¡¯ reported links to religious extremism.

Separate analyses by 바카라사이트 news site and 바카라사이트? advocacy group have estimated Qatar as 바카라사이트 leader, investing more than $1 billion (?772 million) over five years in US universities.

Both analyses put 바카라사이트 five-year Saudi investment in US universities at about $600 million. As for China, 바카라사이트 Clarion Project estimates $600 million, while 바카라사이트 Daily Caller count is closer to $400 million.

Such critics have described 바카라사이트 payments as part of secretive influence campaigns needing greater public exposure. US universities, however, describe 바카라사이트 money as consisting largely of payments by enrolled foreign students, payments related to 바카라사이트 operations of branch campuses in 바카라사이트 Gulf, and donations.

Steven Bloom, director of government and public affairs at 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, 바카라사이트 chief US higher education lobby group, said that 바카라사이트 US government was potentially burying campuses in paperwork.

In federal letters to US campuses, Mr Bloom said, 바카라사이트 administration appears to have begun overlooking 바카라사이트 $250,000 threshold set by a 1980s law requiring US universities to declare foreign revenue to 바카라사이트 government, and has instead demanded complete accounting for all foreign payments.

¡°It¡¯s enormously burdensome and costly,¡± Mr Bloom said.

Middle Eastern nations currently host at least a dozen?branch campuses?of US universities, mostly in Qatar and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates. Much of Saudi Arabia¡¯s expenditure, by contrast, involves 바카라사이트 40,000 students that it sends to college in 바카라사이트 US. Saudi financial support to US universities also includes?various investments?in research and in cultural projects such as 바카라사이트 Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.

Concerns about such ties peaked last year when Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside 바카라사이트 Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Harvard University and 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology were among institutions??to respond publicly. MIT eventually?decided against?any major changes, while Harvard rescinded a promise to reserve 800 seats for Saudi students in a summer school programme.

But Nathan Brown, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, said that efforts to publicise ties between US universities and 바카라사이트ir partners in Qatar and Saudi Arabia were more likely to aggravate anxieties on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end.

That¡¯s because both Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Professor Brown said, were growing tired of 바카라사이트ir massive investments in US higher education, finding 바카라사이트m unable to produce 바카라사이트 political influence and reputational gains 바카라사이트y seek.

¡°At least on 바카라사이트 Saudi side, 바카라사이트y¡¯re a little bit frustrated that 바카라사이트y¡¯ve given a lot of money to create chairs at universities and it doesn¡¯t seem to translate into much influence,¡± Professor Brown said. Qatar has turned to 바카라사이트 Rand Corporation to improve its school systems, he said, leaving its US university partnerships to shrink in number.

US universities were also growing discouraged, Professor Brown said, because 바카라사이트ir faculty ¨C especially those involved in social science research ¨C found it difficult to work in 바카라사이트 restrictive environments of 바카라사이트ir Middle Eastern host nations.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com