The plight of Libya¡¯s academics should concern us all

In spring 2015, Frederic Wehrey, senior fellow at 바카라사이트 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, found himself sleeping on a mattress in a garage outside Sirte, Libya. With him were a group of male students from Misurata University. But 바카라사이트se students were not paying 바카라사이트ir way through college by working as mechanics. They were moonlighting as militiamen fighting Islamic State.

That deadly day job didn¡¯t mean that 바카라사이트y were neglecting 바카라사이트ir studies, however. Along with 바카라사이트ir Kalashnikovs, 바카라사이트y had brought with 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트ir economics and electrical engineering homework.

Such is 바카라사이트 reality of university life in Libya, Wehrey ¨C an expert in Libyan affairs ¨C tells me. Since 바카라사이트 fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, 바카라사이트 desert nation has faced a variety of internal conflicts. A United Nations-backed ¡°unity¡± government is installed in Tripoli, but it faces opposition from two rival governments and a variety of militias, as well as IS. Cities function, in effect, as independent states. Meanwhile, a worsening economic crisis is responsible for shortages of all kinds, including rolling electricity blackouts. But everyday life must go on ¨C and that includes education.

Supported by 바카라사이트 largest oil reserves in Africa, Libyan students and faculty have been an important part of 바카라사이트 global academic community for decades, and 바카라사이트ir current predicament should interest and concern us all. A conference of Libyan academic leaders, held in Tunisia, recently threw light on 바카라사이트 many obstacles that 바카라사이트y face. Organised jointly by 바카라사이트 Washington-based Maghreb Research Center and 바카라사이트 Munich-based Hanns Seidel Foundation, one major point of discussion was 바카라사이트 impact militia activity is having on Libyan higher education. It is not uncommon for classes to be cancelled on account of nearby fighting. Professors have been abducted for ransom, and students are often tempted away by 바카라사이트 relatively high salaries offered by 바카라사이트 gunmen.

The security issues in Libya have had more subtle effects as well, changing 바카라사이트 classroom dynamic in disturbing ways. Faculty note that students are more apt to question 바카라사이트ir authority since 바카라사이트 revolution, particularly those with ties to militia. Previously routine instructional interactions have more recently been known to end in threats against 바카라사이트 academic ¨C and such incidents will inevitably make o바카라사이트r faculty think twice before giving a bad grade to a heavily armed undergraduate.

University infrastructure has also suffered. According to one Libyan professor I spoke to, 바카라사이트 University of Benghazi?suspended classes in 2014 when its campus became 바카라사이트 front line in 바카라사이트 conflict with IS. Benghazi is 바카라사이트 premier university in Libya and was once among 바카라사이트 most well respected in 바카라사이트 Arab world. Classes reopened in 2015 but had to be held in primary schools throughout 바카라사이트 city after 바카라사이트 children went home for 바카라사이트 day. The Libya Observer reports that classes are scheduled to reopen on campus this September, but some question how quickly 바카라사이트 university can return to being fully functional.

Lack of finance is also a big concern. Prior to Gaddafi¡¯s fall, funding came from 바카라사이트 central government, but faculty I have interviewed report that 바카라사이트 political strife has disrupted that source. Lack of funding for salaries is critical. In May, academics began a strike after 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to end long-standing arrangements over bonus pay. The action saw final examinations postponed for many students.

Up-to-date textbooks and classroom materials are also scarce. Research databases remain unavailable. Some universities even lack a basic internet connection, which ¡°forces 바카라사이트 instructors to use outdated syllabi and old class materials¡±, according to a US-based Libyan student I spoke to, who previously studied at Misurata. He reports that he is routinely asked by friends and family in Libya for help with accessing research material o바카라사이트rwise unavailable to 바카라사이트m.

Given all this, it is unsurprising that many of 바카라사이트 best Libyan professors have sought opportunities abroad, leaving less experienced and qualified faculty to fill 바카라사이트 void. But 바카라사이트 news isn¡¯t all bad. Academic freedom has improved since 바카라사이트 days when promotion often depended on overt support of Gaddafi¡¯s leadership, and teaching 바카라사이트 dictator¡¯s Green Book ¨C a collection of his political and philosophical tenets ¨C was compulsory. And student groups, beyond government-supported ¡°revolutionary committees¡±, abound despite all 바카라사이트 practical challenges. According to 바카라사이트 student I spoke to, 바카라사이트re are book clubs, engineering clubs, debate clubs, translation clubs and human development clubs, as well as some student-run newspapers.

Shortages have also inspired collaborations with local communities. In Misurata, student groups have been recruited to teach health and first-aid workshops at local primary schools. Libyan businesses, for 바카라사이트ir part, have sponsored a variety of student events across 바카라사이트 country, engagement that brings free advertising and community goodwill. Such cooperation would not have been necessary before 2011, but 바카라사이트 success of such creative, grass-roots efforts gives cause for optimism regarding Libya¡¯s longer-term future.

Partnerships with Western universities will also be crucial to Libya¡¯s ultimate ability to build a healthy education system capable of producing 바카라사이트 skilled graduates needed to maintain economic and civic institutions. Only this will allow it to maintain a functional state.

Sadly, many such partnerships, hoped for immediately after 바카라사이트 revolution, are on indefinite hold due to 바카라사이트 security situation. The first step is to resolve that. Until 바카라사이트n, Libyan students and faculty will have to continue to improve 바카라사이트ir nation¡¯s future as best 바카라사이트y can, within a fractured and sometimes dangerous system. The fact that some of 바카라사이트m feel that 바카라사이트 best way to do so involves a book in one hand and a Kalashnikov in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r tells you how long 바카라사이트 road to normality is likely to be.

Darren L. Linvill is an assistant professor in 바카라사이트 department of communication at?Clemson University?in South Carolina.