Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KUWAIT4776
2005-11-15 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
Study in the U.S.A.: We Are Failing
how-toVZCZCXRO8488 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKU #4776/01 3191245 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151245Z NOV 05 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1731 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004776
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR S, R, ECA (DPOWELL),ECA/A/S/A (MTHOMPSONJONES),
NEA/PPD (AFERNANDEZ, CWHITTLESEY),IIP/G/NEA, INR/R
(SSHAFFER),CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG) FROM AMBASSADOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL OIIP CVIS XF KU
SUBJECT: Study in the U.S.A.: We Are Failing
KUWAIT 00004776 001.2 OF 003
__________________________________
ZFR****ZFR*****ZFR****ZFR****ZFR
__________________________________
PLEASE CANCEL ALL SECTIONS OF KUWAIT 4776.
DRAFTER WILL SENT NEW TELEGRAM UNDER NEW MRN.
KUWAIT 00004776 002 OF 003
--------------
5. Educated contacts tell EmbOffs that they feared their
children might end up in Guantanamo if they go the United
States. While such severe and irrational misperceptions
are difficult to dispel, it is worth noting that they are
out there. These fears are related to the misperception
that Arabs are no longer welcome in America, and that girls
in hijab and "Arab-looking" boys with beards will be
subject to mistreatment.
"American" University and American Universities
-------------- --
6. Increased competition locally and regionally have
influenced the choices of students, and more significantly,
their parents. As local educational markets are opening up
to private universities with American curricula, often with
the "American" label, such as the "American" Universities
in Kuwait and Sharjah, in addition to the well-established
American universities in Beirut and Cairo, parents are
opting to keep their children close to home. In Kuwait,
there are two such universities, the American University of
Kuwait (with official links to Dartmouth College) and the
Gulf University for Science and Technology (known as GUST,
with official links to the University of Missouri-St.
Louis). Parents are particularly keen on keeping their
female children nearby. Kuwaiti parents ask Emboffs, "why
should I send my son or daughter to America when they can
go to AUK or GUST for a similar education, without being
subject to visa and border hassles or discrimination?"
7. Other sources of competition are the American
universities setting up shop in the region. In Qatar, five
American universities are operating: Carnegie Mellon,
Georgetown, Texas A & M, Virginia Commonwealth, and the
Weill Cornell Medical College. In Kuwait, Boston
University is exploring opening a campus. These regional
schools will further erode the numbers of Gulf Arabs
studying in America. While these schools are better than
existing higher educational institutions in the region,
studying in America itself is much different than studying
at "American" institutions in the Middle East region. Only
studying in America offers students the experience
necessary to truly understand American society, values and
policy-making.
Aggressive Competitors
--------------
8. Another source of competition is recruitment from other
western and Asian countries. Australia, Canada, the United
Kingdom, and Malaysia are actively recruiting Kuwaiti
students, arguing that their visa procedures and university
acceptance requirements are easier.
Selling Diversity, Quality, and Value
--------------
9. While there is still a need to address the
misperceptions outlined above, the next phase in our
campaign is to sell the diversity, quality and value of
higher education in America. When discussing higher
education with Kuwaitis, we stress that when compared to
international and local competition, American colleges and
universities and the American higher education system are
generally as good or better than other options. Relative
to other countries and to the Gulf region, there are
certainly more universities to choose from in America and
the numbers and range of fields of study are unparalleled.
Lastly, we argue that the costs (including tuition and
cost-of-living) are often less in the U.S. than in the U.K.
or other European cities.
10. Kuwaiti parents need to be sold the idea that an
American education is a valuable education. More
importantly, they need to be convinced that their children
will not be hassled during the visa interview process, at
the point-of-entry into America nor during their studies.
They seek assurances that America offers their children a
safe place to study.
11. One potential area of future growth would be summer
education for high school and college students, as well as
English learners. These areas of recruitment have not been
actively pursued by American colleges and universities.
Also, shorter term programs, such as one or two years of an
undergraduate education at traditional American colleges
and universities would also bring more Kuwaitis to the U.S.
KUWAIT 00004776 003 OF 003
Recommendation: Understanding the Causes
--------------
12. We believe Posts in the region would benefit from a
commissioned market survey in the GCC countries (and
elsewhere if desired) to learn more precisely what is
driving the decision making process of parents and students
regarding higher education. While we have abundant
anecdotal evidence on the causes of these declines, having
factual survey data would facilitate and better focus our
efforts to reverse the alarming trends we are witnessing.
Efforts to Correct the Trend
--------------
13. In addition to use of Hi Magazine, Radio Sawa and Al-
Hurra TV, development of a broadcast-quality
video/documentary presentation available in Arabic and
English on "University Life in America" would be a most
welcomed addition to our outreach efforts to promote higher
education in America. Post is addressing student concerns
with digital dialogues between current Kuwaiti students in
the U.S. or with recent graduates and prospective students,
as well as a host of other education-related programs
during International Education Week.
LEBARON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR S, R, ECA (DPOWELL),ECA/A/S/A (MTHOMPSONJONES),
NEA/PPD (AFERNANDEZ, CWHITTLESEY),IIP/G/NEA, INR/R
(SSHAFFER),CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG) FROM AMBASSADOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL OIIP CVIS XF KU
SUBJECT: Study in the U.S.A.: We Are Failing
KUWAIT 00004776 001.2 OF 003
__________________________________
ZFR****ZFR*****ZFR****ZFR****ZFR
__________________________________
PLEASE CANCEL ALL SECTIONS OF KUWAIT 4776.
DRAFTER WILL SENT NEW TELEGRAM UNDER NEW MRN.
KUWAIT 00004776 002 OF 003
--------------
5. Educated contacts tell EmbOffs that they feared their
children might end up in Guantanamo if they go the United
States. While such severe and irrational misperceptions
are difficult to dispel, it is worth noting that they are
out there. These fears are related to the misperception
that Arabs are no longer welcome in America, and that girls
in hijab and "Arab-looking" boys with beards will be
subject to mistreatment.
"American" University and American Universities
-------------- --
6. Increased competition locally and regionally have
influenced the choices of students, and more significantly,
their parents. As local educational markets are opening up
to private universities with American curricula, often with
the "American" label, such as the "American" Universities
in Kuwait and Sharjah, in addition to the well-established
American universities in Beirut and Cairo, parents are
opting to keep their children close to home. In Kuwait,
there are two such universities, the American University of
Kuwait (with official links to Dartmouth College) and the
Gulf University for Science and Technology (known as GUST,
with official links to the University of Missouri-St.
Louis). Parents are particularly keen on keeping their
female children nearby. Kuwaiti parents ask Emboffs, "why
should I send my son or daughter to America when they can
go to AUK or GUST for a similar education, without being
subject to visa and border hassles or discrimination?"
7. Other sources of competition are the American
universities setting up shop in the region. In Qatar, five
American universities are operating: Carnegie Mellon,
Georgetown, Texas A & M, Virginia Commonwealth, and the
Weill Cornell Medical College. In Kuwait, Boston
University is exploring opening a campus. These regional
schools will further erode the numbers of Gulf Arabs
studying in America. While these schools are better than
existing higher educational institutions in the region,
studying in America itself is much different than studying
at "American" institutions in the Middle East region. Only
studying in America offers students the experience
necessary to truly understand American society, values and
policy-making.
Aggressive Competitors
--------------
8. Another source of competition is recruitment from other
western and Asian countries. Australia, Canada, the United
Kingdom, and Malaysia are actively recruiting Kuwaiti
students, arguing that their visa procedures and university
acceptance requirements are easier.
Selling Diversity, Quality, and Value
--------------
9. While there is still a need to address the
misperceptions outlined above, the next phase in our
campaign is to sell the diversity, quality and value of
higher education in America. When discussing higher
education with Kuwaitis, we stress that when compared to
international and local competition, American colleges and
universities and the American higher education system are
generally as good or better than other options. Relative
to other countries and to the Gulf region, there are
certainly more universities to choose from in America and
the numbers and range of fields of study are unparalleled.
Lastly, we argue that the costs (including tuition and
cost-of-living) are often less in the U.S. than in the U.K.
or other European cities.
10. Kuwaiti parents need to be sold the idea that an
American education is a valuable education. More
importantly, they need to be convinced that their children
will not be hassled during the visa interview process, at
the point-of-entry into America nor during their studies.
They seek assurances that America offers their children a
safe place to study.
11. One potential area of future growth would be summer
education for high school and college students, as well as
English learners. These areas of recruitment have not been
actively pursued by American colleges and universities.
Also, shorter term programs, such as one or two years of an
undergraduate education at traditional American colleges
and universities would also bring more Kuwaitis to the U.S.
KUWAIT 00004776 003 OF 003
Recommendation: Understanding the Causes
--------------
12. We believe Posts in the region would benefit from a
commissioned market survey in the GCC countries (and
elsewhere if desired) to learn more precisely what is
driving the decision making process of parents and students
regarding higher education. While we have abundant
anecdotal evidence on the causes of these declines, having
factual survey data would facilitate and better focus our
efforts to reverse the alarming trends we are witnessing.
Efforts to Correct the Trend
--------------
13. In addition to use of Hi Magazine, Radio Sawa and Al-
Hurra TV, development of a broadcast-quality
video/documentary presentation available in Arabic and
English on "University Life in America" would be a most
welcomed addition to our outreach efforts to promote higher
education in America. Post is addressing student concerns
with digital dialogues between current Kuwaiti students in
the U.S. or with recent graduates and prospective students,
as well as a host of other education-related programs
during International Education Week.
LEBARON