AMBASSADOR RAISES ALARM RE SHARP DECLINE IN KUWAITI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004832 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S, R, ECA (DPOWELL),ECA/A/S/A (MTHOMPSONJONES),NEA/PPD (AFERNANDEZ, CWHITTLESEY), NEA/ARPI (DBERNS) IIP/G/NEA (TSCOTT),INR/R (SSHAFFER), CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL PREL PTER OIIP CVIS KISL XF KU SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES ALARM RE SHARP DECLINE IN KUWAITI STUDENTS IN U.S. WITH HIGHER EDUCATION UNDERSECRETARY REF: A) KUWAIT 4811 B) KUWAIT 1201 ¶1. (U) Summary and comment: On November 9, Ambassador met with Undersecretary for Higher Education, Dr. Rasha Al- Sabah. During the meeting, they discussed reasons for the significant decline in the number of Kuwaiti students studying in the U.S., the benefits of increasing the number of American scholars in Kuwait, as well as other topics related to education and political developments in Kuwait. Embassy intends to seek to increase the number of Senior Fulbright Scholars in the 2007 academic year and opportunities for Fulbright Specialists during 2006. While the Mission is actively pursuing entry into Kuwaiti public high schools for AMIDEAST in an effort to increase numbers of Kuwait students matriculating in the U.S., post continues to see conducting a market study and analysis of the current barriers to study in the U.S. as vital. American experts have been identified to support the Ministry's anti- terrorism conference; however, the timing requires participants to fly on Christmas Day, a possible hindrance for American speakers. Additional initiatives to engage the Ministry of Higher Education and Kuwait University are planned for the future. End summary and comment. New PAO in Town -------------- ¶2. (U) The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Ministry of Higher Education's Undersecretary, Dr. Rasha Al-Sabah, a critical contact of the Embassy's Public Affairs Section. The purpose of the November 9 meeting was to review and reinvigorate key educational programs within the Ministry's province and to introduce the new PAO to Dr. Al-Sabah. A Warm Reception -------------- ¶3. (U) A long-time supporter of Mission goals since completing her doctorate at Yale University, Dr. Al-Sabah warmly welcomed the Ambassador's visit. Greeting him at the door of her office, she whisked the Ambassador and PAO past a long line of visitors waiting in her antechamber. She opened with an apology for not having seen the Ambassador sooner, stating that she had been traveling outside of the country for an extended period. Student Numbers Decline -------------- ¶4. (U) Referencing the continued positive relations and amity between the U.S. and Kuwait, the Ambassador began by expressing his aim to strengthen the extant bilateral friendship through increased numbers of Kuwaitis attending U.S. institutions of higher learning. He added that, according to Embassy visa issuance records, there has been a steady trend of decline since 1998 in Kuwaiti students heading to universities in the U.S., particularly since ¶2002. The number fell from 850 to 450 in FY-2002, rebounded to over 600 in FY-2003, then plummeted to 577 in FY-2005. He expressed concern that the current generation of Kuwaiti youth, born after U.S.-Kuwaiti collaboration during the 1990- 91 Gulf War, are most at risk of Islamist indoctrination and developing anti-American sentiments, and currently lack the historical context within which to view U.S. foreign policy. Study in the U.S. could help to forestall an attitude shift. GOK Maintains Scholarships Holding Steady -------------- ¶5. (U) Dr. Rasha replied that according to the Ministry's figures, scholarships for students studying in the U.S. have remained at a consistent level and there has been no reduction in number by the Ministry. She noted that more students were opting to study at American-style universities recently established in Kuwait. The Ambassador indicated that sustaining fruitful and constructive relations between the two nations was dependent upon direct exposure to American society -- Kuwaitis studying in American institutions and learning about the U.S. first-hand as well as sharing Kuwaiti culture with the American people. Persistent Visa Rumors -------------- ¶6. (U) Dr. Rasha pointed out that the perception still KUWAIT 00004832 002 OF 003 exists that U.S. visas are "impossible" to attain. She acknowledged U.S. efforts to alleviate problems related to the issuance of visas and the Embassy's diligent attempts to remove this as a barrier. However, she argued that she believed the persistent misperception regarding obtaining visas was at the basis of the dwindling Kuwaiti student population in the U.S. She held that Kuwaitis are more hesitant to apply for U.S. visas or to send their children to the U.S., especially now that other countries had opened their doors and accommodated Kuwaiti students after September 11, 2001. U.S. - Still the Top Destination -------------- ¶7. (U) Despite the short history of U.S.-Kuwaiti relations, Dr. Rasha observed that the U.S. provided educational opportunities to thousands of Kuwaiti students in comparison to Great Britain which has had a longer historical relationship with Kuwait. She commented that the Embassy should take pride in the fact that the U.S. retains the lion's share of Kuwait-government sponsored scholarship students. According to the Undersecretary, of the 3,000 students studying internationally, including some at universities in Egypt and Jordan, compared with any other country, the U.S. hosts the largest concentration of Kuwaiti students in the world. American Scholars Needed in Kuwait -------------- ¶8. (U) Conversely, the Ambassador asked how the Embassy could increase the numbers of American scholars in Kuwait, referring to fellowships and Fulbright programs offered by the Department. Dr. Rasha was aware of the Fulbright students currently conducting research under the aegis of Kuwait University and lauded this initiative. The PAO explained that the new leadership at the university had expressed strong interest in hosting American Fulbright Senior Scholars to support their need for instructors, particularly in the fields of American studies, business, commerce, and political science. In past years, the university's administration reputedly had faced problems obtaining visas for family members, severely reducing Kuwait's appeal to Fulbright Senior Scholars. The Ambassador encouraged Dr. Rasha to find ways to accept additional scholars and fellows from the U.S. and the Undersecretary expressed a willingness to help by ensuring that securing visas for family members would no longer be an issue. Opening Doors to AMIDEAST -------------- ¶9. (U) In their discussion of AMIDEAST's counseling services for students interested in pursuing higher education in the U.S., the Ambassador followed up on an earlier request to provide their representatives with access to pubic high school students. Dr. Rasha stated that she had instructed the Ministry's scholarship staff to invite AMIDEAST representatives to accompany them during recruiting activities in May through June, just before year-end exams, and identified a point of contact. [Note: This spring joint effort never took place. Therefore, the Embassy, on behalf of AMIDEAST, was seeking access to students in the month of December. End note.] International Anti-terrorism Conference -------------- ¶10. (U) The Ambassador inquired about Dr. Rasha's invitation to Egyptian First Lady Susan Mubarak to attend an educational conference in Kuwait that recently had been announced in the Kuwaiti press. The Undersecretary explained that the Ministry planned to host an international conference titled "Education and the Psychological Roots of the Phenomenon of Terrorism," December 27 through 29, to bring together Kuwaiti scholars and international experts to discuss, study, and analyze the social and cultural sources of terrorism. Although the Ministry had identified an American participant, Dr. Rasha asked the Ambassador for recommendations of other U.S. experts in this field. She expressed the hope that the impact of the conference would be significant and, therefore, the Ministry has invited distinguished Arab, European, and American participants to attend. Kuwaiti cabinet members, she noted, would chair KUWAIT 00004832 003 OF 003 each session, and all of the presenters will be Kuwaiti academics delivering papers in Arabic, with simultaneous interpretation available in English. She remarked that when approached with this counterterrorism program, the Saudis were "elated." Women and Politics -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Concluding with a discussion of political matters, the Ambassador and Dr. Rasha spoke about rumors of the possible dissolution of the National Assembly. The Undersecretary expressed hope that the Assembly would not be dissolved, observing that this action could delay women's participation in the 2007 elections by preventing their registration to vote in February, which she characterized as a "serious nuisance." (Note: Constitutional dissolution of the Parliament requires that new elections be held within two months. If dissolution occurred in the near future, elections would, in theory, be held before women could register to vote. By law, voter registration must occur annually in February. End note.) They also talked about the work of the sole female cabinet member, Dr. Masouma Saleh Al-Mubarak, Minister of Planning and State Minister for Administrative Development, agreeing that her performance to date has been high-profile and exemplary. Dr. Rasha described some of the challenges in the Planning Ministry related to her by Dr. Masouma, depicting the organization as severely neglected in the past and divided into fiefdoms. She added that the major obstacle to the Minister's progress was opposition from the Ministry of Planning's second in command. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* TUELLER