Middle Eastern Leaders are Uneducated, with Honorary Degrees
宇野タイヨウウエーンデービス
MA History, 13 year English/Humanities/History Teacher, 6 languages, 15 year HR activist, Former Political Lobbyist, Writer with 31 publications and two books, 8 International TV interviews, Human
Former Iraq Parilament member Sarkawt Shamsulddin criticized Kurdish Iraq President Nechirvan Barzani for solely possessing a High School diploma once.
I checked. It's true.
Nechirvan Barzani attended the University of Tehran , but did and could not graduate. He received an "honorary degree" from Washington & Jefferson College . No one knows why.
Kurdish Prime Minister of Erbil and Duhok cities, Masrour Barzani, obtained a Bachelors degree at American University , around the time his father, Masoud Barzani, donated money for a Kurdish Studies Program. Masrour attended a semester or two in graduate studies, but quickly withdrew.
His son, Areen, recently graduated Valedictorian with the highest GPA at The American University of Kurdistan . The university is operated, owned, by Masrour.
Kurdish Iraq Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, a former car mechanic, claims he possesses a degree from Kingston University . The university refused to authenticate his attendance.
It is not just Kurdish Iraq though. It is also .
Abdullah Hussein earned a high school diploma only. He dropped out of St. Edmunds School, Eaglebrook School, and finally graduated from Deerfield Academy. He then attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst School in an academically non-traditional setting.
Abdullah Hussein has received "honorary degrees" for peace efforts in the Palestine/Israel conflict from 美国乔治敦大学 and 英国牛津大学 .
There is no peace in Palestine/Israel today.
Perusing the above, it becomes clear, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was correct. Middle Eastern leaders, simply lack notable higher education accolades.
In my opinion, "honorary degrees" seem to compensate undeservedly. And, in my observations, Middle Eastern leaders are seeking the educational institutions which have a sketchy background for ease.
Furthering my opinion, from my observations deriving from a decade continuous employment within Middle East private education, and thorough research, I feel the above has had drastically negative repercussions upon the region.
I believe some salient lessons entailed within higher education are completely missed with "honorary degrees," instead of earned, with dedicated time spent toward achieving "real" degrees:
1- The shame attached to corruption and cheating (the ends do not justify means).
(https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-109/News/Jordan-regresses-three-places-on-international-corruption-ratings-26732_
(https://www.aei.org/op-eds/when-america-ignores-kurdish-corruption-china-and-russia-benefit/)
2- The value of truth, integrity, and Due Process, over power and wealth and privilege.
领英推荐
(https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2016/07/jordan-parliamentary-elections-boycott.html)
(https://www.voanews.com/a/iraq-s-kurds-hold-elections-for-regional-parliament/4593287.html)
3- Tolerance for free speech/assembly, with a focus on diversity and transparency.
(https://ifex.org/jordan-government-imposes-more-severe-restrictions-on-freedom-of-expression/)
(https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/barzanis-failures-freedom-expression-iraqi-kurdistan)
4- And basic respect for teachers and principles of education, instead of emphasizing schools as solely businesses.
(https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2016/12/02/Iraq-Kurd-police-arrest-13-teachers-ahead-of-demo)
Based on the above observations, I, out of deep respect for the venerable principles behind higher education, humbly ask the aforementioned universities, to raise standards, the bar, prior administering honorary degrees, in the near future.
Don't risk losing your institution's credibility and reputation.
Don't contribute to academic fraud, corruption, repression.
I also ask the respective educational authorities, within the above nations, to make it more challenging for foreign leadership, their children, to access higher education.
Please avoid adhering to a Legacy Program type entry for heads of states' children. And, increase the requirements for graduation.
Don't let foreign privilege, skip those pertinent lessons, principles, we all benefit from when meeting the ordinary equal challenges of higher education.
I strongly feel, it could contribute in reducing the disastrous circumstances for other innocent humans, foreign policy, and global education.
Note - Former Kurdish President Barham Salih's education is legitimate. The universities he graduated from, confirmed by e-mail. I respect that.
“The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values.” —William S. Burroughs
Corruption Watch Transparency International Human Rights First Amnesty International The Chronicle of Higher Education Times Higher Education USA TODAY Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Foreign Policy 美国国务院 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Academic Integrity and Quality Initiative UNESCO Foreign Policy Research Institute
MA History, 13 year English/Humanities/History Teacher, 6 languages, 15 year HR activist, Former Political Lobbyist, Writer with 31 publications and two books, 8 International TV interviews, Human
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