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NYU President John Sexton
American Universities Open Satellite Campuses in Middle East
by
findingDulcinea Staff
by Rachel Balik
New York University is being criticized for its decision to open a degree-granting campus in Abu Dhabi, even as Weill Cornell Medical School graduates its first class in Qatar.
New York University is being criticized for its decision to open a degree-granting campus in Abu Dhabi, even as Weill Cornell Medical School graduates its first class in Qatar.
30-Second Summary
The American college education system “is becoming an important export as more universities take their programs overseas,” according to The New York Times. More American universities are considering generous offers from the United Arab Emirates to build satellite campuses abroad, but not without criticism from faculty.
New York University president John Sexton recently accepted a $50 million gift in exchange for beginning plans on an NYU campus in Abu Dhabi that will grant full NYU degrees. Sexton hopes the new campus will “vault the university into the top echelons of global academia,” but not all administrators share Sexton’s outlook. “I still think the downside is lower than the upside is high,” said University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann. “The risk is that we couldn’t deliver the same quality education that we do here, and that it would mean diluting our faculty strength at home.”
While NYU is the first American undergraduate university to open a branch abroad, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar graduates its first class on May 8, 2008. Cornell’s president David Skorton views the success of the satellite school as one of the university’s greatest achievements.
However, some believe that United Arab Emirates’ generous donations to schools could compromise their academic integrity and principles. For example, the Paris-Sorbonne, which has a degree-granting campus in Abu Dhabi, “is quite open about having sold itself to the highest bidder.” Abu Dhabi was the only state that offered to cover all its expenses.
New York University president John Sexton recently accepted a $50 million gift in exchange for beginning plans on an NYU campus in Abu Dhabi that will grant full NYU degrees. Sexton hopes the new campus will “vault the university into the top echelons of global academia,” but not all administrators share Sexton’s outlook. “I still think the downside is lower than the upside is high,” said University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann. “The risk is that we couldn’t deliver the same quality education that we do here, and that it would mean diluting our faculty strength at home.”
While NYU is the first American undergraduate university to open a branch abroad, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar graduates its first class on May 8, 2008. Cornell’s president David Skorton views the success of the satellite school as one of the university’s greatest achievements.
However, some believe that United Arab Emirates’ generous donations to schools could compromise their academic integrity and principles. For example, the Paris-Sorbonne, which has a degree-granting campus in Abu Dhabi, “is quite open about having sold itself to the highest bidder.” Abu Dhabi was the only state that offered to cover all its expenses.
Headline Links: American university outposts in the Middle East
When asked about plans to recreate New York University in Abu Dhabi, NYU president John Sexton is not embarrassed by accusations of selling out, nor is he concerned that the United Arab Emirates has laws against homosexuality, punishes adultery with a beating, and bars Israelis from entering the country. Many professors are concerned that those laws conflict with the principles of the university, but Sexton is unfazed, explaining, “We have to accept the fact that, like in New York, we cannot provide immunity to students or faculty members at NYU Abu Dhabi from the normal laws of that society when not engaged in activities on our campus.”
Source: New York Magazine
An administrator from the University of Washington said she gets so many proposals for campuses abroad that “It’s almost like spam.” Traditionally, American universities have collaborated with institutions abroad and participated in robust study abroad programs. However many university administrators feel there is a distinction between study abroad and official international campuses. University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann said, “The risk is that we couldn’t deliver the same quality education that we do here, and that it would mean diluting our faculty strength at home.” Other schools such as NYU, George Mason and Cornell are eager to open branches abroad.
Source: The New York Times
On May 8, 2008, the first class of doctors will graduate from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Cornell University was the first American medical school to set up a branch abroad. University President David Skorton says, “Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar is one of our institution’s proudest achievements."
Source: PR Newswire
Background: Sorbonne establishes Abu Dhabi campus, Yale declines to do so
Yale University had plans to build an arts center on Saadiyat Island, the location of the new NYU campus, but cancelled them in April 2008. The university refused to grant full Yale degrees to students, a condition set by the U.A.E. government. “We don’t want to offer degrees unless we can essentially staff the courses with a faculty that is of the same quality and distinction as the one here in New Haven,” said Yale’s president, Richard Levin.
Source: Yale Daily News
In April 2006, the Paris-Sorbonne opened a degree-granting branch of its University in Abu Dhabi. Students who enroll there have the option of completing their degrees in Abu Dhabi or in Paris.
Source: UAE Interact
Opinion and Analysis: Do cultural differences compromise education?
An art teacher at a university in the United Arab Emirates said she felt that she could not sufficiently cover topics in art history because she feared showing her students nude images. A student blogger explained, “in most cases, self censorship rules.” Although there are no official rules at the schools, teachers choose to “err on the side of precaution.”
Source: Broadcasters of Tomorrow (UAE Students Blog)
Another U.A.E. blogger wrote that “Abu Dhabi might well consider itself lucky” that Yale had halted its plans; one Yale senior caused a furor this year with her art project on abortion.
Source: Emirates Economist
An anonymous columnist for the Cornell Sun expressed numerous concerns about the campus in Qatar. “Most troubling to us are the huge amount of money the Qatari government is paying Cornell and the University’s utter refusal to disclose the details of those transactions.”
Source: Cornell Sun
Related Topic: Satellite museums in Abu Dhabi
In 2007, France signed an agreement to allow the use of the Louvre’s name on a museum that will be part of a Saadiyat Island cultural complex that will also include a Guggenheim museum and a Zaha Hadid-designed performing arts center. The United Arab Emirates will pay France over a billion dollars, and in exchange, the new museum will be able to borrow pieces from the Louvre and other French museums. Many are concerned that the quality of museums in France will be compromised, but French culture minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres insists, “There is no question of selling France’s heritage.”
Source: Arts Journal
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