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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At a recent meeting with some well-respected academics at a
good (western) university, I was griping about one of my international
(non-native) Ph.D. students. During the course of the conversation, one of the
professors told me that I should not worry too much. This person said that
since my student plans to return to his country after graduation and since he
will not be seeking a job in a western country, I do not need to worry about
the quality of his work. While I did not say much at the time, this comment has
really disturbed me.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I have been aware of such double standards for a while, but
this was the first time I heard someone (a senior professor for that) state it
so matter-of-factly. I was wondering if any of you have experienced such
attitudes. How have/do you react to this? I find it extremely unethical to make
such distinctions and to give differentiated treatment to my west-bound and
non-west-bound students. I expect my students to perform at or above a certain
level. If they are not performing, then I try to find ways to help them. I
cannot just let them be because they will take their degrees back home. If we
permit this to happen, how are we contributing to the fall of academic
standards internationally? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>PhDs from the west are treated with great respect in many
countries. They are given better salaries and higher positions vis-à-vis local
PhDs and are given more say in policy making etc. By permitting these double
standards, we are in a way sabotaging the educational standards of these
(developing) countries. What we are saying is: you are not good enough for us
and we will never consider hiring you as an academic here (in the west), but we
will (take your money and) give you a degree to take back home. How much more
unethical can academics become? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>While I hope that my experience was an uncommon/rare one, I
fear that this is a growing tendency. This tendency is probably supported by
(if not rooted in) universities’ desire to attract more
full-fee-paying-international-students. Universities are investing huge amounts
to attract new international students and part of their promise is that we will
give you a western qualification that you can take back home and prosper from.
In this race for attracting and keeping more students (read as
‘money’), universities seem to be losing sight of their integrity.
Like other money making corporations, universities seem to be selling their
brand-name rather than focusing on the quality of education. This is a
deplorable act and I think one that needs to be exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>As you can probably guess, the casual conversation that I
had earlier this week has really upset me. While I’m not sure what we can
do to counter these growing tendencies, I feel that the least we can do is to
discuss and expose them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Ahmar<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>**************************************</span></font><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>Dr. Ahmar Mahboob</span></font><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>Department of Linguistics<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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yes'> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Sydney</st1:PlaceName></span></font></st1:place><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes'>#245 <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Transient</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Building</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
(F-12)</span></font><span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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