Current status of research in the Arab world region

CURRENT STATUS OF RESEARCH CURRENT STATUS OF RESEARCH IN THE ARAB WORLD REGIONIN THE ARAB WORLD REGION

PROF. WALID MAANI

DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERYFACULTY OF MEDICINEUNIVERSITY OF JORDAN

Saudi Medical Journal 25th Anniversary Event2nd Regional Conference On Medical Journals In The Eastern Mediterranean Region

2nd Regional Conference On Medical Journals In The East Mediterranean Region, 9-12 Oct. 2004 2

STUDIES

The Arab World’s Scientific Desert, Daniel Del Castillo, The Chronicle of Higher Education,2004

Research in the Who East Mediterranean Region, where do we stand? Basim Yaqub, Saudi Medical Journal,2004

Brain Drain Threatens Future of Arab Science, GCSS,2004

Arab Human Development Report, UNDP,2003


FACTS No Arab country spends more than 0.2% 0f its DNP on its

scientific research, the USA, Israel spend 10 times more. The Arab world spends $4 per person on research, whereas

it is $12,000 in the USA. Less than 25% of Arab university students study sciences. There are only 20 computers per 1,000 people in the Arab

world, with a global average of 78. Around 370 patents were registered in Arab countries in the

last 20 years, South Korea had 16,000 in the same period.


FACTS

Arab Universities spend 1% of their budget on research, while USA universities spend 40%.

There are 8,000 researchers in the Arab world, compared to 400,000 in the USA.

Around 10.000 books were translated into Arabic in the last 1,000 years, Spain translates the same number each year.


FACTS

Brain drain from the Arab world is 30% of developing countries drain to the west.

45% of Arab students do not go back to their countries after graduating abroad.


What do famous Arab scientists-who made it in a different environment- say?

“The teaching of science in the Arab world is a disaster right now”. Farouk el Baz

“Availability of funding, resources, encouragement, the environment

and the want to achieve were major factors in making me what I am”. Ahmad Zewail


What Do Officials and Organizations in the Arab World Say?

“The crisis facing the region is real and very serious and the road is long, that’s why Arab nations should double their efforts to further development” Amr Mousa

“If the 10.000 Egyptian who work abroad in the medical and biotechnology sector come back, it would be enough to start a technological revolution in Egypt” Kamel Gouda

“In the sciences, not only is Arab production very limited, but also what is produced is often irrelevant” Reema Khalaf


Is It True?

Dr. Abdus Salam, was asked, "What happened to Islamic Science?" He replied "Nothing. What we cultivated in Isfahan and Cordoba is now being cultivated in MIT, Caltech and at Imperial College, London. Its just a geographical translation of place."


Why Are We In The Situation That We Are In?

Is it that we have more important concerns than science and scientific research?

Is it that we have the resources to buy the products of science, so why bother trying to create them?

Is it that, even if we wanted, we do not have the capability to conduct research?

Is it that our educational systems are not geared to produce the human power capable of conducting research?


Is It Correct To Say? Unless the educational system in schools is changed to

critical thinking, we will continue to produce students who copy but not think?

Unless the university instructional methods are changed to emphasize self learning and research, the university graduate will not differ from a high school student?

Unless promotion of university staff is tied to quality research published in international journals, the role of universities in development will remain meager?


Is It Correct To Say? Unless the universities’ research be part of the national

development plan, then all efforts will be fragmented and non-relevant?

Unless the sabbatical leaves granted by universities are spent in actual monitored research in recognized labs, then it is a waste of time and money to grant the leaves.

Unless the right environment for research is created, then we will continue to lament our bad fortune?


Is It Correct To Say? That the Arab private sector still posses the mentality of

the street vendor, who wants to earn as much to take home?

That our reliance on “foreign experts” did not give a chance to our experts to prove their capabilities?

That our political fragmentation, reflected it self on the lack of joint major research projects?


Since We Know All Of This, What Shall We Do To rectify The Situation?

A six track policy should be adopted nationally and regionally

Reform the school educational system. Reform the university systems. Involve research institutions in the national development plans. Involve the private sector in research and its finance. Allocate more resources to research. Create inter-Arab scientific research bodies.


But All of Us Know ThisThe following major reports diagnosed the problems and

suggested the solutions: The final communiqué of the meeting of the Arab ministers of

Higher Education and Scientific Research held in Cairo 24th -27th, Dec. 2001

The Final communiqué of the International Arab Conference on Information Technology, held in Jordan 13th - 15th Nov. 2001

The UNDP, Arab Human Development Report, 2003


But, was enough done to remedy the situation?

THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS NO


Steps taken, which should be emulated, and supported

The creation of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation.

The imposition, through legislation, on companies in certain Arab countries of R&D allocation as a percentage of their annual profits.

The creation of pan-Arab scientific journals. The shy steps of networking in certain professional

groups.

Current status of research in the Arab world region

Education

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