Rescue for university students [Archives:2005/901/Culture]
December 8 2005
 |
Yemen is a young country where more than 60% of the total population are between 15 and 40 years old. Most important group within this age group are the university students because they are considered the prime pillar for the country's future. However, because of a deteriorating educational system coupled with the insufficient available schooling many of those students are at loss. One of the major complaints university students have is the lack of educational resources especially books.
Some private universities have tried to overcome this problem through networking with organizations or donors interesting in promoting education in Yemen. The Science and Technology University for example was granted a well-established library from the British Council in Yemen last year.
This year the American Association of Yemeni Scientists and Professionals (AAYSP) granted Yemeni government universities a collection of books worth $70,000 on July 31, 2005. This shipment included more that 3500 books, most of which are concerned with medical studies. Other books cover topics on science, sociology, literature, journalism, and politics. These books would promote the educational level of students. The books were distributed to public and universities and some health institutes.
The shipment includes some of children books as well, which will be granted to some schools in Yemen. These books are intended for some private schools such as Azal al-Yaman School where the curriculum is in English.
Most of the granted books are not available in Yemeni universities and markets. And when they are, the price of one book may rise up to YR 20,000, which a student cannot afford. The second shipment, which has just arrived to Sana'a, includes 63,000 books.
Overall, the organization, known as the American Association of Yemeni Scientists and Professionals, has succeeded in arranging the shipment of $800,000 worth of books and equipment to Yemeni colleges and universities. Yemen Times interviewed Dr. Nasser Zawia, the director of the organization.
Dr. Zawia will strike you as an energetic, yet modest individual. In the U.S., he is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Rhode Island and Assistant Director of the Rhode Island Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (2001-2004). He is the current Chair of the University of Rhode Island Research Council. Dr. Zawia has received numerous awards and medals for his teaching and research excellence. Dr. Zawia has also been involved in the Yemeni academic scene and has served as a member of the International advisory board for the Yemeni scientific Research Foundation (YSRF) and serves on the editorial board of the Yemeni Journal of Science. His work and research have not distracted him from finding the time to be an involved and engaged member of the community in the U.S.
Q: You are a founding member of the American Association for Yemeni Scientists and Professionals. Could you tell us more about AAYSP, and the goals you and others are hoping to accomplish by forming this association?
A:AAYSP is a non-profit national organization for Yemeni-American Scientists and Professionals registered in the state of Rhode Island. AAYSP's main goals include establishing dialogue and links with scientific and professional organizations in the United States and Yemen, disseminating information, promoting the value of higher education, and increasing access to educational resources and opportunities for students of Yemeni origin. The AAYSP is filed as a non-profit educational and professional organization under IRS section 501(c) (4).
Q: The goals of AAYSP as stated in its mission statement are:
A: To work with scientists, professionals, associations and academic institutions in the United States and Yemen for the advancement of science, higher education, and scientific research.
To promote greater understanding between the United States and the people of Yemen through academic and scientific cooperation.
Q: What was the idea behind the creation of this organization?
A: With respect to the history of AAYSP, AAYSP is a product of an unexpected meeting between two Yemeni scientists in 2002 who discovered that they both shared a common vision of developing a network of Yemeni scientists to help promote science in Yemen. In 2003, they met with a delegation of Yemeni scientists who were visiting the American National Science Foundation. There they shared and discussed ideas relating to the promotion of higher education in Yemen and the US, and how scientists in America could help promote that goal. Later, a small group of individuals from both the USA and Yemen continued to work on developing the best mechanism through which to achieve these goals. This founding committee recruited others and decided to nominate individuals to lead the effort of forming an association. In 2003, the founding committee and the interim board decided to expand this organization beyond scientists and to build an association of Yemeni scientists and professionals. After months of debate and discussion, an association was developed to serve all Yemenis worldwide. AAYSP was registered in the State of Rhode Island and its website was launched in July, 2004. AAYSP is receiving applications for membership on a regular basis and currently has more than 200 members worldwide spanning many professions from science, medicine, law, pharmacy, engineering, information technology, and the social sciences. We hope that this association will grow more in the future and become the premier vehicle for networking among highly educated and professional Yemenis around the world.
Q: What has the AAYSP done since it was established?
A: The AAYSP is a young organization but we are proud of our accomplishments over this brief period. We helped delivered two shipments of books worth more than ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY MILLION RIYAL to Yemeni universities. Our organization also does a lot of outreach and work in the United States to encourage young Yemenis to pursue higher education in America. We also publish an annual directory that contains the names of all of our professional members and is considered an important networking tool. Despite our lack of funding these accomplishments attest to the resourcefulness of our members and we hope we will continue to impact the educational scene both in Yemen and within the Yemeni-American community.
Q: Why did you concentrate on sending books to Yemeni Universities?
A:The most important tool in learning is books. When we visited Yemeni Universities we found that there was a severe absence of technical and teaching textbooks, particularly in the health, science, and technology fields.
The busiest areas of any university in Yemen are the Copy Centers. Students are constantly copying and buying core notes, booklets, and manuals prepared by faculty. Teaching notes have replaced books and the absence of internet access at the University forces students to rely completely on notes provided by their teachers. Therefore students do not have the means to buy expensive textbooks which sometimes maybe akin to an employees full month salary and thus are completely reliant on the notes prepared by the faculty. The faculty also does not have the latest books, and those who do, buy them from their own money, and do not want to lend then to students.
A student is thus deprived of the depth of knowledge available in text books, does not have access to the latest on the internet, can not go to a library to borrow subject text books etc. The only source of information for the student is the teacher and his/her notes.
AAYSP realizes that the absence of such books will result in a less than average education. We are also aware the average Yemeni student can not afford to buy these books, thus we would like to help in ameliorating the situation
Q: Who will benefit from these books?
A: The primary beneficiary will be the students because they will be placed in the libraries of each relevant College.
Q: Are you donating these books to public universities only? How has the universities responded to your initiative?
A:Our initial efforts are focused on supporting government-sponsored Universities because the greatest need exists there; however, we are also helping some private institutions. By the way we can not refer to these institutions as “Public Universities” as is understood in the US (there is no public involvement in their administration); but this is a topic for another interview.
The response of the Universities to our initiatives at the highest levels has been supportive, understanding, and productive. At this juncture I would like to thank Dr. Saleh Basuurah, the President of SU and Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Nasher who have provided us with unquestionable assistance. The mid-management level and many other officials have been extremely disappointing. We found a lack of understanding, caring, inefficiency, and ignorance. Such behavior would be extremely puzzling and discouraging to donor organizations; however, we are committed to the development of Yemenis and the building of educational and cultural bridges between the people of Yemen and the United States and will not waver in our efforts.
Q: Has the Yemeni government been helpful? What should the Universities do to receive donated books?
A:The Yemeni government has been helpful. They have provided us with the exemptions when we need them, they have shown their appreciation for our efforts and we look forward to doing more with them. Official government-sponsored newspapers have publicized our efforts and have helped us convey our message.
As to what should Universities do to receive books, the numbers of books we have brought are large enough to be distributed among all the Universities in Yemen. Thanks for the efforts of the AAYSP Co-Director Dr. Hilal Lashuel, we have secured 63,000 science and technical books and journals from the American Chemical Society (ACS). Although Sana'a University is the primary recipient of these books, Dr. Bassurah has agreed to permit us to distribute excessive and additional copies of books to other institutions. In most cases we will contact each University with their share of these books.
Q: What other services can you offer to Yemeni professors and graduate students?
A:We are a very ambitious association; although we are small and limited in resources we offer many services for students and professors such as advising, networking, collaborative projects, access to scientific databases, workshops etc. An overview of our services is available on our website www.aaysp.org
Q: Do you have offices in Yemen? How does the AAYSP fund its activities?
A:We do not have offices in Yemen, but we have many members here who help us implement our programs. We plan to have a physical location in Yemen in the future. We are a non-profit, non-governmental organization, who relies solely on the generous donations of individuals to survive. We also raise some money through advertising on our website and annual directory. We would greatly appreciate any support we can get.
Q: Since arriving in Yemen, what difficulties have you faced?
A: The biggest problem is the response time. Things run very slow and it was unfortunate that I arrived at the beginning of the academic year in mid-September and discovered that the first-day of classes is not the beginning of the academic year. Unlike the US, Universities here take time to settle their schedules. Two weeks later Ramadan began and everything slowed down and the students decided not to attend class. Then Eid arrived.
Here we are two months later and I can only count about 12 real teaching days. I did not start teaching yet because my program has yet to be approved. This would be disastrous at a University in the USA where we panic if it snows one day because we have to make up work for that day and where we plan a University's schedule years in advance. My biggest problem has been adapting to this attitude and to the disbelief that this goes on and the University has no power to enforce a real schedule.
A huge big problem for a visiting professor from the US is the absence of internet connection to an office (if one was given), a phone, and a computer. Without these tools a professor from the US would become dysfunctional.
Q: What would you like the Yemeni government and universities to do to help you in your mission?
A: They need to recognize the value of a visiting professor and provide such an individual with the tools to allow him or her to help Yemeni students.
Q: What role can the media play?
A: The media can be play one of the most important roles in reforming education in Yemen. The Yemen Times in particular is known for its honest and constructive criticism of misuse of power and public interest. The credibility and independence of Yemen Times can be a great vehicle to push the engine of reform. An important issue that they media can promote is the involvement and participation of the Public in the education of future generations, the formation of school boards, and Parent Teacher Organizations, and special interest groups. The media can advocate more Public involvement and less Government control of education.
When the stakeholders are in charge of the education of their children, the outcome is likely to be better.
——
[archive-e:901-v:14-y:2005-d:2005-12-08-p:culture]
