The merger requires fears for the future of higher education

The world's largest oil exporter, aims to transform its higher education system. Newly appointed Education Minister Dr Azzam Al-Dakhil recent dramatic changes. Ministry of Higher Education and Training - - it was the biggest merger of the two ministries into one ministry called the Ministry of Education.

The surprising move some fear among scientists working in the higher education sector have been produced. Saudi Arabia is the largest investment in higher education led to a sharp increase in the number of universities, despite threatened to move it or to restrict this process can be seen.

Recent article in the Times Higher Education, Professor Philip Attach to achieve world-class status in Saudi Arabia laid out a road map for the resulting higher. He cautiously bureaucratic and administrative structures that can stand in the way of this goal, he said.

Notoriously bureaucratic merger with the Ministry of Education is viewed as a step in the wrong direction and, in addition to being more administrative structures.

The number of universities and scholarship programs in terms of student enrollment in higher education in recent years, despite the rapid growth of this combination of excellence and efficiency of public spending could jeopardize that are scared.

Last year, the highest level in the world, 25% of the budget, is devoted to education. In addition to the cost of higher education has increased steadily by about 10% of the budget under the late King Abdullah. However, the projects implemented by the former Ministry of Education over the years, is known for his reckless spending delays. slow down public spending and bureaucratic concern merger wave continued growth in the partnerships that can steer.

Autonomy

the autonomy of the universities and confusion associated with the merger could create serious problems. knowledge economy in the direction of public policy and higher education institutions had to push the world-class status. As a result, productivity and autonomy of professional and academic experience in a variety of incentives have risen.

the merger of the old way of doing things contrary to the policy of academic institutions and one step back on teaching and preparing students for the job market are just below. Advocates of the new ministry to university level will be the governing body is responsible for the primary stage students argue that.

However, this means more emphasis on teaching and research, and a few resources to create a world-class performance - or caustic King Abdullah University of Science and Technology - with one exception. Indeed, there is no clarity on this issue. The ministry wants to do what is new and what is actually happening is not clear how the balance. In this case, politicians must clearly define the roles and missions of universities.

In general, the ministry of higher education to enter the surprising move of Saudi Arabia, there are concerns that the policy drift. It is not clear how autonomy and excellence will be a legitimate concern, but what is true of Saudi Arabia's higher education system has undergone cosmetic surgery. Only when it's bad or good, if you're going to say.

Saudi Arabia Northern Borders University Ruwayshid Alruwaili associate professor in the department of language and translation.