BOOK REVIEW Dr. Davidson’s brilliant and brave “After the Sheikhs” provides Middle East studies with a valuable overview of the gathering crisis in the region, and is a valuable counter-narrative to the “nothing to see, move on now” narrative being promoted by vested interests and an academe that ought to know better. After Bahrain, the … Continue reading »
Filed under Academic Freedom …
Bahrain Polytechnic: new evidence casts doubt on the rigour of the BICI, and on the credibility of ‘reform’ in Bahrain
Higher Education reform in Bahrain: 2008-2011 ”In failing to differentiate Bahrain Polytechnic’s relationship with the Ministry of Education from the University of Bahrain’s relationship with the Ministry, the BICI have been complicit in the extension of state power into hitherto legally autonomous institutions. I’m sure that this was done unwittingly on the Commissioners’ part, but … Continue reading »
Hard Lessons in Bahrain: Mike Diboll in the Chronicle of Higher Education
My article on my experiences in Bahrain education reform, culminating with the events of 13th March 2011, has just been published on line and in print in the Review section of the Washington DC-based Chronicle of Higher Education. The Chronicle is the world’s leading news medium for higher education. Utne described the award-winning Chronicle Review as ”a fearless, free-thinking section … Continue reading »
The Future of Higher Education in Bahrain: tortured, abused, abandoned trussed up half-naked in a lock-up
Regarding my recent piece “The Rape of Bahrain Polytechnic”, two interesting responses were posted by “Nick A. Harr” and “Virtual Hub”. As a proponent of openness, I do not usually respond in-depth to individuals who use pseudonyms rather than give their real names when they are in no apparent danger. However, since these two responses … Continue reading »
A General Amnesty for 13th March 2011: a way forward for Bahrain higher education?
Monday 19th March 2012 sees the resumption of the retrial of the University of Bahrain students sentenced to prison terms of up to 15 years for alleged crimes in relation to the 13th March 2011 incident. These young men must be freed if meaningful higher education has a future in Bahrain. This post suggests a … Continue reading »
risaalatiy al maftoo7ah lir-ra2iys jaami3at l-ba7rayn ebraahim l-janaa7iy
الدكتور مايك ديبول على مدى الأيام الثلاثة الماضية، قرأ 6,500 بحريني الرسالةَ المفتوحة التي كتبتُها إلى رئيس جامعة البحرين إبراهيم رسالتي المؤرخة في مارس/آذار 2012 هي: سيدي، إنني أكتب إليكم في الذكرى السنوية الأولى لأحداث العنف التي وقعت يوم 13 مارس/آذار 2011 في الحرم الجامعي بالصخير التابع لجامعة البحرين. وقد لجأت للكتابة إليكم علنا عبر … Continue reading »
The Rape of Bahrain Polytechnic
In a gesture of insult to the international higher education community, the Bahrain regime has chosen the anniversary of the University of Bahrain violence to complete its violation of Bahrain Polytechnic, established in 2008 when the Bahrain 2030 Vision still meant something to supply the kind of quality higher education that the criminally incompetent University … Continue reading »
March 13th 2011: a tale of two photographs
A vital aspect of the uprisings in the Arabic-speaking world is the GENERATIONAL aspect, the fact that the globally connected younger generation want and deserve so much better than the mediocrity of the corrupt and incompetent gerontocracy that’s typified by Bahrain’s current Prime Minister, 41 years continuously in unelected office since Britain allowed Bahrain to … Continue reading »
Why Bahrain?
Today has proved to be this blog’s most successful day yet in terms of hits, it’s 19.30 GMT here in Sussex, and so far 2,000 people have looked at my blog. Today is the first anniversary of the violent incident on-campus at the University of Bahrain which took place on 13th March 2011, and proved … Continue reading »
Open letter the President of the University, as read by over 8,000 Bahrainis
Over the past week over 8,000 Bahrainis have read my open letter to Ebrahim al Janahi, President of the University of Bahrain. An Arabic version is also posted on this blog. My letter of Tuesday 13th March 2012 is as follows: Sir, I write to you on the first anniversary of the violent incident that took … Continue reading »
