Bulletin: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic U. Spotlights Its Top Research; Turkey Offers Scholarships for Omani Students – Al-Fanar Media

The Politicisation of Human Rights
Fundamental rights, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, include the right to life, liberty, and personal security; equality before the law; the right to a fair trial; and freedoms of movement, thought, conscience, religion, opinion, and expression. They also encompass rights to work, rest, and education.
When the right to education is under threat, it signifies an attack on a fundamental human right—one that belongs to every individual, regardless of nationality, belief, or religion.
This is precisely what occurred with recent decisions by the U.S. administration and their impact on Egyptian students in Egyptian universities who receive scholarships from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Egyptian government, along with some Egyptian businessmen and universities, acted swiftly to address the situation and safeguard the academic future of students already enrolled, at least temporarily. It’s unclear whether students in preparatory programmes will also get help.
The politicisation of rights—using them as a leverage tool to achieve political objectives—is a highly dangerous issue. It demands thorough research, analysis, and the development of strategic scenarios to effectively respond to such challenges.
The right to education is fundamental. It serves as a cornerstone for shaping responsible citizens who contribute to the development and prosperity of societies. Undermining this right is not just an attack on individuals—it is a gamble with the future of entire nations.
Mohammad El-Hawary
Al-Fanar Media editor-in-chief 
News of the Arab Region: 
Saudi Arabia’s Islamic U. Spotlights Its Faculties’ Top Research
Saudi Arabia’s Islamic University opened its sixth Scientific Research Week on Sunday, alongside an accompanying exhibition on the theme: “Global Impact and Classification”.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the exhibition features 18 sections in which the university’s colleges and deanships display their most prominent research and scientific projects. Other Research Week activities include workshop on generating innovative research ideas, international university rankings, publishing in scientific journals, and research skills for making use of resources in the Saudi Digital Library.
The event also highlighted specialised programmes aimed at advancing scientific research, including a “Research Excellence Award” which is open to faculty members and graduate students; nine new support programmes for researchers from various disciplines; and the “Distinguished Researchers” programme, which supports top-tier scholars and scientists ranked among the top 2 percent of researchers worldwide.
Turkey Offers Scholarships for Omani Students 
The Omani Ministry of Higher Education is inviting students to apply for scholarships offered by Turkey for study in the 2025/2026 academic year across various disciplines at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
According to the ministry, the scholarships provide full tuition fee exemptions, provided by the donor. Additionally, students who receive final approval from the ministry will also receive allowances and financial benefits equivalent to those granted to fully sponsored students. Partially sponsored students will receive all financial benefits except for the living allowance.
The deadline for applications is 20 February 2025. For more details on eligibility, benefits, and application procedures, visit the ministry’s website.
Palestine Launches Scientific Research Award 2025
The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education has launched the “Scientific Research Award 2025 – Scientific Research Priorities”, marking the award’s third edition. According to the ministry, the award aims to connect scientific research with social and economic needs while encouraging researchers to play an active role in advancing scientific inquiry and development.
The award covers seven key research sectors, as outlined in the National Research Priorities document. These include agriculture, earth sciences, and climate change; medical and veterinary sciences; engineering, energy, and industry; education, arts, and literature; basic sciences, social and economic sciences; information technology; and the Palestinian cause and cultural heritage. The deadline for funding applications is 31 March 2025.
Coventry U., British U. in Egypt Collaborate on Hydrogen Training Hub
Coventry University, in the United Kingdom, and the British University in Egypt (BUE) are collaborating to launch a Hydrogen Energy Training Hub that aims to develop transnational expertise in sustainable hydrogen technology for a greener future. 
In a news release, Coventry University said the training hub was part of a project named “Hydrogen Technology for a Green Future: Strengthening Transnational Education and Curriculum Development”, which seeks to address the growing need for cleaner energy alternatives as part of the global shift away from fossil fuels. The project will take place at BUE’s campus in El Shorouk, a satellite city in the Greater Cairo region, with workshops also planned at Coventry University’s main campus, as well as online.
Ayman Salah Abbas, a professor of mechanical engineering at BUE, said the initiative would provide opportunities for students, academics and industrial professionals to gain expertise in emerging sustainable technologies, in alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Bill Clinton Chairs Ideas Abu Dhabi Event Featuring U.A.E. Rhodes Scholars
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton chaired a session of Ideas Abu Dhabi last week that brought together 12 recipients of the Rhodes Scholarships for the United Arab Emirates, along with business and civic leaders, to explore solutions to pressing global challenges, the Rhodes Trust said in a news release.
Ideas Abu Dhabi is an annual forum hosted by Tamkeen in association with the Aspen Institute. This year’s event, held on 26 January, was organised in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, the Rhodes Trust, and the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. It marked the sixth edition of Ideas Abu Dhabi and the 10th anniversary of the Rhodes Scholarships for the United Arab Emirates.
Rima Al Mokarrab, co-chair of Ideas Abu Dhabi and chair of Tamkeen, moderated the discussion, which focused on the need to equip future leaders with the skills to build effective partnerships and make critical decisions in addressing global issues.
In his remarks, President Clinton said: “Leadership starts with how you see the world, and I personally believe this is the most interdependent age in human history. We need to figure out ways to make prosperity more broadly shared, to make opportunity more broadly shared, and to not categorise people in a way that diminishes their human potential.”
From Al-Fanar Media: 
Trump’s Suspension of USAID Shocks Egyptian Students on Its Scholarships
The swift series of steps taken by U.S.President Donald Trump’s administration to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) came as a shock to students on the agency’s scholarships, including more than 1,000 students in Egypt alone.
Egyptian students on USAID scholarships include 200 undergraduates enrolled at the American University in Cairo, and an additional 125 students who have been accepted at AUC but need to complete a yearlong “bridge” programme before formally enrolling. While the university and Egyptian education authorities have pledged to support those already enrolled, at least for the spring semester, so far there have been no offers of help for those in the bridge programme.
Some bridge-year students have posted video messages online appealing to other institutions for support. “We are living in extreme anxiety and tension,” one of the students says. “We have heard nothing that clarifies our future … and we have no idea what to do next.” Read more here.
Tips and Resources:
Arab Scholarships and Grants in Creative Writing and the Arts
Many Arab governments and private philanthropies provide scholarships and grants that support students and professionals in culture and the arts in their education or creative projects. In this article, Al-Fanar Media presents information about five organisations that offer such support in a variety of creative fields, including cinema, performing arts, photography, creative writing, and research. While some of the specific awards mentioned in this article, from 2022, are no longer available, readers can still visit the organisations’ web pages for information about current funding opportunities. Learn more here.
Opinion: 
How Executive Education Helps Close the Skills Gap
Executive education plays a crucial role in upskilling and retraining professionals, providing them with the tools and knowledge businesses need to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced global economy, writes Anna Schebsdat, head of Executive Education–Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, Dubai. With industries undergoing digital transformation and consumer expectations shifting, she adds, the need for skilled professionals who can adapt to change and foster innovation has never been greater. Read more here.
In Conflict:
Academic’s Murder Only the Latest Scandal for Iraq’s Education System
Iraq’s higher education sector has been rocked by a series of high-profile scandals, including a controversy over the widespread purchase of forged of degrees, numerous cases of sexual exploitation, and most recently the shooting death of one academic, apparently by another. Many Iraqi academics are disheartened by the steady stream of negative news associated with their country’s colleges and universities. They fear that such incidents may severely damage the reputation of higher education in Iraq and overshadow the sector’s efforts to improve. Read more here.
Scholarships
Al-Fanar Media maintains a database of quality scholarships available to Arab students, which we continuously update. To stay up to date on the latest scholarships available in international universities, check the Scholarships section here, and watch for updated feedback on free learning opportunities in our News and Reports section, here.
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