The number of Saudi Ph.D.-holders has increased in recent years in different fields, including the sciences, arts, linguistics and Islamic studies.
Why does a person want to have a Ph.D.? Do people strive to be recognized among their peers by having an advanced degree? Do they aim for better job positions? Do they want to carry on and learn more so they can give back and serve their community and country?
I was a student in Britain in 1993 for my Ph.D. Saudi and Arab students including myself were surprised that we had teachers in my department whose qualifications didn’t go beyond a bachelor’s degree — they were teaching and supervising postgraduate students. I received my Ph.D. by a supervisor who had a master’s degree.
What does that mean? In the West people don’t place educational qualifications or titles above individual merits and proven qualifications. A diploma is only a yardstick, an indication of a person’s self-discipline in a particular field. What matters more is a person’s track record after obtaining a diploma. People who strive merely to obtain a “Dr.” or “Eng.” before their name will not survive in a world where titles are far less important than deeds.
If we look through history we find outstanding people who excelled in the sciences, the arts, literature, poetry and innovations without ever having studied in college or school. Albert Einstein was an average student in high school because he vehemently opposed strict rote learning, which, sadly, is the status quo in the Saudi educational system.
But regardless of the merits achieved, titles should never be a standard to measure people’s professional value.
