It seems that Saudi universities, researchers and students doing master and doctorate degrees at our institutions are more concerned with registering names for post-graduate studies than caring about the subjects their theses address. It is no wonder that as soon as these theses are passed, they end up in locked drawers. Thus neither the university nor anything else can benefit from the works.
Universities should take pride in the very good theses done by students studying for BA degrees. Some of these are theoretical but may deal with practical and applied studies. Just because they are categorized as student research papers, they end up being thrown away as soon as the final marks have been given. The result is a waste of a creative work that has taken a long time and much effort to produce. Had the students received the encouragement and appreciation they deserved, this would have motivated them and others to come up with even more good work.
It would be better if these works were properly classified, indexed and made available to the interested, whether individuals or institutions; the writers should also be rewarded. Many of the papers deal with public concerns and address some of our society’s pressing problems.
To avoid the chaos surrounding research and post-graduate studies in our universities, I suggest the establishment of a central committee whose main task should be to streamline and organize research in our higher educational institutions. We need to identify our priorities and ensure that future research and studies fulfill the actual needs of the country, especially in regard to job market requirements and improving the performance of the civil service.
A private media body attached to the university could be asked to handle the publication and distribution of research papers to interested parties, making use of the Internet, radio, television and of course the print media.
Universities should do more to encourage and motivate students by supporting and helping with the publication of their works. Writers of the best works should be rewarded and honored by having their names appear in the university record of outstanding publications. The continuous lack of moral and material support is the main reason for the frustrated performance of our researchers.
