US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4811

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004811 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR S, R, ECA (DPOWELL), ECA/A/S/A (MTHOMPSONJONES), 
NEA/PPD (AFERNANDEZ, CWHITTLESEY), IIP/G/NEA, INR/R 
(SSHAFFER), CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG) FROM AMBASSADOR 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, KPAO, SCUL, OIIP, CVIS, XF, KU 
SUBJECT: STUDY IN THE U.S.A.: WE ARE FAILING 
 
REF: Kuwait 1201 
 
1.  SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION:  Despite the Mission's 
focused priority efforts at increasing the number of 
Kuwaitis studying in the U.S., the number of Kuwaitis 
opting for higher education in America continues to 
decline.  In FY-05, 58 fewer F1 visas were issued to 
Kuwaitis than during FY-04, a 9% decrease, and a 65% 
decrease compared to FY-1998.  The long-term consequences 
of fewer Kuwaitis (and fewer Arabs, Muslims, and other 
nationalities for that matter) studying in America are of 
strategic significance to the United States.  As the 
student numbers continue to drop, the number of Kuwaitis 
who know and understand America and Americans, and who are 
influential in Kuwaiti society, will continue to decline. 
The Embassy again recommends that a market survey be 
undertaken to obtain a better understanding of the causes 
of the decrease in student numbers and possible strategies 
to confront this decline.  Such data would assist us in 
returning the number of foreign students in America to pre- 
9/11 levels.  END SUMMARY. 
 
A Drastic Decline in Kuwaiti Students 
------------------------------------- 
 
2.  While the Embassy has made an intensive effort to reach 
out to Kuwaitis and address their concerns, the current 
visa issuance numbers have given us pause.  The numbers 
show that we have failed to get more students to the U.S., 
despite reassurances by the undersecretary of the Ministry 
of Higher Education that there has been no reduction in 
scholarships, and despite a concerted effort to improve our 
processing of student visas and a public campaign to 
encourage study in the U.S. 
 
3.  The approximate number of applications and issuances, 
including total issuances and issuances for Kuwaiti 
nationals, for the following fiscal years (October 1 
through September 30) are: 
 
Year - Applications - Issuances - Kuwaiti issuances 
 
FY-98 - 2046 - 1918 - 1641 
FY-99 - 2056 - 1742 - 1421 
FY-00 - 1361 - 1202 -  845 
FY-01 - 1564 - 1247 -  851 
FY-02 - 1236 -  627 -  425 
FY-03 - 1559 -  852 -  634 
FY-04 - 1300 -  861 -  635 
FY-05 - 1201 -  759 -  577 
 
The issuance rate shows a drastic decline following 9/11, a 
rise and steady plateau for two years, and now, a decline 
of 9% in F1 visas issued to Kuwaitis in FY-05 as compared 
to FY-04.  The FY-05 issuance rate means that Post has 
issued 32% fewer F1 visas to Kuwaitis during FY-05 than in 
FY-01, when 9/11 occurred and 65% fewer issuances than in 
FY-98.  Furthermore, applications are down 23% when 
comparing FY-01 and FY-05, and down 41% when comparing FY- 
05 and FY-98. 
 
Visas Are Impossible to Obtain 
------------------------------ 
 
4.  As described in reftel, anecdotal evidence suggests 
that the decline in numbers of Kuwaiti students studying in 
the U.S. is attributable to three main reasons: 
misperceptions on visas, suspicions about attitudes in the 
U.S. toward Arabs and Muslims, and increased competition 
from local and regional "American" or American-affiliated 
universities.  Kuwaiti parents are using these reasons to 
keep their children at home or in the region.  Despite 
efforts to dispel myths about the student visa process, 
misperceptions remain.  The visa process was an all-too- 
frequent topic of conversation during Ramadan diwaniyas 
(traditional gatherings where Kuwaitis discuss issues of 
the day) was.  Although our visa mechanisms have 
perceptibly improved over the past two years (according to 
contacts themselves who frequently travel to the states), 
the negative perceptions remain.  Even frequent travelers 
relate to us the real anxiety they feel when going through 
U.S. ports of entry.  They fear that their names will be 
confused with watch-listed Muslims and they will be subject 
to intrusive, if not offensive, questioning and inspection. 
 
We Don't Want our Child to End Up in Gitmo 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5.  Educated contacts tell EmbOffs that they feared their 
 
KUWAIT 00004811  002 OF 003 
 
 
children might end up in Guantanamo if they go the United 
States.  While such severe and irrational misperceptions 
are difficult to dispel, it is worth noting that they are 
out there.  These fears are related to the misperception 
that Arabs are no longer welcome in America, and that girls 
in hijab and "Arab-looking" boys with beards will be 
subject to mistreatment. 
 
"American" University and American Universities 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
6.  Increased competition locally and regionally have 
influenced the choices of students, and more significantly, 
their parents.  As local educational markets are opening up 
to private universities with American curricula, often with 
the "American" label, such as the "American" Universities 
in Kuwait and Sharjah, in addition to the well-established 
American universities in Beirut and Cairo, parents are 
opting to keep their children close to home.  In Kuwait, 
there are two such universities, the American University of 
Kuwait (with official links to Dartmouth College) and the 
Gulf University for Science and Technology (known as GUST, 
with official links to the University of Missouri-St. 
Louis).  Parents are particularly keen on keeping their 
female children nearby.  Kuwaiti parents ask Emboffs, "why 
should I send my son or daughter to America when they can 
go to AUK or GUST for a similar education, without being 
subject to visa and border hassles or discrimination?" 
 
7.  Other sources of competition are the American 
universities setting up shop in the region.  In Qatar, five 
American universities are operating:  Carnegie Mellon, 
Georgetown, Texas A & M, Virginia Commonwealth, and the 
Weill Cornell Medical College.  In Kuwait, Boston 
University is exploring opening a campus.  These regional 
schools will further erode the numbers of Gulf Arabs 
studying in America.  While these schools are better than 
existing higher educational institutions in the region, 
studying in America itself is much different than studying 
at "American" institutions in the Middle East region.  Only 
studying in America offers students the experience 
necessary to truly understand American society, values and 
policy-making. 
 
Aggressive Competitors 
---------------------- 
 
8.  Another source of competition is recruitment from other 
western and Asian countries.  Australia, Canada, the United 
Kingdom, and Malaysia are actively recruiting Kuwaiti 
students, arguing that their visa procedures and university 
acceptance requirements are easier. 
 
Selling Diversity, Quality, and Value 
------------------------------------- 
 
9.  While there is still a need to address the 
misperceptions outlined above, the next phase in our 
campaign is to sell the diversity, quality and value of 
higher education in America.  When discussing higher 
education with Kuwaitis, we stress that when compared to 
international and local competition, American colleges and 
universities and the American higher education system are 
generally as good or better than other options.  Relative 
to other countries and to the Gulf region, there are 
certainly more universities to choose from in America and 
the numbers and range of fields of study are unparalleled. 
Lastly, we argue that the costs (including tuition and 
cost-of-living) are often less in the U.S. than in the U.K. 
or other European cities. 
 
10.  Kuwaiti parents need to be sold the idea that an 
American education is a valuable education.  More 
importantly, they need to be convinced that their children 
will not be hassled during the visa interview process, at 
the point-of-entry into America nor during their studies. 
They seek assurances that America offers their children a 
safe place to study. 
 
11.  One potential area of future growth would be summer 
education for high school and college students, as well as 
English learners.  These areas of recruitment have not been 
actively pursued by American colleges and universities. 
Also, shorter term programs, such as one or two years of an 
undergraduate education at traditional American colleges 
and universities would also bring more Kuwaitis to the U.S. 
 
Recommendation: Understanding the Causes 
---------------------------------------- 
 
KUWAIT 00004811  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
12.  We believe Posts in the region would benefit from a 
commissioned market survey in the GCC countries (and 
elsewhere if desired) to learn more precisely what is 
driving the decision making process of parents and students 
regarding higher education.  While we have abundant 
anecdotal evidence on the causes of these declines, having 
factual survey data would facilitate and better focus our 
efforts to reverse the alarming trends we are witnessing. 
 
Efforts to Correct the Trend 
---------------------------- 
 
13.  In addition to use of Hi Magazine, Radio Sawa and Al- 
Hurra TV, development of a broadcast-quality 
video/documentary presentation available in Arabic and 
English on "University Life in America" would be a most 
welcomed addition to our outreach efforts to promote higher 
education in America.  Post is addressing student concerns 
with digital dialogues between current Kuwaiti students in 
the U.S. or with recent graduates and prospective students, 
as well as a host of other education-related programs 
during International Education Week. 
 
LEBARON