The next generation of German-Arab experts

It would be highly unlikely for a German development agency to send experts to Latin America if they did not speak Spanish. In contrast, it is perfectly normal for development professionals without any knowledge of Arabic to travel to North Africa or the Middle East and, once there, to communicate in English or French.

This may not have been particularly problematic until the late 1990s, when most development funds were channelled into infrastructure projects in that region. Since then, however, the ability to communicate has become ever more important. Up-to-date development programmes operate at several levels with
– policy dialogue taking place at the central-government level,
– assistance given in terms of conceptual advice and management training at institutional and organisational levels, and
– project implementation being supported at the local level.

For that to happen in a coherent manner, communication is vital. Experts therefore increasingly need to be able to follow their partners’ technical discussions without the aid of an interpreter. It would also make sense for them to be able to read documents in Arabic, or even draft papers themselves.

80 to 90 % of the BMZ’s bilateral funds to Arab countries flow into four sectors. These are
– water and environment,
– renewable energies,
– promotion of private-sector development, and
– education, in particular vocational training.

For efforts to be effective, it makes sense to focus on these sectors. Moreover, German contributions are now typically designed to fit into the national development strategies of the target countries; and measures are coordinated with other bilateral and multilateral partners such as the European Commission or the World Bank. Financial commitments are often made over several years. Therefore, Germany’s Federal Government expects that this kind of bilateral cooperation with Arab countries will expand in the future.

Accordingly, the BMZ has made funding available for bi-cultural master-degree courses, which are relevant to the four sectors and are offered jointly by German and Arab universities. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) was entrusted with coordinating the courses. It has assigned international experts with picking consortia of German and Arab universities to run them. The first course dealing with water-sector issues is already underway, run by the University of Amman and Cologne’s University of Applied Science.

Experts on the region are confident that graduates will have excellent job opportunities. Some students, moreover, will be given study leave from permanent professional jobs in order to take the courses. German development institutions and consulting firms have already shown an interest in graduates, and so have private businesses and international institutions active in the region.

The UNDP’s Arab Human Development Report of 2003 called for reform of the region’s universities in various areas, and the BMZ-supported courses respond to this demand. Teaching must improve, and curricula should become better geared to regional development needs and labour-market demands. The master-programmes the BMZ funds are therefore designed to strengthen professional communication and leadership skills in the Arab world and to boost knowledge transfer between Arab countries and highly-developed nations. In both respects, so far, there is little exchange, and the international division of labour is under-developed.

The basic pattern of the four master-course programmes is as follows:
– Instruction is aimed at small groups and conducted mainly in seminar form. The number of participants is initially limited to ten German and ten Arab students.
– There are three semesters, of which the first is spent at an Arab university and the second at a German university. In the third semester, the students will draft their master’s thesis in mixed groups on a practice-relevant subject, mainly on site in an Arab country.
– Courses will be given in English, ensuring international compatibility. The masters degrees will be accredited both in Arab countries and in Germany.
– German students will be given the opportunity to improve their Arabic in the first two semesters. Arab students are expected to acquire a basic knowledge of German.
– Selection criteria for German applicants are previous training (with the minimum of a bachelor’s degree), prior residence in the region and preferably a knowledge of Arabic as well. The selection criteria for Arab applicants are a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and relevant professional experience.

Those who take part in these innovative courses will not be typical students, but rather young adults with relevant qualifications and job experience. The fact that they will come from different learning cultures poses particular challenges for the teaching staff. They too will need cultural sensitivity and, no doubt, some special preparation for the courses.
It remains to be seen whether a sufficient number of German students will apply to justify the expenditure. Not everyone is comfortable with working in the Arab world. Violence perpetrated by religious fanatics has had a negative impact on the region’s reputation. Nonetheless, western visitors normally return from Arab countries impressed by the diversity, hospitality and security they have experienced, and the new master-degree courses are designed to cater to persons who have been to the region. Participation in the first runs of the courses should prove particularly interesting. Students will be able to influence curricula according to their own experiences and suggestions. The financial conditions are also favourable. Germany’s Federal Government is covering the costs for the first three runs of the courses, so there are no study fees so far. In addition, German and Arab participants will be eligible to apply for DAAD scholarships.