Former UCLA Chancellor Charles Young has taken on yet another
tough job: heading Education City, a cluster of education centers
in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.
Rob Sobhani, writing for the National Review, called Education
City “a revolutionary project based on the philosophy that
people are the most valuable asset of a nation.”
Qatar is a nation where 90 percent of the national income comes
from oil, but if Sobhani is right about the goals of the
country’s leader, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, it will
be prepared for the day the oil runs dry ““ as distant as that
day may be.
Education is the key to the 21st century. With a highly educated
population, Qatar will be able to attract businesses and export
products around the world. In this sense, the education center can
be seen as an investment in the future of the nation.
Hopefully, as Qatar’s Education City develops, its U.S.
advisers ““ including Young, RAND Corporation and Texas
A&M University ““ will be mindful of the nation’s
existing culture and values. Education, while it can be a powerful
force for positive change, can also be a form of indoctrination
which can degrade existing customs.
Without a doubt, Young’s energetic and committed
reputation in the world of education proves he is the man for the
job.