RIYADH: Experts in education from foreign universities have criticized some of the teaching staff at universities, saying that they are not motivating their students to love research and science. They said many of these teachers are not properly trained especially to deal with students. They also lack the necessary tools to motivate students to love learning. The critical comments came from participants at the International Forum for Education, which included seven women's workshops and six for men. There were not many university staff present although the conference was devoted to them and to postgraduate students. James McKean, President of Abu Dhabi University, presented a paper in which he said the universities do not train their teaching staff. “It is quite common for university teachers not to receive formal training in education before joining the university. Thus it is left up to them to develop their own teaching skills.” Dr. Patricia Hardry, Head of Educational Psychology at Oklahoma University in the US, stressed the quality of education at American universities devoted to ‘demonstrators'. She said that thousands of syllabi at colleges and universities are taught by ‘demonstrators' who lack experience and training. She said there was a need to narrow this professional gap in order to improve the quality of education at universities in general and higher education in particular. Dr. Leeny Dam, Education Adviser and Teachers' Trainer at Copenhagen University College, said university education concentrates more on learning than education. Dr. Catherine Hall, Associate Professor in the English Language Department at the American University in Dubai, said the process of motivating students to love learning is almost nonexistent. He called for university staff to help students love learning and education. The conference was attended by 20 foreign universities and 30 methodologists and pedagogues.
