Durham student jailed for life by UAE court on spying charges

A T.H.E. supplement advertising the UAE University as “The University of the Future” appeared in this same week that a UK PhD student, Matthew Hedges, was sentenced to life for “spying” in the UAE, apparently without either a fair trial or adequate evidence. Inside the supplement, the UAE U’s V-C, Prof. Mohamed Albaili, writes “…we are aiming to rank among the top 20 academic institutions in the world.” I suggest the UAE’s judiciary is not helping; and if the University is to be recognised as a world class university, perhaps a sign that it is willing to fight for academic values by supporting Mr Hedges’ case would validate the brochure and the University’s ambitions.