Egyptian Red Tape
After too much waiting, and too much patience, I decided to write an article for the AUC school newspaper about the enormous beuracracy here at AUC. I just received an email back from them in which they agreed to print it. As an international student and a guest in Cairo, I recognize and value the great Egyptian culture, its rich past and its friendly population. AUC has its own sub culture, full of young academics greatful to have this chance to receive one of the best educations the middle east has to offer. However, there is one trait of the university culture which is not only unneccessary, but also unconducive to learning. One, or rather many, obstacles which one must overcome: the beauracracy.
Appearantly so entrenched in the university culture that few seem to question its necessity. And no, I am not talking about the move. The move is an exceptional circumstance which takes it toll on all of us, but these beauracratic rules existed before the move, not as a consequence of it. As a point of illustration, I stood two hours in line today, solely in order to get a stamp on a receipt that I received when I paid my tuition. Upon receiving the stamp, I was qualified to wait for my turn in the line right next to it – to get an ID card.
A receipt is, by definition, a certificate demonstrating that you have paid a certain amount. Thus, a stamp on the same receipt is not only unneccessary, but meaningless. For me, it meant a waste of two hours. Unfortunately, this is hardly an isolated incident but an episode in a pattern of difficult solutions to simple problems.
The application process for international students is uneccessarily complicated. Even an HIV test is required to be admitted. There is no reason why HIV positive applicants cannot be admitted to AUC. Sharing books or class rooms with an HIV positive is not in any way dangerous. In fact, HIV positives worldwide suffer from prejudices, discrimination and social stigma that is in no way corresponding to their decease. I’m sorry to conclude that AUC contributes to that social stigma for HIV positives, and by so doing, adds more paperwork for the rest of us.
As a graduate student, I am required to attend certain prerequisite courses as part of my MA degree. I am fully accepted into the MA programme. However, in order to enroll in classes which are mandatory, I need the consent of an instructor. If there is a logic behind that, please, do surprise me. (Of course, it doesn’t help the situation that your instructor is in an office with no electricity and unable to answer either phone nor email).
Being an international graduate student of political science is no less than confusing. I have to relate to five different offices: Office of Graduate Admissions, International Students Office, Office of the University Registrar, the Department of Political Science and the Dean’s office. All just to get accepted as a student and enrolled into classes.
The questions AUC needs to ask itself are: 1) how much of the paperwork is *really* necessary, 2) How much of the *necessary* paperwork can we make as simple as possible? And 3) how much of it can we solve through more elaborate use of the internet, and other digital sollutions?
I think you would find the results astonishing. Not only can AUC lead the middle east in academic excellence, but at the same time reduce the costs of the beauracracy, and aspire to lead in user friendliness. AUC has an example to set and should have an organization to be inspired by.
With Kind regards,
Sigmund Aas,
Master of Human Rights
& AUC Graduate student