Faulty and Erroneous thinking: Equating Internationality and competence with Caucasians

An Asian dean of an Institute for English Language Education informed an Asian job applicant apologetically and confidentially, that he can't hire him as an English lecturer because the unspoken policy is to hire only Caucasian applicants. He said that this policy was in line with the marketing strategy of the department and the university. He elaborated that even the Asian parents of the students studying in his department prefer Caucasian lecturers. Their preference was based on the notion that Caucasian lecturers are the best English teachers. If the above myth is true, how come, the recent global English literary award winners were Asians? Why are Asian academicians teaching English in "native speaking" universities?


In another instance, the psychology department of an international university offering a graduate program in English required that all Asian graduate students had to submit their theses for English editing. But this requirement was exempted for "native speakers." The native speakers (students) were mostly Caucasians. The fore-mentioned examples are merely the tip of the iceberg of erroneous beliefs and discriminations being promoted in certain Asian Universities, Colleges and International Schools. It is an open secret that Caucasian PH.D candidates in the so called "native speakers' countries" are required to have their dissertations submitted for English editing. But strangely, certain Asian universities feel that Caucasians students should be exempted. Why? What would happen, if Caucasian students write their theses in short messaging abbreviated form?


This article would like to examine specifically the erroneous and faulty thinking and practice of equating Internationality and competence with Caucasians.


What is Internationality?

Firstly, internationality or being international is the acceptance of all nationalities globally. Internationality cannot be limited to a specific category of nationalities. To have an international university, college, or school is to have multiple nationalities as student and personnel population. Secondly, internationality or being international is a mindset. Claiming to be international while practicing racial and nationality discrimination does not represent an international mindset. So, internationality and competence cannot be equated with Caucasians alone. It is morally and ethically wrong as it promotes racial and nationality discriminations. And for educational institutions to practice such discriminations and faulty thinking is unbecoming and defeats the primary objective of holistic and positive education.


Is it a marketing strategy or a con-job?

A holistic teacher is someone who would provide objective guidance even to persons who ignorantly follow a faulty thinking or practice. But when a teacher himself / herself manipulates and uses the ignorance, faulty thinking and practice of others for his / her profit, he/she is no longer a teacher but rather a con-man / con-woman. When educational institutions instead of correcting the erroneous beliefs based on prejudice, ignorance or misinformation, utilize such faulty thinking as marketing strategy for their profit – they are deceiving the general public. It is high time that parents who spend exorbitant sums on educational fees, question the competence and credibility of universities, colleges or schools that practice racial and nationality discrimination. This is especially needful when these educational institutions divert the blame back on the preferences of the students' parents. In other words, universities, colleges or schools that practice racial and nationality discrimination say that they do it because of the parents. But, is it true that all parents have erroneous and faulty thinking? Or is it a convenient excuse to continue to practice unethical and illegal practices with impunity? What kind of education can any university, college or school give to their children if they practice racial and nationality discrimination? We are living in these times where the world has become a global village. Internationality in thinking and practice is a must for global progression. Thus, for education to be international, the educational institutions must first-of-all have an international mindset, culture and practice. Failure to do so is short-changing the parents and the students and in the long run the education system of the respective country.


Is profit the vision and mission of educational institutions?

Educational institutions (especially private) have to make their profits. But when educational institutions deliberately promote faulty and erroneous thinking and practices for profit then profit alone becomes the vision and mission of these types of institutions. These kind of educational institutions become licensed paper-mills with no objective, positive and qualitative educational content. It is no wonder that certain washed-out Caucasian academicians who cannot find a job back in their "native speaking" countries, flock to certain Asian educational institutions that equates Internationality and competence with them. Please take note that I say "certain" as most holistic educational institutions at least attempt to avoid racial and nationality discriminations.


How to identify educational institution that practices racial and nationality discriminations?

The following is a list of cues that can easily be spotted:

1. The heavy use of the term native speakers.
2. Recruitment policies and practices that incline towards Caucasian job applicants.
3. Remuneration, salary and promotional differentiations between Asian and Caucasian personnel.
4. Preferential and affirmative policies that benefits Caucasian personnel and students.
5. Provision of preferential and affirmative facilities and resources for Caucasian personnel and students.
6. The existence and practice of Colonial work culture that treats Asian personnel as servants of Caucasian masters.
7. The utilization of higher ratio of Asian personnel for administrative and supportive positions while giving most of the academic and teaching positions to Caucasian personnel.
8. Or (the reverse), utilizing Caucasian personnel as decorational and promotional tools.
9. Emphasis of the existence and role of Caucasian personnel in the advertisement Medias and marketing materials.
10. Overcharging students on the pretext of the higher cost of employing Caucasian personnel.
11. Aggressive reactions to anyone who question the possible existence of racial and nationality discriminations.
12. The apathy and habitual ignorance of regulating the discipline of Caucasian personnel and students.


My question to all parents out there is would you entrust the future of your children to educational institutions that practices racial and nationality discriminations? Are you prepared to give your hard-earned money to educational institutions that are ready to con you and later blame you for their act? Are Asian academicians of lesser caliber or competence than Caucasians? I would like to shout loud and clear, a definite no! So think hard before you enroll your children in a so called international university. Inquire, examine and ask a lot of questions before taking any action. Remember, Internationality and competence cannot be equated with Caucasians alone.