Students at a New York University Abu Dhabi graduation ceremony in 2016. The National
Students at a New York University Abu Dhabi graduation ceremony in 2016. The National

Fresh-faced university graduates are our best hope of deflecting fake news



Set in the English county of Kent, an hour by train from London, Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe. It’s 1,000 years old, one of the oldest buildings in Britain and in the past week, it has also been one of the happiest.

Students and their families from all over the world and of all faiths have been taking part in joyful university graduation ceremonies. Those receiving degrees come from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Japan, China, India, Brunei, Malaysia and countless other countries. Some wear Ghanaian Kente cloth, some wear hijabs. Others have Scottish tartan kilts or Norwegian traditional dress. University graduation ceremonies like this have been taking place at the end of term across the world, as the best and the brightest young people are rewarded for their many years of study.

As Chancellor of the University of Kent, I have formally awarded the degrees over the past week to about 5,000 students and shaken them all by the hand, looked into their happy faces and wondered what kind of world they will shape as their future. Right now we are used to the deluge of so-called “fake news”, the bitter political arguments in which facts, experts and expertise are undervalued and derided and when lying at the top levels of political life has, for some at least, become normal.

What then is the purpose of a university in the 21st century, since universities are in the facts business? Facts are what we do. So how should we respond to those who denigrate facts and attack or undermine experts who try to bring knowledge where there is none?

Universities uphold the values of the Enlightenment, a word which means precisely what it sounds like – bringing the light of reason into the darkest corners. That means universities are in existence to promote facts, science, research, critical thinking, honest debate, scholarship and expertise.

And yet universities and other great institutions of learning are surrounded by a swamp of information, some of it deliberately and mischievously aimed at undermining facts, genuine research and scholarship.

There is, for example, a campaign to tell people that vaccinations against serious diseases do not work or will harm the health of children. There is no scientific or medical evidence for these claims. We are told by some people – often politicians with no expertise in climate science –  that climate change is not happening. The world’s experts say the science shows that it is.

In political life, we are told by some that there is no evidence that the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Syria, or that Russia was not behind the nerve gas attack in Britain. Some of those who investigate these claims believe they are false.

Since most of us are not epidemiologists, climate scientists or chemical weapons experts, we need to build and promote trust in those who are. Universities and educational establishments exist so that we can make life better for all of us, be more creative and more productive and have more fun.

Universities are not merely buildings full of knowledge, laboratories, books and clever people – they are institutions which live up to the values of the Enlightenment. That means they are a good place to begin to kill off “fake news”, the deniers of facts and science and malicious people who try to make us believe in lies.

But there is a problem. Experts, academics and scientists sometimes have difficulty explaining why their expertise and knowledge is both genuine and worth listening to.

So here is a modest proposal. Nobody can be an expert in everything. But if you would not get in a taxi driven by someone who had not driven before and if you would not visit a doctor who knew nothing about medicine, maybe it is time to cherish expert opinions and listen to those who have knowledge through study.

And experts also have a responsibility. They need to turn themselves into good communicators to inform those of us who are not experts – that is, most of us – about the difference between evidence, research and facts on the one hand, and uninformed opinions on the other.

When President John F Kennedy became president of the United States, the White House was described as Camelot, the home to “the best and the brightest” in American society. It wasn’t perfect but at least Kennedy was intelligent enough to understand he needed other clever people to help him lead his country.

Universities are not perfect either, but the young men and women from all over the world who have graduated this week have the chance to lead us into a better future. I am confident they will accept the challenge.

Moreover, universities in the UAE and elsewhere demonstrate one obvious fact about our world. Most of the problems we have are not national but international – conflict, famine, climate change, poverty, migration. The solutions therefore are bigger than any one country.

Young people who study with others from different countries, backgrounds and faiths, understand one big fact: to make things better, we need to work together.

Gavin Esler is a journalist, television presenter and author

pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari

Match info

Uefa Nations League A Group 4

England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')

Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)

RACE CARD AND SELECTIONS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m

5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m

6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m

6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m

 

The National selections

5pm: RB Hot Spot

5.30pm: Dahess D’Arabie

6pm: Taamol

6.30pm: Rmmas

7pm: RB Seqondtonone

7.30pm: AF Mouthirah

INDIA SQUADS

India squad for third Test against Sri Lanka
Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar

India squad for ODI series against Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)

RESULTS

4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)

4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”

UAE squad

Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

Bio

Age: 25

Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah

Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering

Favourite colour: White

Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai

Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.

First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.

ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJustine%20Triet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESandra%20Huller%2C%20Swann%20Arlaud%2C%20Milo%20Machado-Graner%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)

On sale: Now