this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2024
165 points (100.0% liked)

World News

39367 readers
2382 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

The number of highly cited scientists falsely claiming Saudi university affiliations has dropped 76% following revelations of a scheme where researchers were paid up to €70,000 annually to boost Saudi institutions’ global rankings.

The scandal, exposed by EL PAÍS, led to stricter scrutiny by Clarivate, which excluded 2,000 researchers from its 2024 list for misconduct.

Saudi institutions like King Saud University and King Abdulaziz University saw dramatic declines in listed scientists, jeopardizing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s goal of top-ranking universities.

The crackdown highlights widespread manipulation in academic rankings.

top 10 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 47 points 2 weeks ago

What a farce of a nation

[–] Stamau123@lemmy.world 36 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"What do you mean I can't bribe people to be smarter?"

[–] Xeroxchasechase@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sounds like a scene from "the dictator"!

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Just gotta add more islamophobia, zionism, etc. to make it a real SBC film.

[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 30 points 2 weeks ago

Saudi Arabia run a country without involving some kind of ridiculous elaborate scam for no reason challenge: impossible

[–] fxomt@lemm.ee 20 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Pathetic. Instead of the royal family investing their unimaginable wealth into the dumpsterfire of an education system, and the country as a whole, they do this fucking shit to fake looking developed, instead of actually improving the country. Why? because they can't stand the mere thought of giving up even an ounce of their wealth, even if it means countless will suffer, and die.

They are parasites, and shit like this is why we are one of the most embarrassing countries on the world stage.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

Saudi Arabia is like Las Vegas. As long as people think it's classy and rich and exciting, it doesn't matter if it actually is. The facade is all they care about. The substance is irrelevant. What a soulless bunch of losers.

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

When all you have is a hammer

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Lolol. I don't even think that would accomplish what they wanted, you want the actual university.

[–] toast@retrolemmy.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

Hmmm, I wonder if they'd pay up to 70,000 a year to any of us to claim that we're posting from there?