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Reform of Higher Education in the Arab World
Abstract
Because reform of higher education is inherently politically dangerous, with ramifications reaching well beyond the educational sphere itself, we must ask how policy reform might come about.
... Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, with the founding of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the current reform goal of Vision 2030. The changes seek to lessen reliance on oil, lower unemployment rates and connect education and the labor market (Waterbury, 2019). ...
... The lack of proper funding to carry on initiatives comprising industry is the main reason behind the poor collaboration between universities and industry (Kahwaji, 2019;Takieddine, 2019). However, many Arab states have launched reforms and have allocated funds to support research especially scientific ones such as in Saudi Arabia with their recent 2030 agenda (Waterbury, 2019). Although research in the Arab world is increasing and science is emphasized, there is no clear prediction on how this will evolve in the future especially that there is a debate that the region still lacks the infrastructure for a knowledge society (Ahmad et al., 2021). ...
... Insufficient funding for initiatives in industry is a major reason for the limited partnership between the two sectors, as reported by Kahwaji (2019) and Takieddine (2019). Nonetheless, several Arab countries have recently implemented reforms and allocated funds to support research, especially in scientific fields, such as Saudi Arabia's 2030 agenda (Waterbury, 2019). Despite these efforts to increase research and prioritize science, the future of research in the Arab world is uncertain, as some experts argue that the region still lacks the infrastructure for a knowledge society (Ahmad et al., 2021). ...
University–Industry Collaborations (UIC) are increasingly recognized as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. While numerous studies have been conducted on this topic, this paper specifically focuses on UIC in the Arab World. The aim of this study is to explore the establishment of successful UIC by conducting a review of existing literature to identify and synthesize key factors that enable collaborative innovation between industry and universities. The findings are summarized into six main themes: the importance of UIC, barriers to UIC, gaps between universities and industry in the Arab World, partnerships and sustainable growth, current trends and perspectives, and future agenda for Arab countries. These themes are elaborated on and used to summarize results from the reviewed studies regarding facilitators of collaborative innovation. The contribution of this work lies in enhancing the existing body of literature and knowledge regarding collaboration between higher education and industry in the Arab World. This research presents specific measures that can be implemented to ensure successful UIC in the future. Its outcomes are significant for policymakers, academics, and industry experts in the Arab region, who aspire to form productive UIC partnerships that encourage economic development and innovation.
... Por su parte, en 2005, tras la sucesión monárquica, la Corona Saudí comienza a desmantelar las políticas conservadoras que regían el sector de la educación superior y funda la Universidad de Ciencia y Tecnología Rey Abdalá (Waterbury, 2019). La institución, pensada en el marco de la transición hacia la era post-petrolera, cuenta con una agenda de investigación que abarca los desafíos nacionales en torno a la energía, alimentación, medioambiente y agua, constituyendo en la actualidad la vanguardia del sistema científico y de transferencia tecnológica de Arabia Saudí (Bashir, 2020;Waterbury, 2019). ...
... Por su parte, en 2005, tras la sucesión monárquica, la Corona Saudí comienza a desmantelar las políticas conservadoras que regían el sector de la educación superior y funda la Universidad de Ciencia y Tecnología Rey Abdalá (Waterbury, 2019). La institución, pensada en el marco de la transición hacia la era post-petrolera, cuenta con una agenda de investigación que abarca los desafíos nacionales en torno a la energía, alimentación, medioambiente y agua, constituyendo en la actualidad la vanguardia del sistema científico y de transferencia tecnológica de Arabia Saudí (Bashir, 2020;Waterbury, 2019). ...
... Sin duda alguna, un factor clave en este súbito incremento del rendimiento de las universidades de Oriente Próximo, como lo sugieren las pruebas de correlación, es la enorme capacidad económica de los países líderes de la región, que ha permitido financiar presupuestos importantes para el sector de investigación y desarrollo(Bouri & Maalouf, 2018;Nawaz & Koç, 2020;Waterbury, 2019). Esta realidad implica un fuerte contraste con la política de inversión marginal en investigación de las naciones de la zona hispanoparlante de Sudamérica (Unesco, 2021).Una situación similar ocurre con el impacto de las publicaciones. ...
Sudamérica hispanoparlante y el Oriente Próximo son, dada la magnitud de su producción científico-tecnológica, regiones periféricas en el sistema científico global. No obstante, sus sistemas universitarios se han fortalecido en las últimas décadas. Este artículo compara la evolución de los sistemas universitarios nacionales de la Sudamérica hispanoparlante y el Oriente Próximo en las áreas de investigación e innovación, abarcando las distintas disciplinas del conocimiento científico. Se consideran indicadores de investigación, impacto científico e innovación. Los resultados evidencian que Oriente Próximo, a pesar de sus limitaciones, incrementó la producción científica, la extensión de las redes de colaboración internacional y la transferencia de tecnologías desde la universidad a la industria. De manera opuesta, los países hispanoparlantes de Sudamérica han caído en un estancamiento de su actividad científica y de innovación.
... In the MENA region, interest groups do not typically engage in lobbying activities as they do in western democracies, but rather directly intervene with the executive to secure desired policies or circumvent laws and regulations after they have been implemented. This lack of accountability also limits public debate on existing and new policies, as the media do not provide adequate platforms for discussion and analysis of policy alternatives (Waterbury, 2019). ...
... Academic experts in the education institutions in the MENA region tend to produce a majority of their academic output in the fields of social studies, specifically related to civil society and women. However, both society and government officials have a negative perception of these kinds of researches , either due to the quality of their outputs or the motivations behind foreign funding for their research (Hay, 2012).There is no higher education lobby in Arab states, nor regional associations advocating for specific policies (Waterbury, 2019). ...
This study investigates and evaluates the engagement of academic experts in policy making in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a particular focus on Jordan. By delving into the real context of the academic experts' environment in Jordan, this study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the potential of academic experts' engagement in policy making in the MENA region, as well as the constraints and challenges they face in doing so. The research is based on the premise that universities and academic experts play a crucial role in generating and managing knowledge through research on issues that are central and critical to the development and advancement of Jordan. It also assumes that academic experts in the region have a certain level of understanding of the policy development process due to transparent and clear policy making processes. In addition, the study will examine also the ability of academic experts to freely express their beliefs, ideologies, and perspectives without facing restrictions due to political considerations or confidentiality requirements.
... At a time when they need to be more skilled than ever at recruiting talent to public service, public universities throughout the world are experiencing unprecedented staffing issues [23]. ...
... Employees in both administrative and teaching roles at these institutions are the conduits through which students are equipped and fostered to become productive members of society who may aid in the development of the country [23]. This means that screening and evaluation of candidates' abilities and knowledge is crucial throughout the recruiting process. ...
Human resource management encompasses all aspects of an organization's interactions with its personnel, including hiring and firing, benefits administration, goal setting and monitoring, employee performance evaluations, and handling employee departures. Public universities in Meru County have established rules and processes to provide their highest possible quality of service to their students. Similarly, these universities' human resources departments have helped establish procedures to guarantee staff members' adherence to legal frameworks, punctuality in reporting for work, absence-free attendance, audits of risk management practices, and a focus on workplace health, safety, and succession. Despite their best efforts, they are experiencing poor and substandard staff performance. Staff morale is poor and employees are not committed to their jobs, which results in frequent walkouts. Employees vent their frustrations, citing the high turnover rate as a reason why they too are looking for new employment. Nevertheless, there is paucity of conceptual and empirical knowledge. Thus, the ground for the present study was to determine the effect of recruitment and selection on employee performance in public universities in Meru County. The study employed descriptive cross-sectional research design. Academic, administrative, and human resources personnel made up the 90 study's target population. The study employed census method to obtain the study respondents. The study employed structured questionnaires to collect data. A pretesting of data collection tools was undertaken at university of Embu due to comparative characteristics. The pilot study enhanced validity and reliability of the tools. Using a statistical software for the social sciences (SPSS) window version 25, numerical data obtained in the field via surveys were sorted and recorded. The researcher used descriptive statistics (such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) to describe and summarize the data, and inferential statistics to draw conclusions from the data. Pearson's bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis were inferential statistics that was used to learn more about the correlation and effect of the variables of interest with regard to the continuous variables of interest. The study observed the ethical considerations of the research. This research uncovered a noteworthy positive correlation between various human resource functions, including recruitment and selection within public universities in Meru County. Through regression analysis, it was determined that approximately 46.1% of the variations in employee performance across these public universities could be attributed collectively to the utilization of recruitment and selection. Consequently, this study concludes that recruitment and selection exerted the most significant influence on employee performance. As a result, it is recommended that universities prioritize the enhancement of individual components within their HR functions rather than opting for a holistic approach.
... In Saudi Arabia, the establishment of King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) and the recent reform agenda of Vision 2030 under the Crown Prince's patronage are part of a shift toward a knowledge economy. The reforms aim to reduce the oil-dependency, decrease the unemployment rates, and link education to the job market (Waterbury 2019). Morocco allocated 63 USD million to provide support to R&D, innovation, and academic-corporate collaboration. ...
... Debating the Arab World's knowledge evolution (Mohamed, O'Sullivan, and Ribière 2008) argued that the region needs to develop the infrastructure for a knowledge society. Some of the researchers have attempted to put an overall picture of research, knowledge, innovation, and higher education in the region (Bizri 2013;Nour and Mohamed 2011;Waast and Rossi 2010;Waterbury 2019). ...
The Arab World, a regional block of 22 countries, has been the epicenter of knowledge and innovation for many centuries. After the gap and neglect of centuries, the region is undergoing reforms that would increase scientific activities. Using the InCites tool of Clarivate Analytics, this study used bibliometric indicators of research impact and productivity to present the dynamics of the Arab World’s research published between 1980 and 2020. The findings disclose that the first two decades of the 21st century witnessed a significant increase in research productivity in the region consistent with the Arab World’s recent initiatives to promote scientific research. Saudi publications attracted the highest number of citations. Almost half of the region’s research has collaborated internationally. The region performed better than the world in several indicators like citation impact, impact factor publications, and international collaborations; however, the region’s performance lags behind the world in academic-industry collaborations and publications in Q1 journals and impact relative to the world indicators. The study recommends adopting the open access model of publishing for increased visibility and impact based on the findings. Increased attention is needed in the region to enhance research linkages between universities and industry.
... For example, empirical studies (Masoud, 2017;Alakaleek, 2019) have reported a decline in the level of employment of business school students and a shortage in the capabilities and skills graduates need to be considered employable, and employers continue to report that graduates are not ready for the world of work (Altarawneh, 2016). This is mainly due to the lack of focus on employability in the curriculum design (Groh et al., 2016;Assaad et al., 2018;Waterbury, 2019). Figure 1 below shows unemployment by education in major regions compared to Jordan (World Bank, 2015). ...
... The national and regional demand for Jordanian graduates, especially those from business schools, has decreased significantly due to the significant mismatch between the needs of the labour market and the output of the higher education system in Jordan (Assaad et al., 2018). Thus, there are increasing calls for business schools in Jordan to enhance graduates' employability (Badran, 2014;Barsoum;Mryyan, 2014;Assaad et al., 2018;Alakaleek, 2019;Waterbury, 2019). ...
Purpose
This paper explores the applications of lean thinking in re-evaluating the business school curriculum, syllabus and intended learning objectives to enhance the employability of graduates through identifying and eliminating non–value-added activities.
Design/methodology/approach
The research employed multilevel qualitative methodology, where 55 semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from academics, students and graduates from several private and public universities in Jordan.
Findings
The study finds that the application of lean thinking in the business school is twofold – it helps the developer of the school curriculum to get rid of many superfluous and non–value-added activities and also emphasises and reinforces the value-added activities. Value stream mapping, with a consideration for internal and external outputs, has been found to be a useful tool for developing an employability-focussed curriculum that equips business school students with the required competences and skills in the labour market.
Research limitations/implications
The study is based on a qualitative research approach. The generalisability of the findings is difficult to assess, and future research would benefit from the insights obtained from the quantitative data
Practical implications
In practice, this study has identified different types of non–value-added and unnecessary activities in business school curriculum and has made suggestions for the development of a more employability-focussed curriculum.
Originality/value
This paper investigates the non–value-added activities of the business school curriculum, syllabus and the intended learning objectives to enhance the employability of graduates in Jordan.
... One of the most essential recommendations by education experts to advance Arab education and progress in the global ranking of the most successful and educated countries is the necessity to review the system of preparing and training teachers (Badawi, 2023;Waterbury, 2019;Altakhaineh and Zibin, 2021). The aim is to provide an educational framework capable of leading the educational process and enabling students to acquire knowledge and skills (Ministry of Education, 2019; Sywelem and Witte, 2013). ...
Teacher quality is one of the most significant factors influencing the overall effectiveness of an education system. In this process, educators emphasize that teachers play the most crucial role in the educational process. Highlighting the importance of teachers draws attention to the value of their education, training, and readiness. This article discusses the history of initial teacher preparation (ITP) and its development within the context of Saudi Arabia. Drawing on the relevant literature, this review paper explores the fundamental elements that (ITP) education should include to achieve Vision 2030 goals for preparing future teachers. The paper also provides a proposed organizational framework for initial teacher preparation (ITP) in Saudi Arabia. The point in focusing on this topic lies in its academic contribution to the background context of initial teacher preparation (ITP), where little research has been published over the past years.
... They have tried to address issues related to unemployment and stagnant economies by educating and training the Arab youth in professions that allow them to fulfill local and global job market needs. Many countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon have been active in this regard (Masri and Wilkens, 2011;Waterbury, 2019). ...
Purpose-This study aims to investigate the research productivity of library and information science (LIS) authors affiliated with the 22 countries of the Arab League. It also identifies the top countries, organizations, authors, journals, natures of collaboration, and frequently used keywords in LIS research in the Arab world. Design/methodology/approach-Bibliometric methods were used to evaluate the research performance of the authors affiliated with library organizations in the Arab region. The Elsevier Scopus database was selected for data retrieval. A comprehensive search strategy was adopted to retrieve 863 publications contributed by LIS authors affiliated with the Arab countries. VOS viewer, Biblioshiny, BiblioAnalyitics, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel were used for data visualization and analysis. Findings-This paper presents the dynamics and the state of the LIS research in the Arab region published between 1951 and 2021. The results of the study have highlighted an upward trend in the growth of the publications, especially in the past four years. The largest number of studies were published in the year 2020. The country-wise analysis ranked Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as the top LIS research producing countries with five and four researchers, respectively. The Kuwait University, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University were the three most productive organizations. Academic libraries, social media, bibliometrics, information-seeking behavior, information literacy and knowledge management were identified as the major areas of interest for the researchers. Internet and open access were topics that had gained recent popularity, while the digital library, research data management, green librarianship, link data, cloud computing, library leadership, library automation and artificial intelligence were identified as areas requiring further attention. Furthermore, the single-author pattern was found to be the most preferred pattern.
... They have tried to address issues related to unemployment and stagnant economies by educating and training the Arab youth in professions that allow them to fulfill local and global job market needs. Many countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Morocco, Tunisia and Lebanon have been active in this regard (Masri and Wilkens, 2011;Waterbury, 2019). ...
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the research productivity of library and information science (LIS) authors affiliated with the 22 countries of the Arab League. It also identifies the top countries, organizations, authors, journals, natures of collaboration, and frequently used keywords in LIS research in the Arab world.
Design/methodology/approach
Bibliometric methods were used to evaluate the research performance of the authors affiliated with library organizations in the Arab region. The Elsevier Scopus database was selected for data retrieval. A comprehensive search strategy was adopted to retrieve 863 publications contributed by LIS authors affiliated with the Arab countries. VOS viewer, Biblioshiny, BiblioAnalyitics, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel were used for data visualization and analysis.
Findings
This paper presents the dynamics and the state of the LIS research in the Arab region published between 1951 and 2021. The results of the study have highlighted an upward trend in the growth of the publications, especially in the past four years. The largest number of studies were published in the year 2020. The country-wise analysis ranked Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as the top LIS research producing countries with five and four researchers, respectively. The Kuwait University, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University were the three most productive organizations. Academic libraries, social media, bibliometrics, information-seeking behavior, information literacy and knowledge management were identified as the major areas of interest for the researchers. Internet and open access were topics that had gained recent popularity, while the digital library, research data management, green librarianship, link data, cloud computing, library leadership, library automation and artificial intelligence were identified as areas requiring further attention. Furthermore, the single-author pattern was found to be the most preferred pattern.
Practical implications
The findings of this study would help prospective researchers in choosing the neglected areas of research that require further investigation. They would also help policymakers in identifying factors that need more attention and allocation of research funds.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive bibliometric study that presents a holistic picture of the LIS research in the Arab region.
... Page 2 of 11 Sweileh Int J Ment Health Syst (2021) 15:50 to meet the demands of increasing numbers of university students [2]. University students in the Arab region represent a sizable number of young population that requires special policies in education, employment, and health. ...
Objective
The current study aimed at investigating the contribution of researchers in the Arab region to the field of mental health and well-being of university students using bibliometric tools.
Method
Relevant literature was obtained from the Scopus database for the period from 2001–2020. Examples of keywords used in the query included “college student”, “university student”, and undergraduate student” combined with keywords such as wellbeing, wellness, suicide, and anxiety. No language restriction was used. Only research articles were considered. The search query was validated. Bibliometric indicators and mappings such as active countries, institutions, authors, highly cited documents, and the most frequently encountered topics were identified and discussed to shed light on research gaps in the Arab region. Research gaps were also identified. The analysis was carried out on February 12, 2021.
Results
The search query returned 309 research articles published by authors from 17 different Arab countries. Less than one-third (n = 97, 31.4%) of the retrieved articles were carried out in collaboration with authors from 39 non-Arab countries, mainly from the United Kingdom and the United States. The overall contribution of researchers from the Arab region to global research in the field was 5.6%. In total, 1212 authors from 791 different institutions participated in publishing the retrieved research articles. At the country level, Saudi Arabia (n = 125, 40.5%) ranked first, followed by Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. At the institutional level, The University of Jordan (n = 25, 8.1%) ranked first, followed by King Saud University , and Kuwait University . The retrieved articles included 132 (42.7%) articles on stress/distress, 95 (30.7%) on anxiety, 61 (19.7%) on depression. Knowledge gaps on suicide, eating disorders, substance use, and happiness were identified. The retrieved articles appeared in 193 different journals and approximately two-thirds of the active journal were in general medicine, public health, and education.
Conclusions
The contribution of researchers in the Arab region to the field showed a noticeable increase with time. However, important research gaps were identified. The contribution was confined to authors from a limited number of Arab countries. Funding and international research collaboration for the mental health and well-being of students need to be strengthened.
... GCC represents the so-called Gulf countries, which consist of the Arab ethnic group. According to Waterbury (2019), the Arab learning pedagogy is still based on rote learning, which is likely to encourage classroom attendance among students from this region. See also Dubai School of Government (2013) and United Nations Development Program (2016) for similar views about pedagogy. ...
The relationship between class attendance and academic performance has been an important area of research, with a positive association being posited between the two. The setting for our study is an International Branch Campus (IBC) of a British university that needs to demonstrate the quality of its service delivery both to the parent institution and to the fee-paying students. We employ a dataset of over 900 students in an undergraduate degree programme and subject it to statistical techniques, namely quantile regression and two-stage quantile regression. Our results show that attendance has a beneficial influence on academic performance and this benefit persists at higher percentile of grades. We propose that IBCs could consider an attendance policy that encourages students to attend classes.
... Intricate as it is, the American accreditation system serves a valuable function of defending the public interest within a large and varied HE system. In 2002, the UNDEP "called for a radical revision of education systems in Arab countries" (Wilkens, 2011). This paper demystifies the amalgam of different accreditation systems around the world and proposes a frame of reference for the accreditation of HE engineering programs (EPs) in Tunisia where no clear accreditation procedures have been adopted to date to improve the education system. ...
This research study proposes a national frame of reference for the accreditation of engineering programs (EPs) in Tunisia. It uses as a benchmark the structure used by the world's leading accreditation systems such as ABET and CTI. It provides a comprehensive framework for academic institutions to evaluate the performance of their programs. In addition, it suggests the procedures, steps and timeline for the application process, and defines the required documents that should be submitted.
The study analyses the standards applied by well-established accreditation agencies like ABET, CIT and EUR-ACE, studies the perceptions of academicians who participated in six workshops and uses the results of surveys and interviews to characterize their opinions about accreditation. A sample population of 146 faculty members, experts and policymakers from 23 different HEIs in Tunisia, who had participated in the workshops mentioned above, was solicited to participate to the survey. The opinions of 51 respondents who responded to the survey were analyzed. This methodology led to the establishment of a proposed national frame of reference for the Accreditation of EPs.
Analysis reveals that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) provides authorization (‘Habilitation’) to institutions allowing them to offer their educational program. However, it is inaccurate to consider this procedure as accreditation since it is a more of a licensure process.
In addition, the MHESR grants the ‘Habilitation’ to those institutions that successfully apply. The National Authority for Assessment, Quality Assurance and Accreditation (IEAQA) isn’t involved in this process, which makes the latter’s role trivial.
This frame of reference will help the MHESR to evaluate the EPs based on comprehensive analysis of well-established accreditation systems, to improve its ‘Habilitation’ process by splitting it in two parts as per international practice: licensure and accreditation and to make the existence and role of the IEAQA much clearer .
This study is the foremost study to propose a comprehensive frame of reference for accrediting EPs in Tunisia.
Reforming education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is becoming essential in order to adapt the local economies of the region to the global market economy, improve educational services, and respond to the needs and ambitions of the youth. An overview of the current higher education system (HES) in the MENA region is a must mainly after the Arabic Spring and the COVID-19 pandemic which both shook the societies of this region. In this chapter, there will be a historical description of the higher education evolution in MENA, and the current situation of the HES in the respective countries of the MENA. The governance of the HES in the MENA countries will be described since it is the main trigger for educational reform, analyzing potential opportunities that can contribute to overcoming the existing challenges.
The educational policy plays an important role in shaping the overall policies of the educational system. The rates of success and development and even economic advancement are measured by indicators of human development, and even local. The aim of this study presented that in developing the research instrument for evaluating the structure decisions, the item constitution might differ subject to the education context, instead of stipulating a unanimous instrument to all sectors among TVET in Libya. Hence, the adoption of using contingent instrument in different sectors will produce better and more relevant results in TVET context and likewise require necessary restructuring. Using quantitative research methodology this study identifies several managerial implications of making regulatory decision in the structure to accelerate the TVET performance of TVET in Libya. TVET private vocational training, top management, shareholders, and policy managers should be conscious of the consequences that may impact their decision in regulatory. They should also safeguard their policies with policy at the lowest cost of capital to conceive market value and TVET health of the policy. TVET private vocational training should concede the existence of asymmetric information would limit the policy in accessing debt policy and other alternative of the external regulatory options. One of the important responsibilities of policy manager is to actively refine the policy TVET system with a good track record for better creditworthiness to access wider sources of external policy.
The educational policy is in harmony with society's potentials that it can be used for the benefit of the educational process and the goals and aspirations that education seeks to achieve; there is no point in drawing up ideal educational policies that the educational reality cannot promote. This research will attempt to reach a suitable model after analysing the subsector through the review of previous studies. It cannot be an ideal model because it is expensive for those who are difficult to fully implement due to the diversity of restrictions in terms of time, resources, available data, etc., that must be dealt with on the ground. This private sector was explicitly chosen, education investors, because problems stemming from the private sector can be solved by adopting policies to improve outputs and harmonise. The outcomes of this study recommended that further research be undertaken in several areas. First, the sample drawn from the populations of TVET in Libya could be further enlarged. This would empower the variances according to the sample size by subgroups of investors such as micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises by underlining the type of regulatory preference in selecting an educational policy and proportionate structure, particularly in different contexts.
Educational policy in the field of private education in Libya, there was no fixed and visionary policy. The increase in the number of graduates of technical and technical education without attention to quality indicates the absence of an integrated educational policy to reform education and develop training in previous periods due to the absence of standards and future directions in the making of educational policy. Using literature review, this paper found an urgent need to shape educational policies in general, and TVET education in particular, by using the systems theory of Easton, the defect was identified and the need to activate the role of investors in education and training was found, with the participation of the private sector in education in its multiple forms, whether in partnership or privatizations or by opening educational institutions by private companies, directing them to serve the objectives of educational policy and contribute to lifting the burden on the state. As well as knowing how Libya benefits when compared with Malaysia.
Governments set and administer public policy, and exercise executive, political, and sovereign power via laws, institutions, and custom and practice. Almost all have legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. At a national level, governments determine the operating environment for universities and can constrain and even damage development and competitiveness of both higher education and the national economy. Local governments can also influence universities in their sphere of operation. Governments can directly affect university quality, relevance of teaching and research, student employability, and the extent to which university-derived innovation and entrepreneurship can flourish. Of the diverse forms of government in the world, western-style, liberal and essentially free-market democracies have provided the best operating environments for universities and their graduates and postgraduates. Political and economic stability coupled to free speech and strong measures to control corruption are of paramount importance to the functioning of universities in the global economy. Universities vary widely in their types of governance, ownership (public sector or not-for-profit, or profit-making in the private sector), age, size, financial resilience, reputation, contributions to society and the economy, existence of commercial arms and satellite bodies, the extent and breadth of research conducted, the amount of autonomy they have from government, recruitment of international staff and students, ethnic and religious influences, bureaucracy, value for money, quality assurance and relevance assessments, embedded integrity, and degree of competitiveness. As a consequence, there is no single best governance model for universities. Nevertheless, the quality of a university and whether or not it really meets the internationally accepted definition of a university is shaped by the quality of its governance, staff, and student-body while appreciating that finance lies at the heart of whether or not the institution can survive. Meeting the oft-unwritten social contracts with the host country and its students is determined by the quality and relevance of education and research carried out, and importantly, the encouragement and facilitation of innovation, creativity, novelty, and entrepreneurship. The employability of graduates and postgraduates is a crucially important indicator of the true value of a university. Reputation and international rankings of higher-education institutions are directly affected by the quality and integrity of their boards, trustees, governing bodies, and so on, and also of those occupying key leadership positions. Institutional reputations can be destroyed by a wide range of inappropriate behaviours, or even the perception of such behaviours. Thus, the mission, vision, adaptability, and capacity of higher-education institutions to deliver the societal needs are dependent on the quality of both national governments and university governance. No Arab country functions as a western-style liberal democracy with strong public finances, robust civil-society institutions, and essentially free markets. Most Arab countries have high levels of poverty and are politically unstable. Various forms of corruption can be endemic. Arab countries are not able to provide solutions or adapt to the existential threat of climate change or major health issues such as pandemics and pollution. For some of these countries, university autonomy is regarded as a threat. Yet, in order for universities, research institutes, and other institutions of higher education to thrive in the Arab world and contribute to national growth and prosperity, there is a need for much greater institutional autonomy that they currently have. This increased freedom to operate requires legislation that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, respects intellectual property, and invests in lifelong learning. Universities in turn must accept independent assessments of the quality and relevance of their education and research. Senior civil servants, political advisors, and politicians must be capable of appreciating the potential of the rapidly developing raft of transformative technologies, and should consult the intellectual resources in higher-education institutions for guidance in generating and implementing policy. There should also be consultations with regional partners to establish advanced regional research facilities as well as developing functional links with international agencies monitoring, stimulating, and funding education and research. In order for all institutions of higher education to produce employer-ready graduates and postgraduates, and innovators and entrepreneurs, the education and research they offer should demonstrate quality, be relevant to the needs of employers and society more generally, and offer value for money. Their boards or governing bodies should comprise individuals of high moral and ethical standing and committed to the precepts of advanced scholarship and societal improvement. They must ensure that the institution has a viable mission and suitable performance targets, including the fight against corruption. Those in leadership positions throughout these institutions must be of demonstrable competence, integrity, ambition, and vision. To these attributes, the ability to adapt to change is a prerequisite, especially as numerous new technologies, forms of employment, and economic models evolve. There is now greater awareness of the need to focus on the institutional governance processes. Many of those in senior positions were appointed on the basis of attributes unrelated to their managerial and governance competencies. Large numbers of unemployed and underemployed graduates and postgraduates testify to underperforming, sometimes irrelevant, resource- and time-wasting education and research. No wonder governments can be disappointed with universities in their bailiwicks, and be reluctant to fund them adequately. Particular attention must be given to interactions between governments and institutions of higher education. In most countries, universities have to deal with school leavers following state-funded secondary education, over which universities have little control. Accordingly, they may have to offer remedial-style teaching. State-funded education usually requires upgrading, sometimes in the face of resistance from teaching unions. Some governments control senior appointments in higher-education institutions and may even control the curricula and spending, much to the detriment of the institutions and therefore their students and staff. International competitiveness, demands of parents and sponsors, the needs of commerce and business, and the parlous state of public finances mean that new models of interactions between governments and higher-education institutions are crucial for the Arab world. This review chapter describes the role and diversity of governments; notes that democracy is vulnerable to various pressures; considers the role of local government in terms of interacting with universities; proposes what Arab governments ought to do; discusses national economies, trade, and commerce; defines what is meant by the term university and gives an overview of Arab universities; emphasises that most academics regard themselves as part of a global community; describes the types of university-governance strategies; considers essential leadership and management attributes; reviews the relationship between public-sector research institutes and universities; reflects on problems with spreadsheets in management and research; appraises the critical issue of corruption; relates the issues of governments and governance to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; and finally makes suggestions on the roles of sovereign-wealth funds, plastic pollution, and air pollution.
The Jordan Education Initiative, launched in 2003 under the umbrella of the World Economic Forum, is a public-private partnership, or multi-stakeholder partnership, that integrates information and communication technologies into the education process as a tool for teaching and learning in grades 1-12. This initiative fits within the ongoing reform of the education system in Jordan that began in the 1990s. The Jordan Education Initiative's main objective is to help Jordanian students develop critical knowledge economy skills crucial for competitiveness and economic growth. The Initiative also seeks to build the capacity of the local information technology industry for the development of innovative learning solutions, and to build a sustainable model of reform supported by the private sector that could be scaled nationally and replicated in other developing countries.
Cet ouvrage étudie les politiques et certaines pratiques de la recherche dans le monde arabe pour saisir les effets de la mondialisation de la recherche dans ces pays. L'injonction à rejoindre l'économie de la connaissance concerne tous les pays non-hégémoniques mais est particulièrement forte et fréquente dans les pays arabes ; plusieurs pays tentent d'y répondre sans toutefois porter une grande attention aux institutions de recherche. Le paysage institutionnel des pays arabes en matière de recherche reste assez fragmenté, comme le montre cette analyse qui porte à la fois sur les systèmes nationaux de recherche au travers d'exemples particuliers, notamment au Liban et en Jordanie, ainsi que dans les sciences sociales. Le livre montre comment s'exprime cette tension fondamentale dans les dynamiques de la recherche des pays arabes entre l'internationalisation de la recherche et sa pertinence locale. Cette tension se résout dans une institutionnalisation faible, où la recherche est loin d'être aussi prioritaire dans les faits que dans les discours, la professionnalisation de la recherche se réalise à la marge de la croissance universitaires, dans un manque de confiance envers les chercheurs qui doivent faire face à la fois à des pratiques de gouvernements autoritaires et la pression de la mondialisation imposée par les régimes de promotion universitaire.
Over recent decades we have witnessed the globalization of research. However, this has yet to translate into a worldwide scientific network, across which competencies and resources can flow freely. Arab countries have strived to join this globalized world and become a 'knowledge economy,' yet little time has been invested in the region's fragmented scientific institutions; institutions that should provide opportunities for individuals to step out on the global stage. Knowledge Production in the Arab World investigates research practices in the Arab world, using multiple case studies from the region with particular focus on Lebanon and Jordan. It depicts the Janus-like face of Arab research, poised between the negative and the positive and faced with two potentially opposing strands; local relevance alongside its internationalization. The book critically assesses the role and dynamics of research and poses questions that are crucial to further our understanding of the very particular case of knowledge production in the Arab region. The book explores research's relevance and whom it serves, as well as the methodological flaws behind academic rankings and the meaning and application of key concepts such as knowledge society/economy. Providing a detailed and comprehensive examination of knowledge production in the Arab world, this book is of interest to students, scholars and policy makers working on the issues of research practices and status of science in contemporary developing countries.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Remarkably, half a century ago, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world, recovering from the Korean War and facing serious economic difficulties. Today, it is a member of the G20 major global economies with a market value that ranks 11th in the world. Investment in science and technology as a development strategy is what made South Korea one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Now, as the nation promotes its new Creative Economy plan, KIST moves into its next 50 years, ensuring that science and technology remain the foundation of this new era of innovation.
This chapter defends the 'private patois of political science', revisiting in separate sections the notions of governance, the core executive, the hollowing out of the core executive, and the differentiated polity. There are already plenty of formal academic statements, but the aim here is to provide an informal guide to one way of understanding British government, to what we are trying to understand, and to how we understand it. The author believes that the old vocabulary for describing Westminster and Whitehall is at best a partial description of how British government works, and that a new language is needed to capture the changes that have taken and are taking place.
Berber speakers are estimated to make up 40 percent of the Moroccan population. In spite of the fact that Muslim Berber dynasties controlled Morocco at various points since the arrival of Islam, the conflation of Arabic language, Islamic legitimacy and Arab ethnicity has nonetheless proved to be an enduring feature of Moroccan consciousness. Viewing Berber cultural identity as largely a colonial invention designed to fragment the Moroccan nation, the 1950s nationalist movement-under the direction of the Istiqlal Party, consisting primarily of Fez-based Francophone elites-sought to forge a univocal identity for Moroccans along the ideological lines of an Arab nationalism imported primarily from Egypt and Lebanon. Until the IRCAM dahir, the monarchy, deriving its temporal authority from its religious lineage, had repeatedly underwritten such an Arabo-Islamist ideology that has entailed the adoption of Arabic as the official and national language of Morocco.
In the aftermath of Egypt's popular uprising, the country is embracing a grand vision to make scientific research the engine of a powerhouse economy. Can Egyptian scientists make it happen?
Le Maroc, apres avoir axe sa politique de developpement sur la substitution aux importations, assise sur une forte emprise de l'Etat, a mis en place au debut des annees 80 un plan d'ajustement structurel, insistant sur le desengagement de l'Etat, la dereglementation, la promotion du secteur prive et l'ouverture au marche mondial. Il n'a pas empeche la montee du chomage, en particulier des jeunes diplomes, et l'essor notable de l'economie illegale. Cependant, l'enrichissement generalise a entraine la formation progressive d'une societe civile face a un Etat tout-puissant, et a mis fin a la terreur latente. Ceci se traduit, notamment, par l'amelioration de la condition des femmes et des prisonniers, et de la liberte d'expression. Toutefois, ce plan devrait s'accompagner d'un projet social, surtout en matiere de logement et de reduction des inegalites, et d'une reforme politique visant a la formation d'un veritable Etat de droit.
The Arab Spring constitutes perhaps the most far-reaching political and economic transition since the end of communism in Europe. For too long, the economic aspirations of the people in the region, especially young people, have been ignored by leaders in Arab countries and abroad. Competing views as to how best to meet these aspirations are now being debated in the region. The outcome will shape Arab societies for generations to come. The authors of this book argue that significant economic reforms must accompany the major political transitions that are underway. Although each country has a different economic structure and history and must make its own way forward, there are spill-overs from trade and investment linkages, the contagion of news cycles, interaction of people and sharing of expectations that are too great to ignore. Some common foundation of the new Arab economies is needed. Towards that end, this volume addresses four central challenges of economic reform in the Arab world. First, with two-thirds of the population under the age of 30, the disproportionate burdens of unemployment and poor education can no longer be heaped on youth. Second, while some government policies may have improved the living standards of Arab citizens in the past, they have also entrenched cronies, enriched a small elite, and become unaffordable. Third, if Arab economies are to compete in the 21st century they cannot depend solely on oil and gas money, remittances, and tourism, but will require active, independent private sectors. And finally, the relative isolation of Arab economies--both from each other and from the world--must end. Rather than providing specific lists of recommendations, this book sets forth a set of guidelines and priorities for reformers who will begin creating new opportunities for youth, rebuilding the institutions of the state, diversifying the private sector, and cooperating with each other and integrating with the world economy.
This paper assesses the adequacy, efficiency, and equity of higher education in Lebanon in both the public and private sectors,
while highlighting challenges that are specific to Lebanon. It concludes by discussing various approaches and strategies to
remedy the challenges facing higher education in Lebanon.
KeywordsHigher education finance–Political economy of higher education–Equity–Adequacy–Labour market–Lebanon
Analyzes how successful firms fail when confronted with technological and market changes, prescribing a list of rules for firms to follow as a solution. Precisely because of their adherence to good management principles, innovative, well-managed firms fail at the emergence of disruptive technologies - that is, innovations that disrupt the existing dominant technologies in the market. Unfortunately, it usually does not make sense to invest in disruptive technologies until after they have taken over the market. Thus, instead of exercising what are typically good managerial decisions, at the introduction of technical or market change it is very often the case that managers must make counterintuitive decisions not to listen to customers, to invest in lower-performance products that produce lower margins, and to pursue small markets. From analysis of the disk drive industry, a set of rules is devised - the principles of disruptive innovation - for managers to measure when traditional good management principles should be followed or rejected. According to the principles of disruptive innovation, a manager should plan to fail early, often, and inexpensively, developing disruptive technologies in small organizations operating within a niche market and with a relevant customer base. A case study in the electric-powered vehicles market illustrates how a manager can overcome the challenges of disruptive technologies using these principles of disruptive innovation. The mechanical excavator industry in the mid-twentieth century is also described, as an example in which most companies failed because they were unwilling to forego cable excavator technology for hydraulics machines. While there is no "right answer" or formula to use when reacting to unpredictable technological change, managers will be able to adapt as long as they realize that "good" managerial practices are only situationally appropriate. Though disruptive technologies are inherently high-risk, the more a firm invests in them, the more it learns about the emerging market and the changing needs of consumers, so that incremental advances may lead to industry-changing leaps. (CJC)
Scientists are carrying Egypt's 25 January revolution, which led to the downfall of longtime president Hosni Mubarak and his
dictatorial regime, to the country's universities and research institutes. They are demanding academic freedom, a living wage,
an end to corruption, and a clear strategy to help Egypt tackle the coming challenges. The interim government, overseen by
the army, is listening. Egypt's current leaders are not waiting for a new elected government, expected to take over sometime
in 2012, to make changes. They say that the revolution's ultimate success depends on jump-starting the flagging economy and
that one crucial way to do that is to transform the country's troubled research establishment.
Incl. annotated bibliography pp. 211-243, index
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