Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab Adnan Badran Chief Editor Elias Baydoun · John R. Hillman Editors Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab World: Quality Assurance and Relevance Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab World: Quality Assurance and Relevance [email protected] Adnan Badran Chief Editor Elias Baydoun • John R. Hillman Editors Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab World: Quality Assurance and Relevance [email protected] Chief Editor Adnan Badran Department of Nutrition University of Petra Amman, Jordan Editors Elias Baydoun John R. Hillman Department of Biology James Hutton Institute American University of Beirut Dundee, UK Beirut, Lebanon ISBN 978-3-030-03773-4 ISBN 978-3-030-03774-1 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03774-1 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019931021 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland [email protected] Contents Introduction ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 1 Adnan Badran, Elias Baydoun, and John R. Hillman Quality Assurance and Relevance in Academia: A Review . 13 John R. Hillman and Elias Baydoun Transnational Education Networks of Excellence Based on Quality, Accreditation, and Recognition Management: A Holistic Approach . 69 Christian-Andreas Schumann, Feng Xiao, Kevin Reuther, and Claudia Tittmann Is There More to Quality Assurance Than Quality? ������������������������������������ 97 Ossi V. Lindqvist The Importance of Safeguarding Functional Independence in External Quality Assurance Decision-Making Activities . 109 Carol L. Bobby Evolving Landscape of Global Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities from a Graduate Education Perspective �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 125 Karen P. DePauw Reform of Higher Education in the Arab World . 133 John Waterbury Digital Transformation and Quality, Efficiency, and Flexibility in Arab Universities ���������������������������������������������������������������� 167 Milad Sebaaly v [email protected] vi Contents Indicators of Institutional and Program Ranking of Universities with Reference to the Arab World ���������������������������������������� 179 Adnan Badran and Serene Badran Quality Assurance in the Arab Region in the Era of Customization: Where Do We Stand in Terms of Relevance? . 211 Susanna Karakhanyan UNESCO Conventions on the Recognition of Higher-Education Qualifications ���������������������������������������������������������������� 225 Anasse Bouhlal and Peter J. Wells The Diploma Supplement as a Tool for Quality Assurance and Relevance �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 237 Isam Zabalawi and Isil Tumer Floden Quality Assurance and Relevance for Competitive Higher Education: Context of Jordan ������������������������������������������������������������ 257 Adnan Badran and Marwan Muwalla On the Quality Assurance of Faculty Members �������������������������������������������� 277 Mohamed Bettaz and Marwan Kamal Role and Impact of Bibliometric Analysis of Research Productivity in Faculty Evaluation, Recruitment, Promotion, Reappointment, Benchmarking, and in Mission-Based Management (MBM): Experience of the Faculty of Medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB), 1997–2007 . 289 Nadim Cortas and Boushra Rahal Quality-Assurance Agencies in the Maghreb Countries: Challenges and Opportunities ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 325 Wail Benjelloun Introducing Quality Assurance in Algerian Higher Education: The Case of the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene . 335 Ahmed Guessoum Higher-Education Relevance in Post-War Syria . 353 Hani Mourtada Unified National Medical Assessment: An Approach Towards Meeting the Needs of the Population During the Syrian Crisis ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 363 Mayssoon Dashash [email protected] Introduction Adnan Badran, Elias Baydoun, and John R. Hillman Abstract In a series of 18 chapters, this book reviews the roles of independent assessments of teaching, research, administration, planning, and governance in uni- versities in general and Arab universities specifically. It also considers the relevance of academic teaching, research, and societal impacts. The outcomes of actual quality- assurance assessments are described, and proposals made for future developments. Keywords Arab universities · Quality assurance · Relevance · Teaching · Research · External audits Following publication in June 2018 by Springer of our previous book entitled “Universities in Arab Countries: An Urgent Need for Change” (ISBN 978-3-319- 73110-0), we now address the closely related issues of quality assurance (QA) and relevance in universities, drawing on the expertise of 26 international experts. In an era of unprecedented social and technological changes, institutions of higher educa- tion throughout the world need to adapt to market requirements for their graduates and postgraduates as well as meet quality standards imposed by governments and demanded by students and by their parents and sponsors. Arab universities face particular challenges reflected in numerous reports from authoritative organisations such as the United Nations in its Arab Human Development Reports, the World Bank, and World Economic Forum, as well as detailed analyses by individual aca- demics and economists. A. Badran (*) Department of Nutrition, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan e-mail: [email protected] E. Baydoun Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon e-mail: [email protected] J. R. Hillman James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK e-mail: [email protected] © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 1 A. Badran et al. (eds.), Major Challenges Facing Higher Education in the Arab World: Quality Assurance and Relevance, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03774-1_1 [email protected] 2 A. Badran et al. Little has changed in the challenges facing the Arab world since we wrote the Introduction to the previous book. Socio-political development continues to lag behind that of developing countries in Asia that were once at the same stage of development. There has been a continuing failure to industrialise, export value- added goods, generate and exploit valuable intellectual property, create successful businesses, and fully integrate into the globalized economy. The 22 Arab countries have a combined population of around 407 million and most are classified as under- developed. There is widespread poverty exacerbated by political instability and high levels of unemployment and underemployment, even of graduates, coinciding with dramatic increases in the number of graduates and institutions of higher learning. Inadequate access to fresh water, food shortages, and lack of energy security also afflict significant sectors of Arab populations, a situation forecast to worsen with the impacts of global climate change. This aspect was the focus of our previous book in 2017 also published by Springer, namely “Water, Energy & Food Sustainability in the Middle East. The Sustainability Triangle” (ISBN 978-3-319-48919-3). Compounding the economic and environmental difficulties faced by Arab countries are relatively high birth rates, civil unrest, war, attempted cultural genocide, popula- tion displacement, and minorities placed under pressure. On first analysis, the future does not bode well for the young while Arab countries have authoritarian govern- ments, weak civil-society institutions, wide disparities in wealth, and substandard public finances. It is our view that rectifying the Arab problems can only come from a wholesale improvement in the quality and relevance of education in general, and higher education specifically to provide graduates and postgraduates to drive the necessary advances in economic and social development. Universities will shape the future. They are already beginning to act as the motive force for wealth creation and enhancing the quality of life. Nonetheless, most need to adapt to new ways of learning and utilizing
Recommended publications
  • Student Prospectus for Undergraduate Degrees
    Student Prospectus For Undergraduate Degrees Academic Year 2019-2020 AOU Statement AOU seeks to offer opportunities of higher and continuing education, with high quality, to all who have the potential by adopting open blended learning, utilizing state-of-the-art information and communication technologies. Face-to-Face Flexible E-learning tutorials Learning AOU AOU Goals High Quality Education Continuing Professional Education Training Jop Valuing Opportunities People Research and Scholarly Activities Student Prospectus For Undergraduate Degrees Table of Contents Preface 5 The Arab Open University: the Beginnings 6 University Mission, Vision and Goals 7 1 The AOU’s Vision 7 2 Mission Statement 7 3 The AOU’s Goals 7 4 Reasons for Joining the AOU 7 5 Partnership with The Open University, UK 8 A System of Integrated Open Learning 9 1 The Student Learning Package 9 2 Tutorial Sessions 10 3 Student Attendance 10 4 Office Hours 10 Resources 11 1 Learning Resources 11 2 Computer Laboratories 11 3 Other Facilities 11 AOU Branches 12 Quality Assurance 12 1 Designing Learning Materials 12 2 Managing and Monitoring of Tutors 13 3 Assessment 13 Admission Requirements 16 Language Placement Tests 16 English Language Levels Offered at the AOU 17 Credit Transfer (Course Equivalence) 18 Academic Degrees Offered at the AOU 18 1 BA (Honours) in Business Studies 20 2 BA (Honours) in English Language and Literature 20 3 BSc (Honours) in Information Technology and Computing 21 4 Academic Programmes Offered by the Faculty of Education 22 5 General Courses 22
    [Show full text]
  • Towards Improving the Status of Formal and Nonformal Environmental Education in Jordan
    TOWARDS IMPROVING THE STATUS OF FORMAL AND NONFORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN JORDAN A Dissertation submitted to Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft der Universität Hamburg for Attainment of a Doctoral Degree by Qasem S. Al-Newashi Irbid, Jordan 2002 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The researcher wishes to express his most profound feeling of gratitude and appreciation to his thesis supervisor, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Helmut P. Schreier for his encouragement, useful suggestions, constructive criticisms and guidance throughout the study. The researcher’s feeling of indebtedness to him shall stand as an everlasting mark of his academic success. He would like to express his most heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdalla M. Khataybeh for his comments and continuous guidance throughout all stages of this work, as well as his ever-helpful discussions, which were of great value. Not to be forgotten are the entire academic staff of the Educational Sciences and Art Faculty at Yarmouk University in Jordan, the academic staff of the Educational Sciences Faculty at the Qaboos University in Oman, and the academic staff at Al-Rustage College for Educational Sciences in Oman, for their invaluable comments and suggestions concerning the development of the instruments used in this study. The researcher also wishes to thank the formal educators and environmental awareness programs leaders in Jordan, for their valuable time spent in responding to the measuring criteria. The researcher expresses his gratitude to Prof. Dr. Janice Stephens for the review of language clarity of his thesis. Finally, the task of writing this thesis was made much easier through the support and understanding of my family, especially uncle Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Education in Africa: What Are We Learning?
    Education in Africa: What Are We Learning? David K. Evans and Amina Mendez Acosta Abstract Countries across Africa continue to face major challenges in education. In this review, we examine 142 recent empirical studies (from 2014 onward) on how to increase access to and improve the quality of education across the continent, specifically examining how these studies update previous research findings. We observe growing sophistication in the design of studies and an increase in studies with long-term outcomes. We identify several areas where new studies provide rigorous evidence on topics that do not figure prominently in earlier evidence syntheses. New evidence shows promising impacts of structured pedagogy interventions (which typically provide a variety of inputs, such as lesson plans and training for teachers together with new materials for students) and of mother tongue instruction interventions, as well as from a range of teacher programs, including both remunerative (pay-for-performance of various designs) and non-remunerative (coaching and certain types of training) programs. School feeding delivers gains in both access and learning. New studies also show long-term positive impacts of eliminating school fees for primary school and positive impacts of eliminating fees in secondary school. Education technology interventions have decidedly mixed impacts, as do school grant programs and programs providing individual learning inputs (e.g., uniforms or textbooks). Keywords: education, human capital, sub-Saharan Africa JEL: I20, I25, O12, O15 Working Paper 542 August 2020 www.cgdev.org Education in Africa: What Are We Learning? David K. Evans Center for Global Development Corresponding author: [email protected] Amina Mendez Acosta Center for Global Development The authors thank Alexis Le Nestour, Kim Lehrer, Adrienne Lucas, Benjamin Piper, Justin Sandefur, Francis Teal, and Andrew Zeitlin for providing helpful comments.
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping Vocational Education and Training Governance in Jordan
    MAPPING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING GOVERNANCE IN JORDAN GEMM GOVERNANCE FOR EMPLOYABILITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN This project is funded by the European Union This report was prepared by Tom Leney on the basis of data collected by Nader Mryyan, following the methodology of the ETF GEMM project on governance, financing, and quality assurance in vocational training. The process was coordinated by the ETF. The project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This working document reflects the views of the author only. The Commission, the ETF or any other EU institutions, cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. @ European Training Foundation, 2014 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. MAPPING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING GOVERNANCE IN JORDAN Contents Executive summary .................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Mapping employment and technical and vocational education and training governance – key points ................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Mapping of the ETVET system management .................................................................................9 1.2 Finance and
    [Show full text]
  • General Admission Regulations.Pdf
    AOU Admission Criteria Undergraduate Programmes: General Admission Criteria . To be admitted in any bachelor programme the applicant should have fulfilled the following conditions: . Obtain a general secondary school certificate or equivalent. Fulfil any other conditions determined by the University or competent authorities of the Branch country. The Branch Council shall devise and approve a specific admissions policy pursuant to admission requirements in the Branch country. Any applicant who meets admission requirements and who could not be admitted due to competition may re-apply in any forthcoming opportunity. The Branch may admit students willing to study specific courses as non-registered students provided that they fulfil the pre-requisites for these courses if required, or any other conditions determined by the nature of these courses. A student who studied at the Branch as a non-registered student in previous semesters maybe enrolled in any of the programmes offered in the Branch after filing an application for admission during the specified period. Upon his/ her request, courses studied in the Branch or in any other branch will be credited to him/her provided that they are consistent with the study plan of the programme in which he/she was admitted and that the grades he/she earned in these courses shall be entered in his/her new academic record. The students’ intake in any programme will be decided as per the numbers set by the Ministries of Higher Education in each Branch Country. Branch specific admissions policy: 1. KSA Branch: . For admission to any of the bachelor's programs, the following are required: 2 | P a g e 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Außenstellen- Bericht DAAD-Präsenz Weltweit
    2 2 Außenstellen- bericht DAAD-Präsenz weltweit Nord- amerika: 3 Toronto New York San Francisco Mexiko-Stadt San José Bogotá Latein- amerika: 34 São Paulo Rio de Janeiro Santiago de Chile Buenos Aires DAAD-Präsenz weltweit Osteuropa, West-, Mittel- Zentralasien und und Südkaukasus: Südosteuropa: 73 231 St. Petersburg Kasan Riga Moskau Nowosibirsk Minsk Berlin Warschau London Brüssel Prag Kiew Bonn Paris Budapest Bukarest Almaty Belgrad Tiflis Bischkek Peking Rom Istanbul Baku Taschkent Madrid Ankara Eriwan Seoul Tokyo Athen Tunis Erbil Teheran Shanghai Tel Aviv Amman Islamabad Kairo Ostjerusalem Neu-Delhi Dhaka Guangzhou Taipeh Hanoi Nahost, Mumbai Pune Nordafrika: 31 Bangkok Bangalore Chennai Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt Addis Abeba Colombo Accra Yaoundé Kuala Lumpur Singapur Nairobi Afrika Jakarta Subsahara: Asien, 29 Pazifik: 71 Johannesburg Sydney 18 Außenstellen 5 Deutsche Wissenschafts- und Innovationshäuser (DWIH) 35 Informationszentren (IC) 15 Information Points (IP) DAAD-Zentrale Bonn und Büro Berlin Stand: Dezember 2020 472 Lektorate www.daad.de/netzwerkkarte Impressum Herausgeber Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. German Academic Exchange Service Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn Tel.: +49 228 882-0, [email protected] www.daad.de Vertretungsberechtigter Vorstand Präsident Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee Registergericht Bonn, Registernummer VR 2107 Umsatzsteuer-IdNr.: DE122276332 Verantwortlicher i. S. v. § 55 Abs. 2 RStV: Dr. Kai Sicks Koordination Yamina Eş, Silvia Schmid, DAAD Redaktion Jörn Breiholz, Michael Netzhammer – netzhammer und breiholz (PartG), Hamburg und München; Christine Arndt, Christoph Hansert, Dr. Claudia Nospickel, Silvia Schmid, Suad Shumareye, Dr. Friederike Schröder, Marc Wilde, Dr. Fangfang Xu, DAAD Bildredaktion Thomas Pankau, DAAD Lektorat Anke Brettnich, Public Relations, Hofheim am Taunus Gestaltung und Satz Atelier Hauer + Dörfler GmbH, Berlin Druck W.
    [Show full text]
  • Résumé / Abstract
    JAMAL AL SHALABI & TAREQ AL-ASSAD RÉSUMÉ / ABSTRACT LA PARTICIPATION POLITIQUE DES FEMMES DE JORDANIE Cet article se propose d’étudier le rôle politique des femmes en Jordanie et d’analyser ce rôle à travers diverses problématiques juri- diques, en particulier la constitution de 1952, la Charte nationale de 1990, et les conventions internationales sur les femmes, en montrant l’impact (positivement ou négativement) des changements politiques, tels que celui mis en œuvre par la « démocratisation » qui a débuté en 1989. Bien que les femmes aient occupé des postes de « ministres », de dirigeants de partis politiques ou des fonctions dans le système judi- ciaire, à différentes époques, les problèmes et les obstacles qu’elles rencontrent ainsi que leur rôle dans la vie politique, soumis aux tra- ditions et aux contraintes des lois électorales, seront mis en évidence dans cette étude. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF JORDANIAN WOMEN This article aims to study the political role of women in Jordan and to analyse this role through various legal laws, especially the constitution of 1952, the National Charter of 1990, and international conventions on women by showing the impact (positively or negatively) of politi- cal changes, such as the “democratisation” that began in 1989 on this role. Although women have been assigned as ‘ministers’ and leaders of political parties and the judicial system, in different periods of time, the problems and obstacles faced by Jordanian women and their role in political life still exist, such as: traditions and electoral laws are still on the line, which needs to be highlighted in this study. JAMAL AL SHALABI Professeur agrégé en sciences politiques à l’Univer- sité Hachémite.
    [Show full text]
  • Man Up: Integrating Fatherhood and Community Engagement, P. 15 Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship Dr
    Nonprofit Organization US Postage Paid Tuscaloosa AL Permit 16 The University of Alabama Office of Community Affairs — SCHOLARSHIP AND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT JOURNAL Vol. 4, No. 1, Spring 2011 Center for Community-Based Partnerships Box 870372 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0372 UGA and Tunisia: A Decade-Long Partnership, p. 5 Evaluating a Social Economy Research Partnership, p. 25 Teachinging RReeseasearch Dedication to Volume 4, No. 1, Spring 2011 4, No. Volume the Public Good: A Conundrum? Partnership p. 37 An International, FFaaccultyullty Students Indigenous Community Collaborative Inquiry, p. 50 The Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship is published at The University of Alabama by the Office of Book Reviews, Community Affairs for the advancement p. 75 of engagement scholarship worldwide. Man Up: Integrating Fatherhood and Community Engagement, p. 15 Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship Dr. Heather Pleasants, who is also book review editor of JCES, made the closing remarks at this year’s engaged scholarship awards program at The University of Alabama. Her words were based on the theme www.jces.ua.edu for the National Outreach Scholarship Conference (NOSC) that we will host in 2012. www.uapress.ua.edu Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, Vice President for Community Affairs, The University of Alabama Published twice a year by the Office of Community Affairs ach spring at The University of Alabama, we publicly recognize and celebrate at The University of Alabama the engaged scholarship that best represents our commitment to touching lives Distributed by The University of Alabama Press Ethrough community-based projects. ISSN: 1944-1207 We honor this work because of three important attributes at the foundation of engaged ISBN: 978-0-8173-7406-8 (paper) scholarship.
    [Show full text]
  • Andragogy and Islamic Humanism
    University of Missouri, St. Louis IRL @ UMSL Dissertations UMSL Graduate Works 4-15-2020 Teaching Perspectives of Faculty Members at Arab Universities: Andragogy and Islamic Humanism Layla Goushey University of Missouri-St. Louis, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation Part of the Adult and Continuing Education Commons, International and Comparative Education Commons, and the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons Recommended Citation Goushey, Layla, "Teaching Perspectives of Faculty Members at Arab Universities: Andragogy and Islamic Humanism" (2020). Dissertations. 921. https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/921 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the UMSL Graduate Works at IRL @ UMSL. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of IRL @ UMSL. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running Head: FACULTY PERSPECTIVES: ANDRAGOGY AND ISLAMIC HUMANISM IN ARAB UNIVERSITIES Teaching Perspectives of Faculty Members at Arab Universities: Andragogy and Islamic Humanism Layla Azmi Goushey Graduate Certificate, Teaching of Writing, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2012 M.F.A. Creative Writing, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2002 B.A. in General Studies, University of Texas-Dallas, 1987 A Dissertation Submitted to The Graduate School at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. in Education, with an emphasis in Teaching and Learning Processes May 2020 Advisory Committee: Dr. E. Paulette Isaac-Savage Chairperson Dr. Luke Bobo Dr. Rebecca Rogers Dr. Paul Wilmarth Copyright, Layla Azmi Goushey, 2020 FACULTY PERSPECTIVES: ANDRAGOGY AND ISLAMIC HUMANISM IN ARAB UNIVERSITIES 2 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my father Azmi Ishaq Goushey and to my mother Sylvia Diana Newman Goushey for providing me with multicultural, foundational knowledge on which to build my life.
    [Show full text]
  • April 5-7, 2016 Arab Open University—Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait
    April 5-7, 2016 Arab Open University—Kuwait Kuwait City, Kuwait Hosted and sponsored by Also sponsored by INNOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION: VALUES, CHALLENGES, AND PROSPECTS FOR EDUCATION IN THE GCC Dear GCES Delegates, With great pleasure, we would like to welcome all participants and presenters to the Arab Open University—Kuwait (AOU—KW) and to the seventh annual symposium of the Gulf Comparative Education Society (GCES). Founded in 2002, the AOU is a non-profit university and stands as one of the initiatives of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND). In addition to being the first private university in Kuwait, the AOU is also the largest of its kind, hosting 8,000 students and celebrates the cultural variation of its student population representing 75 nationalities. We take pride in the mission of our university, which is to be open to all individuals of any socioeconomic or educational background, to be open to all innovative ideas and practices in education, and to be open in all places and environments. AOU has strong local as well as international accreditation of all its academic programs. In Kuwait, AOU is the leading institution in blended learning and the use of technology in the classroom. Our learning environment is focused on offering quality education and boundless opportunity for individual development. Education at AOU means that our students can learn to invest in their own experiences before, during, and after graduation. Therefore, we are rewarded to know that the labor market in Kuwait and beyond swiftly embraces our graduates. I find this year’s GCES symposium theme on innovation and transformation to be very significant for AOU teaching and research interests, as well as for the work of educators and policymakers.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Education in Tunisia: a Case Study in Social Entrepreneurship Kaitlan Shaub SIT Graduate Institute - Study Abroad
    SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad SIT Digital Collections Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection SIT Study Abroad Spring 2016 Special Education in Tunisia: A Case Study in Social Entrepreneurship Kaitlan Shaub SIT Graduate Institute - Study Abroad Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection Part of the Disability and Equity in Education Commons, and the Special Education Administration Commons Recommended Citation Shaub, Kaitlan, "Special Education in Tunisia: A Case Study in Social Entrepreneurship" (2016). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2376. https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2376 This Unpublished Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the SIT Study Abroad at SIT Digital Collections. It has been accepted for inclusion in Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection by an authorized administrator of SIT Digital Collections. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Special Education in Tunisia: A Case Study in Social Entrepreneurship Kaitlan Shaub Academic Director: Mounir Khélifa Advisor: Leila Charfi College of William and Mary International Relations Tunisia, Sidi Bousaid Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Tunisia: Emerging Identities in North Africa, SIT Study Abroad Spring 20116 Abstract Despite a series of modernist reforms and national programs, Tunisian early education is not yet suited to fully integrate children with special needs. The public education sector lacks the trained professionals and multidisciplinary coordination needed to meet the needs of handicapped students. This paper will analyze impact of a private therapeutic preschool to determine the feasibility of social entrepreneurship in fulfilling unmet special education needs in Tunisia. A presentation of the limitations facing entrepreneurs in this sector is included, and special attention is given to financial and social restraints preventing the scholastic integration of these children.
    [Show full text]
  • Education in the Middle East and North Africa: the Current Situation and Future Challenges
    International Education Journal Vol 5, No 2, 2004 http://iej.cjb.net 144 Education in the Middle East and North Africa: The Current Situation and Future Challenges Abdeljalil Akkari Higher Pedagogical Institute HEP-BEJUNE, Switzerland [email protected] This paper investigates the educational development in the Middle East and North Africa, drawing on data from different international and national institutions. The paper begins with a review of similarities between countries within the region, and continues by investigating the situation of basic education, literacy rates and quality of education. In the third section, issues of inequality between public and private education are discussed. The paper concludes by outlining future educational challenges in the region. Comparative education, Middle East, North Africa, development, literacy, basic education INTRODUCTION Human capital formation is receiving increased attention from policy makers and scholars interested in promoting economic development in Third World countries. Models of endogenous economic growth stress the importance of investment in knowledge, including basic education, as a critical factor in economic expansion. Specialists have long argued that education should form a principal component in any development strategy. The Middle East and North Africa form a vast region stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arab- Persian Gulf. The historical and cultural experiences of the region's countries share many common themes. First, Islam as the main religion and Arabic as the language are key factors in the identity formation of the region. In the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, most of the region was under European colonization. When colonization ended, a strong economic, cultural and political dependence on developed countries remained.
    [Show full text]