Why are there so few world-class universities in the Middle East and North Africa?

This article explains why there are so few world-class universities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region today. It first summarises the systemic exogenous economic, political and social problems facing all countries in the region, and the impact of these on the development of their higher education sectors in recent times. Then, with reference to the Times Higher Education and Webometrics rankings of the world’s leading universities, the article describes several endogenous explanations for the absence of world-class universities in the 19 countries of the MENA region. These include the lack of strategic investment in research and teaching in local universities; the absence of intellectual freedom and the constraints imposed on the free expression of ideas in all MENA universities; the failure of universities in the region to encourage, monitor and reward high-quality and high-impact research (and teaching) in the natural and social sciences, the humanities and the liberal arts; and the anti-scientific mind-sets of local ruling political elites, many Islamic theologians, and those who are responsible for the oversight and administration of universities in the region. The limitations of this exploratory study and suggestions for future research are then described. The article concludes by explaining why it is highly unlikely that the political and educational leadership of countries in the MENA region will initiate the institutional higher education reforms that would be required to build world-class research-teaching universities in the foreseeable future.     

The quality of secondary education in the Middle East and North Africa: what can we learn from TIMSS’ results?

Research on educational quality has been scarce in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, whereas the debates over educational quality date from 1966 in the USA with the Coleman Report. Fortunately TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) starts to fill this gap by providing data on students’ achievement and for many MENA countries this is the first time that such data are available. The paper gives an overview of the quality of education in MENA using TIMSS’ 2007 data. The research questions addressed here are why is achievement low? And why is the gap between the top‐performing countries and MENA countries large? In order to answer these questions, the paper focuses on several aspects: the first is the inefficiency of acquiring the language, the second is the inefficiency of time devoted to homework, the third is the meagre intended curriculum which is translated into a weaker implemented curriculum, the fourth aspect deals with the inefficiency of public resources devoted to the education sector. Finally, the paper highlights two other factors believed to affect students’ achievement: family background and students’ attitudes towards mathematics and science.     

Education Quality in the Middle East

International Review of Education - Some of the most dramatic growth in the provision of primary and secondary education over the last decade has occurred across countries of the Middle East and...     

Livelihood planning and career guidance in Palestine and the broader MENA region

It has often been stated that the Arab “world” is faced by a demographic challenge which is very different to that of many countries in the global North. As the Arab Spring has shown, youths across the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are keen to make a mark, and despite the internal conflicts and contests for power and influence, many young leaders are hoping to establish new forms of social cohesion which could lead to peace and prosperity within a globalised, interconnected world. This paper focuses on one aspect of the relationship between Arab youth and society, namely the difficult transition between formal education and employment. Drawing on, among other sources, a comparative study carried out across eight Arab states, the role which career education and guidance can play in the process is examined. This is followed by a case study of Palestine where, despite very challenging and difficult political and economic circumstances, significant and promising efforts have been made to help young people develop the life skills needed to engage with schooling in ways that do not only enhance learning, but also facilitate access to work and to self-employment. The paper argues that while career education and guidance (CEG) cannot possibly be expected to solve the disconnect between education and work, it does have a role to play in enhancing learning, in supporting transitions, and thus in contributing to both social and economic development goals.     

The complexities and challenges of regional education hubs: focus on Malaysia

The race to establish regional education hubs is a recent development in cross-border higher education. This article briefly examines the rationales and strategies used by three countries in the Middle East and three in South East Asia which are working towards positioning themselves as regional education hubs. The different approaches and purposes among the six countries highlight the need for a typology of education hubs. Three types are proposed: the student hub, the training and skilled workforce hub, and the knowledge/innovation hub. The final section of the paper takes a closer look at Malaysia??s cross-border education initiatives and its actions to establish itself as a competitive education hub in a region where Singapore and Hong Kong have similar intentions. Whether Malaysia has the ability to make a quantum leap from being a student hub to becoming a knowledge/innovation hub remains to be seen and appears to be an optimistic outlook.     

Engineering graduates’ skill sets in the MENA region: a gap analysis of industry expectations and satisfaction

This study explored gaps between industry expectations and perceptions of engineering graduates’ skill sets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study measured the importance that managers of engineers placed on 36 skills relevant to engineers. Also measured was managers’ satisfaction with engineering graduates’ skill sets. Importance and satisfaction were used to calculate skill gaps for each skill. A principal components analysis was then performed, consolidating the 36 skills into 8 categories. The means of importance, satisfaction, and skill gaps were ranked to determine the areas in which graduates needed improvement. Results showed significant gaps between managers’ expectations of and satisfaction with all 36 skills. The areas in which managers felt that graduates needed most improvement were communication, time management, and continuous learning. Managers reported that recent engineering graduates exhibited low overall preparedness for employment. These findings may help to inform curricular reform in engineering education.     

PBL in teacher education: its effects on achievement and self-regulation

Problem-based learning (PBL) as an educational practice continues to have great impact on all levels of education and across different disciplines. The aim of this experimental study is to examine the effects of PBL on prospective teachers’ academic achievements and self-regulation. The treatment group (n?=?36) and the control group (n?=?21) comprised Middle East Technical University Language Teaching Department senior students attending the Language Testing and Evaluation Course. Quantitative data were collected via an achievement test, an open-ended application exam and a scale on self-regulation in learning. Qualitative data were obtained through student interviews. The quantitative results revealed that PBL was effective for students’ knowledge, comprehension and application-level achievements, but it had no significant effects on their self-regulation. The content analysis of student interviews yielded some positive findings about the application of PBL in teacher education, its strengths and weaknesses as experienced during implementation, together with individual and group work processes involved. The study offers some suggestions for the application of PBL in large classes generally and specifically in a teacher education course.     

Is exam hell the cause of high academic achievement in East Asia? The case of Japan and the case for transcending stereotypes

High student achievement across East Asia is often explained as an outcome of highly competitive, stress‐inducing college entrance exams across the region. This ‘exam hell’ drives students to study longer and harder than their peers worldwide, a race that leads—unsurprisingly—to higher marks in international comparisons such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Yet, the race comes at a considerable cost: psychological pressure, forfeited childhoods, regimes of rote memorisation, lack of creativity and private outlays for cram schools. In this article, we seek to refute this outdated narrative by focusing on changes in Japanese education over the past three decades. We first analyse quantitative data for learning time based on three longitudinal surveys conducted by researchers in Japan to show that learning time for Japanese upper secondary students declined during 1980–2000 (Study 1). We then turn to analyse PISA 2015 data to show that now Japanese students study less than their peers in major Anglo‐American countries: the USA, the UK and Australia (Study 2). These findings run counter to well‐worn images frequently rehearsed in both the academic and popular literature. In helping to remove one of the most persistent stereotypes about East Asian education, we seek to help make visible other explanations for East Asian student achievement.     

论战后初期美国中东政策的多重目标

美国政府的中东政策肇始于杜鲁门政府,成熟于艾森豪威尔政府时期.从战后初期美国中东政策形成过程来看,它的目标具有多重性.首先,“遏制“苏联在中东地区的扩张,防止共产主义在世界各地的蔓延,这是美国在中东最直接、最突出的目标;其次,排挤英、法在中东的势力,这是美国中东政策中应有的既定目标,是其中较为隐蔽的一项内容;第三,实现美国的国家利益,是美国中东政策的核心目标.     

The quality of education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

The quality of education is an issue in every region undergoing economic change, hence it is a universal issue. Where the quality of education is already low, the need to raise it is more urgent. In the Middle East and North Africa, data on educational quality are scarce. Nevertheless, available data would suggest that the quality of education is low. The cause of the problem, however, is not a scarcity of monetary resources but the inefficiency of managing the resources already allocated.Many of the regulations and traditions for managing educational systems in the Middle East and North Africa have their origin in the era of central economic planning. Changes are suggested in six areas. These include: an end to early vocational tracking; coherence in content between curriculum, examinations, textbooks and classroom teaching; a shift in textbook production away from state monopolies; a professionalized teaching force with higher salaries differentiated by mandatory re-licensing; creative financing and provision of higher education; and a significant improvement in education statistics and indicators of progress.     

High School Teachers' Motivational Perceptions and Strategies in an East Asian Nation

This study investigated the relationships between teachers' self‐reported classroom goal structures, instructional self‐perceptions, teaching efficacy, and perceptions of students' motivation in a developing East Asian nation. This study's participants were 404 teachers, across subject areas, in 14 high schools in an East Asian nation. Similar studies have been conducted in western nations, but these cannot be generalised to the East Asian cultural context without direct research. The following teacher perceptions correlated strongly with perceptions of student motivation: learning goal orientations; student ability; instrumentality of instruction; and high teaching self‐efficacy. Among these related factors, learning goals and ability emerged as the strongest predictors of perceived student motivation. Teachers interviewed reported that their students' motivation is primarily extrinsic and performance‐oriented, influenced by external factors, predominantly exam pressure and social expectations. These findings have important implications for teacher education and practice, and for school policy and educational reform.     

国际中等教育面临新挑战:实现教育与就业的有效连接

当前，中等教育已成为全球正规教育中增长速度最快的部分。围绕中等教育改革和青年教育的改善与多样化，出现了许多重大问题和值得关注的现象，世界各国家和地区都在设法解决这些问题。本文介绍拉丁美洲、欧洲和亚太、中东欧等地区中等教育的状况、问题及其改革措施。     

Institutional barriers for adults’ participation in higher education in thirteen European countries

As the demand for international education increases, middle-income non-English speaking countries, such as South Korea, play an increasing role in hosting the world’s students. This mixed-methods study compares the different motivations and experiences of international students within and outside the East Asian region. Based on findings, this paper suggests the possibility of Korea developing its position as a regional hub for education in East Asia. It also discusses related issues such as English-Medium Instruction in Korean higher education as well as strategies for international student recruitment.     

Contextual and pedagogical considerations in teaching for forgiveness in the Arab world

This study was conducted among Arab teachers in four countries in the Middle East (Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine) to examine their views and methods on teaching for forgiveness in their classrooms. A total of 87 teachers in K-12 classrooms participated in semi-structured interviews as part of a larger study on teaching for forgiveness in the region. Thematic analyses of interviews suggested that teachers created opportunities to model and teach forgiveness as part of their civics education curriculum. They also expressed eagerness for instructional guidance and curriculum materials to systematically teach forgiveness in schools. The strength of religion and historical religious figures as positive sources for teaching forgiveness was also evident. Findings highlight the need to integrate education for peace and forgiveness in the education system, especially as a result of recent political developments in the Middle East, and to provide methods to assist teachers to do so in their classrooms.     

Financing public education in the southern states

A study of curriculum goals set forth in school-leaving examinations in mathematics and biology from Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia benchmarked against the French baccalaureat examinations. This investigation uncovers and contrasts the goals of secondary education as they are put forward in the tests that are used in the certification of completion of secondary studies in these countries. The work takes advantage of a metric developed for the Third International Mathematics and Science Study efforts to measure educational goals for school mathematics and science. Tests from the sample of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are found to emphasize traditional content and the ability to recall and apply routine procedures and algorithms. These goals are contrasted with French school-leaving examinations and the implications of these findings for understanding and assessing curriculum policy in MENA, in a context of educational reform and the challenges of economic competiveness are considered.     

Winburn Community Academy: A University-Assisted Community School and Professional Development School

Winburn Community Academy is a school-university-community partnership that uses win-win collaboration to remove barriers to learning. The primary partners include Winburn Middle School, the Lexington Parks and Recreation Department, and the University of Kentucky. Working together through the Academy, these agencies link with others in the community (nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals) to sponsor a school-based recreation and homework center, community learning opportunities both in and out of school, service learning, and a professional development school for the University of Kentucky's middle-level teacher education program. A common thread across all facets of the project is the building of networks-among students, teachers, and parents-to strengthen the community and improve student learning. Our 6-year history shows that developing successful partnerships is a messy but rewarding process. We hope our experiences will be helpful to others.     

近来中东北非局势对中国能源安全的影响

国际能源市场对中东北非地区的依赖度极高,且中东北非局势严重影响全球能源安全,表现在国际石油供应、国际油价走势、国际能源通道运行.中国能源安全主要是石油安全,而中国石油安全实为中东北非地缘政治安全,因为中国严重依赖中东北非地区石油进口,且在中东北非地区油气投资已成规模,所以保障中国能源安全要求中东北非地缘政治环境稳定.应该从多角度审视近期中东北非局势对中国能源安全的影响,宏观把握中东北非地区形势发展,微观分析潜在风险的存在,预期高油价或成为未来中国能源安全主要威胁.     

全球学生流动的特点、影响因素与趋势

本文在联合国教科文组织、经合组织和美国国际教育协会2018年发布的全球学生流动数据基础上，结合相关文献，探究了全球学生流动的特点、影响因素与趋势。研究发现：全球学生流动呈现出流入流出区域较为集中、硕博层次流动比例高、STEM领域流动性强等特点；全球学生流动受到政策、经济和教育等方面因素的影响；其趋势表现为美英两国的国际学生增速放缓，加澳两国有望成为接收国际学生的新增长极，东亚和东非的学生流动性将有所提高。建议评估影响国际学生选择的可能因素，加快和扩大教育对外开放，建设留学教育强国。     

Religious Diversity in the Middle East before Christianity

The Middle East is so religiously diverse that the three major religions,Judaism,Christianity and Islam,are intercon nected and each originated within the Middle East.Islam in its many forms is by far the most heavily represented religion in the region though many branches and sects diversify and segment it.In addition to the widely acknowledged religions,smaller,mi nority religions such as Bahá’í,Druze,Yazidi,Mandean,Gnosticism,Yarsanism,Shabakism,Zoroastrianism are also prevalent throughout the Middle East.This article begins with Mideast civilization and attempts at outlining a religious map of the region.Finally,the study concludes that Hellenistic culture,Jewish religion system and Roman polity all had found their way into spread ing the influence of Christianity before Christianity,the missionary religion established itself in the Middle East.     

Mature student teachers in initial teacher education in Greece: personal and academic identities

This qualitative study examined mature student teachers in initial teacher preparation for primary schools in Greece. More specifically it sought to identify the profile of mature student teachers, their intentions to become primary school teachers, their academic needs, concerns and expectations as well as their coping strategies across private and public spheres in university departments preparing primary school teachers. Adapting an ethnographic research approach and a case study design, 15 mature student teachers were followed throughout the final year of their studies, investigating patterns of personal and academic identities developed in order to become primary school teachers. Mature student teachers consist of a limited number in the total higher education student population. However their skills and experiences can be regarded as significant in course completion and contributing to a high standard of education in both the university and primary schools.