Transforming Education in the Gulf Region


Book Description

Countries in the Arab Gulf are currently experiencing some of the fastest rates of growth and progress in the world. Transforming Education in the Gulf Region argues that education systems in these countries need to use innovative pedagogies and best practices in teaching and learning to educate all citizens so that they obtain the knowledge and skills to be productive members of society. This book will contribute to the transformation of education in the Gulf countries by suggesting best practices, research outcomes and case studies from experts in the Gulf region. It has become increasingly evident in recent years that Gulf countries need to use emerging learning technologies to cater for the needs of learners and to provide maximum flexibility in learning. There is also a growing practical need to use electronic technologies, since learning materials are more widely available in electronic formats than in paper-based formats. This book focuses on the role of emerging technologies and innovative pedagogies in transforming education in six Gulf countries in the region (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain). With contributions from experts around the world, the book argues that the time is right for Arab Gulf countries to make the transition to electronic learning and that they need to implement the outcomes of research and adopt best practices to transform and revolutionize education to prepare learners in the Gulf region for the 21st Century. The book should be of interest to academics and students in the areas of higher education, learning technologies, education policy and education reform. It should also be of interest to educators and policymakers in the Gulf region.




Transforming Education in the Gulf Region


Book Description

Countries in the Arab Gulf are currently experiencing some of the fastest rates of growth and progress in the world. Transforming Education in the Gulf Region argues that education systems in these countries need to use innovative pedagogies and best practices in teaching and learning to educate all citizens so that they obtain the knowledge and skills to be productive members of society. This book will contribute to the transformation of education in the Gulf countries by suggesting best practices, research outcomes and case studies from experts in the Gulf region. It has become increasingly evident in recent years that Gulf countries need to use emerging learning technologies to cater for the needs of learners and to provide maximum flexibility in learning. There is also a growing practical need to use electronic technologies, since learning materials are more widely available in electronic formats than in paper-based formats. This book focuses on the role of emerging technologies and innovative pedagogies in transforming education in six Gulf countries in the region (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain). With contributions from experts around the world, the book argues that the time is right for Arab Gulf countries to make the transition to electronic learning and that they need to implement the outcomes of research and adopt best practices to transform and revolutionize education to prepare learners in the Gulf region for the 21st Century. The book should be of interest to academics and students in the areas of higher education, learning technologies, education policy and education reform. It should also be of interest to educators and policymakers in the Gulf region.




Higher Education Revolutions in the Gulf


Book Description

Over the past quarter century, the people of the Arabian Peninsula have witnessed a revolutionary transformation in higher education. In 1990, there were fewer than ten public universities that offered their Arabic-language curricula in sex-segregated settings to national citizens only. In 2015, there are more than one hundred public, semi-public, and private colleges and universities. Most of these institutions are open to expatriates and national citizens; a few offer gender integrated instruction; and the language of instruction is much more likely to be in English than Arabic. Higher Education Revolutions in the Gulf explores the reasons behind this dramatic growth. It examines the causes of the sharp shift in educational practices and analyses how these new systems of higher education are regulated, evaluating the extent to which the new universities and colleges are improving quality. Questioning whether these educational changes can be sustained, the book explores how the new curricula and language policies are aligned with official visions of the future. Written by leading scholars in the field, it draws upon their considerable experiences of teaching and doing research in the Arabian Gulf, as well as their different disciplinary backgrounds (linguistics and economics), to provide a holistic and historically informed account of the emergence and viability of the Arabian Peninsula’s higher education revolutions. Offering a comprehensive, critical assessment of education in the Gulf Arab states, this book represents a significant contribution to the field and will be of interest to students and scholars of Middle East and Gulf Studies, and essential for those focused on higher education.




Research Anthology on Challenges for Women in Leadership Roles


Book Description

The role of women in the workplace has rapidly advanced and changed within the previous decade, leading to a current position in which women are taking over leadership roles and being offered these positions more than ever before. However, a gap still exists with the representation of women in the workforce especially in power positions and roles of authority in organizations. While the representation of women in leadership roles is impressive and exciting for the future, women still face many challenges when taking over these positions of power and face many issues related to gender inclusivity. There is also still gender bias and discrimination against women who have been given the opportunity to become authority figures. It is essential to acknowledge and discuss these critical issues and challenges that women in leadership roles must handle to better understand the current climate of gender roles across various industries and types of leadership. The Research Anthology on Challenges for Women in Leadership Roles discusses the role of women in positions of authority across diverse industries and businesses. By reviewing the biases, struggles, discrimination, and overall challenges of being a woman in a powerful role, women leaders can be better understood for their role in a male-dominated world. This includes topics of concern such as equal treatment, proper implementation of women’s policies, social justice activism, discrimination, and sexual harassment in the workplace, and the importance of diversity and empowerment of women in leadership positions with chapters pertaining specifically to African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern women. This book is ideal for professionals, researchers, managers, executives, leaders, academicians, sociologists, policymakers, and students in fields that include humanities, social sciences, women’s studies, gender studies, business management, management science, health sciences, educational studies, and political sciences.




The Past, Present, and Future of Higher Education in the Arabian Gulf Region


Book Description

This edited volume contributes a novel understanding of the past, present and future of higher education across the six countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Against the backdrop of intense political, ideological and epistemological disruptions across the Arabian Gulf Region over the last two decades, this volume adopts critical comparative perspectives in order to chart the history, present-day and future realities of higher education in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. By focusing on dynamics relating to neoliberalism, and using the notions of ‘tensionality’ and ‘locality’ to situate topics such as curricula, policies, practices, the volume engages with current discourses, controversies and themes such as the internationalization and marketization of higher education in these countries. In doing so, the book offers a theoretical framework to enable greater understanding of the contemporary functioning of higher education in the Arabian Gulf Region. This text will benefit scholars, academics and students in the fields of higher education and international and comparative education more broadly. Those involved with educational policy and politics, and Middle Eastern studies in general, will also benefit from this volume.




Preparing the Higher Education Space for Gen Z


Book Description

Generation Z views participatory technological interfaces as an integral part of their lives. Every experience in which they engage, particularly schooling, is viewed and experienced through that highly technological lens. At no other time in higher education has the nature of teaching and learning experiences been so defined by the technological interactivity of its student population. Thus, higher education needs to change to meet the needs of the incoming groups of students and expand upon ways in which they learn, communicate, and experience information. Preparing the Higher Education Space for Gen Z is an essential scholarly publication that delves into the specific challenges, issues, strategies, and solutions that are associated with using participatory social media, virtual communication, and other Web 2.0 innovations in higher education, and its particular implications for Generation Z. Including topics such as digital participation, learning environments, and mobile technologies, this book is ideally designed for higher education faculty, administrators, counselors, professionals, students, researchers, and academicians.




Insights Into International Higher Education Leadership and the Skills Gap


Book Description

In the realm of higher education, the widening gap between academic curricula and the evolving demands of the global workforce is becoming an impending problem. Traditional educational models, while effective in imparting foundational knowledge, often struggle to equip students with the practical skills and competencies needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing job market. This disconnect between academia and industry expectations poses a significant obstacle for students and institutions alike, hindering their ability to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Insights Into International Higher Education Leadership and the Skills Gap is a groundbreaking volume that offers a comprehensive solution to this pressing dilemma. Edited by Mustafa Kayyali and Bryan Christiansen, this book serves as a beacon for academic scholars seeking to bridge the divide between higher education leadership and the skills demanded by the modern workplace. Through a multifaceted exploration of visionary leadership, curriculum adaptation, and innovative teaching methodologies, this publication provides actionable insights and practical strategies for addressing the skills gap effectively.




E-Learning in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region


Book Description

In the last decade, due to factors of ICT infrastructural and broadband maturation, rising levels of educational attainment and computer literacy, and diversification strategies, e-learning has exploded in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. However, significant barriers remain in the region’s e-learning development: lack of research on outcomes and effectiveness, paucity of Arabic language learning objects, monopolies and high cost of telecommunications, cultural taboos, accreditation, censorship, and teacher training. This unique volume is the first comprehensive effort to describe the history, development, and current state of e-learning in each of the 20 MENA countries from Algeria to Yemen. Each entry is expertly written by a specialist who is acutely familiar with the state of e-learning in their respective country, and concludes with a bibliography of key reports, peer-reviewed books and articles, and web resources. E-Learning in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) proves itself as a vital compendium for a wide readership that includes academics and students, transnational program directors, international education experts, MENA government departments, commercial vendors and investors, and ICT development and regulatory agencies involved in e-learning in the Middle East.




Shaping Future Schools with Digital Technology


Book Description

This book presents an overview of education technology and its use in schools, with a primary emphasis on best practices of technology enhanced learning; how new technologies such as mobile, augmented and wearable technologies affect instructional design strategies; and the content curriculum development process. Providing insights into the future of education and the upcoming pedagogies that will be applied in schools, it helps educators and other stakeholders make innovations for the new generations of learners in the 21st century. The use of emerging technologies such as mobile and ubiquitous technologies, context-aware technology, augment-reality, and virtual reality is contributing to making education adaptive and smarter. With the ever-changing technologies, how to equip teachers with these digital skills and transform their teaching style is also important to ensure that school education is more individualised and customised for students. Offering a global perspective with integrated practical cases, this timely book is of interest to educators, teachers, and education policymakers. And although most of the authors are from the academia, it provides non-experts with a novel view of what future schools will be like with the help of technology.




English as a Medium of Instruction on the Arabian Peninsula


Book Description

Focusing on English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in the Arab Gulf states, the authors consider both sociolinguistic and pedagogical perspectives, and explore practical implications. This edited volume features chapters covering how teachers are negotiating the linguistic challenges posed by EMI; issues of ownership, choice and agency; the scaffolding of academic literacies; how to support the development of content teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in EMI settings as well as the benefits of a bilingual education. Chapter authors all have extensive local experience that they draw upon reflectively in their writing. Policy-makers, teachers and teacher educators wondering how they can best balance the need to develop competence in English in students of all ages on the Arabian Peninsula in a globalizing world, together with the concern to nurture Arabic language, culture and identity, will gain rich insights from this book. Postgraduates and researchers exploring issues surrounding EMI, both locally and internationally, will benefit from the arguments presented in this volume.