Universities in Arab countries : an urgent need for change : underpinning the transition to a peaceful and prosperous future

"This book provides an overview of the current state of universities in the Arab world, and how they have the potential to transform society to raise the quality of life and stimulate wealth. The main themes progress from general to the specific. Each chapter providing an overview followed by factual analysis and options for the way forward. All of the major challenges facing universities in general are addressed with reference to issues of particular importance in the Arab Region. The challenges faced include: the need to accommodate a social model of life-long learning; the desire for institutional autonomy while interacting with governments; the availability of open-access online courses and distance learning. Arab universities are diverse, ranging from those entirely state-controlled and funded, to wholly independent private universities. The quality of governmental oversight is also variable, and some institutions are clearly unworthy of the appellation 'university'. The book comprises of 20 chapters authored by senior academics with a wide international experience and a commitment to assisting the improvement of Arab higher educational and research communities. ." -- Prové de l'editor Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv The Future of Universities in the Arab Region: A Review (John R. Hillman, Elias Baydoun)....Pages 1-53 Governance of Arab Universities: Why Does It Matter? (John Waterbury)....Pages 55-70 Landscape of Higher Education in the Arab World: Quality, Relevance, and Student Mobility (Adnan Badran)....Pages 71-84 Landscape of R&D in the Arab Region Compared with the Rest of the World (Adnan Badran)....Pages 85-104 Building a Knowledge Economy ( Atta-ur-Rahman)....Pages 105-121 Business Engagement Is No Longer an Optional Extra for Universities (Quintin McKellar)....Pages 123-141 Knowledge Produced but Not Used: Predicaments of Social Research in the Arab World (Sari Hanafi)....Pages 143-162 Online Education and Distance Learning in Arab Universities (Milad Sebaaly)....Pages 163-174 Is Liberal Arts Education a Good Model for Arab Universities? (Nidhal Guessoum)....Pages 175-185 Science and Religion Issues in Higher Education (Nidhal Guessoum)....Pages 187-197 Christianity and Science: From Conflict and Divorce to Mutual Influence and Enrichment (George Sabra)....Pages 199-208 Higher Agricultural Education in the Arab World: Past, Present, and Future (Nuhad J. Daghir)....Pages 209-224 Who Pays What for Public & Private University Education in the Arab Region Compared with the Rest of the World: Context of Jordan (Serene Badran, Adnan Badran)....Pages 225-248 The Political Economy of Higher Education in Jordan: Cost-Sharing Revisited (Taher H. Kanaan)....Pages 249-286 University Reform in the Maghreb Countries: Institutional Autonomy as a Lever for National Development (Wail Benjelloun)....Pages 287-293 Reversing the Brain Drain in Healthcare Education in Lebanon: A Success Story (Kamal F. Badr)....Pages 295-299 The Syrian Higher-Education Sector: Past, Present, and Future (Hani Mourtada)....Pages 301-313 Back Matter ....Pages 315-317