The State of Higher Education in the Middle East
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This article references a Tahseen Consulting study in which we explored the barriers facing women in entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in the GCC in an article in Forbes Middle East. The original article is available at http://tahseen.ae/blog/?p=980.
![the whole region point to one clear reality: Thanks to a population heavily skewed towards youth and a
growing middle-class affluence in many of the markets, the higher education sector in the Middle East is
now a viable target for many international institutions’ global expansion plans.
Culturally, a higher education is highly prized in the Middle East and today, the educational sector plays
an even more-important role in society than ever before. With shifting demographics, political challenges
and economic diversification, a move away from pedagogical learning methods to more interactive
teaching styles and access to higher education are now high governmental priorities across many
nations.
[SPECIAL REPORT: College of Tomorrow]
Current expenditure on this sector, according to a recent study published by Al Masah Capital Limited,
has reached an average of 3.8 percent of the gross domestic product in Middle East and North African
(MENA) countries – higher than that of many developed nations – and this figure is expected to continue
to increase. Enrollment rates in higher education are considered to be on par with global figures, with
current MENA rates of 31 compared to a world average rate of 30. A high number of MENA countries
– including the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Kuwait – are now reporting higher
enrollment rates for women than for men, Forbes Woman Middle East recently reported. This growth in
the education sector will lead to an increasing number of schools and universities in the Gulf Cooperation
Council, which are expected to rise from around 49,500 institutions in 2010 to more than 55,000 in 2020,
according to a report issued by investment banking firm Alpen Capital.
Ongoing political developments in the region are also having a tangible impact on the education sector.
Interestingly, and possibly counterintuitively, political tensions are seen as one of the drivers behind the
rise in female enrollment. There is a trend for men to bypass higher education for public sector or military
employment, but it is also clear that a number of governments, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation
Council area, are heavily promoting higher education to female citizens.
[READ: E-Learning Engages Women at Saudi University]
Social shifts and changing economic marketplace requirements are also driving the increased interest in
higher education. Today, according to the World Bank, “the key to prosperity is a well-educated,
technically skilled workforce producing high-value-added, knowledge-intensive goods and services.” The
rise of globalization and knowledge economies, and the MENA nations’ efforts to transform their
economic frameworks accordingly, are fueling a more competitive employment environment that is
requiring ever more specialized skill-sets, in addition to fundamental education.
Of course, higher educational establishments in the region have a key role to play in MENA’s ability to
fulfill its future potential in this regard. Critically, their competitive advantage is the ability to tailor their
educational offerings to localized or regional economic need. Given the undeniable global shift from
"West to East," this gives universities in the region heightened appeal to both young people from the
region itself, as well as to candidates from outside the region who are looking to pursue a truly
international career.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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The State of Higher Education in the Middle East
- 1. By Björn Kjerfve Dec. 17, 2014 | 2:40 p.m. EST + More Education plays an ever-important role in Middle Eastern society, writes the chancellor of the American University of Sharjah. The Middle East represents a diverse geographic spread of 18 countries, each with their own economies, political frameworks and social needs. However, collectively, underlying trends in higher education across News Opinion National Issues Special Reports Cartoons Photos U.S. News Weekly College of Tomorrow Common Core Cybersecurity Hospital of Tomorrow U.S. News/Raytheon STEM In
- 2. the whole region point to one clear reality: Thanks to a population heavily skewed towards youth and a growing middle-class affluence in many of the markets, the higher education sector in the Middle East is now a viable target for many international institutions’ global expansion plans. Culturally, a higher education is highly prized in the Middle East and today, the educational sector plays an even more-important role in society than ever before. With shifting demographics, political challenges and economic diversification, a move away from pedagogical learning methods to more interactive teaching styles and access to higher education are now high governmental priorities across many nations. [SPECIAL REPORT: College of Tomorrow] Current expenditure on this sector, according to a recent study published by Al Masah Capital Limited, has reached an average of 3.8 percent of the gross domestic product in Middle East and North African (MENA) countries – higher than that of many developed nations – and this figure is expected to continue to increase. Enrollment rates in higher education are considered to be on par with global figures, with current MENA rates of 31 compared to a world average rate of 30. A high number of MENA countries – including the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Kuwait – are now reporting higher enrollment rates for women than for men, Forbes Woman Middle East recently reported. This growth in the education sector will lead to an increasing number of schools and universities in the Gulf Cooperation Council, which are expected to rise from around 49,500 institutions in 2010 to more than 55,000 in 2020, according to a report issued by investment banking firm Alpen Capital. Ongoing political developments in the region are also having a tangible impact on the education sector. Interestingly, and possibly counterintuitively, political tensions are seen as one of the drivers behind the rise in female enrollment. There is a trend for men to bypass higher education for public sector or military employment, but it is also clear that a number of governments, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation Council area, are heavily promoting higher education to female citizens. [READ: E-Learning Engages Women at Saudi University] Social shifts and changing economic marketplace requirements are also driving the increased interest in higher education. Today, according to the World Bank, “the key to prosperity is a well-educated, technically skilled workforce producing high-value-added, knowledge-intensive goods and services.” The rise of globalization and knowledge economies, and the MENA nations’ efforts to transform their economic frameworks accordingly, are fueling a more competitive employment environment that is requiring ever more specialized skill-sets, in addition to fundamental education. Of course, higher educational establishments in the region have a key role to play in MENA’s ability to fulfill its future potential in this regard. Critically, their competitive advantage is the ability to tailor their educational offerings to localized or regional economic need. Given the undeniable global shift from "West to East," this gives universities in the region heightened appeal to both young people from the region itself, as well as to candidates from outside the region who are looking to pursue a truly international career.
- 3. 1 2 3 > + More In the UAE, for example, Dubai’s hosting of EXPO 2020 is expected to create over 300,000 additional jobs across sectors such as hospitality, transportation, retail, banking, finance, real estate and infrastructure. Several UAE universities have already announced additions to their course offerings as a direct consequence, and others will increase places in existing courses to meet this demand. TAGS: Middle East, STEM education, Arab region universities Dr. Björn Kjerfve is the chancellor of American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. News Home Opinion National Issues Cartoons Photos Videos Special Reports Education Colleges Graduate Schools High Schools Online Programs Community Colleges Global Universities Arab Universities Health Hospitals Doctor Finder Diets Nursing Homes Health Products Health Insurance Medicare Money Jobs Financial Advisors ETFs Mutual Funds Retirement Travel Vacatio Cruises Hotels Hotel R Airline About U.S. News Contact Us Site Map Press Room Advertising Info Store Conne Copyrig Terms a