(77) Higher Education in MENA: A Social Policy Challenge, Dr. Abdulraouf M. Adam
Dr. Abdulraouf M. Adam
Freelance Writer, Edinburgh, Scotland
Email: s.abdel@hotmail.co.uk
DOI: 10.47556/J.IJIKMMENA.9.1.2021.4
Purpose: This paper aims to gauge the likely impact of COVID-19 on the sustainability of MENA states’ higher education institutions (HEIs).
Design/methodology/approach: The study is based primarily on library research conducted by the author. It follows a sociological approach to studying certain features of MENA HEIs, their policies and problem areas.
Findings: Findings show that, spurred by a heightened global drive towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and coupled with an urgent national necessity to play a key role in this process, most present-day MENA states have made decent strides towards modernising their lagging HEIs. Furthermore, this bold move is justified on the grounds that developed and middle-income developing countries have, to varying degrees, experienced shifts towards a knowledge-based society; MENA states have made an express desire to follow suit.
Originality/value of the paper: The author believes the novelty/value of the paper is shown by the new outlook that it seeks to bring to bear on the analysis of the problem areas. This incorporates a range of possible economic, social and cultural dimensions, contrasted with those prevalent in OECD and other developed countries.
Research limitations/implications: The study highlights the major opportunities and challenges most likely to face social policy and decision-makers in MENA states, and which could be described as chiefly ‘institutional’. We conclude by offering, hopefully, some enlightened recommendations that have direct practical implications for policy-making.
Keywords: HE in MENA; MDGs; HEIs; Social Policy.
