Bulletin: Libyan Instability Delays Medical Accreditor’s Visit to Benghazi, Saudi Forum Focuses on Film Criticism
Educational Tourism
In our new bulletin, Al-Fanar Media brings you the most prominent stories and news of higher education in the Arab world, besides opinions on higher-education issues and culture.
According to an international report, the global educational tourism market was worth an estimated $365.9 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 13 percent from 2023 to 2030.
The benefits of sharing in this market have prompted many countries to adopt strategies that would encourage international students to study at their universities. Egypt is one of them. Recently, it launched the “Egyptian Initiative for Scholarships and Educational Tourism” to provide scholarships, travel discounts, and residency rights. Egypt has a total of 95 public, private, international, and private universities.
Over the past years, Arab countries have become educational destinations. As Arab universities advance in international rankings, higher-education policymakers have increased their efforts in this direction, especially in light of the global skills gap and what the investment market needs in the field of education.
Mohammad El-Hawary
Al-Fanar Media editor-in-chief
News from the Region:
Libya’s Security Turmoil Postpones a Medical School’s International Accreditation
An international audit team from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) has postponed a planned visit to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Benghazi, officials in Libya’s Government of National Unity announced on Wednesday. The visit had been scheduled in mid-October, but is now set to take place in November.
In a Facebook statement, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the internationally recognized government, based in Tripoli, attributed the postponement recent unrest in the Libyan capital. Stressing the importance of maintaining international accreditation for Libya’s medical faculties, the ministry expressed hope that all parties would do their part to prepare appropriate conditions for the auditing team’s visit in November.
Yemeni-Algerian Cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education
The Ministry of Higher Education of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, based in Aden, has announced an agreement with Algeria’s Ministry of Vocational Training and Education that will double the number of scholarships that Algeria allocates to Yemeni students in this field, from 10 to 20.
Yemen’s ambassador to Algeria, Ali Muhammad Al-Yazidi, and the Algerian minister of vocational training and education, Yacine Mirabai, signed the agreement this week with the aim of raising the level of qualification and training for Yemeni students.
In a statement, the Yemeni ministry said both sides were committed to expanding and strengthening academic cooperation between the two countries to keep up with modern developments in technical education and vocational training.
of Higher Education in Aden).
Saudi Forum Explores Technology and the Film Watching Experience
The Saudi Film Commission on Thursday launched the fourth round of the Film Criticism Forum, under the slogan “Technology and the Film Watching Experience”. Held in cooperation with the University of Tabuk, the forum presented a range of cinematic dialogues that explored the concept of film criticism in its various forms among critics, academics specialising in film studies, filmmakers, writers, artists, and film lovers, the news site Akhbaar 24 reported.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the latest round of the Film Criticism Forum is the fourth of five planned events that will culminate in an international conference in Riyadh next November titled “Film and Art in a Changing World”.
UAE University Hosts a Times Higher Education Impact Forum on Water
The United Arab Emirates University, in Al Ain, will host a Times Higher Education University Impact Forum on September 11 that will focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the conference will bring together higher-education leaders, researchers and other experts to discuss the use of advanced technologies to provide tangible solutions for countries that lack the basic necessities of clean water and sanitation. The forum will also explore how the higher-education sector can play a strategic role in ensuring that investments are being made responsibly and in line with the needs of communities.
The forum will be held in a strategic partnership with Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi University, Al Ain University, Trends Research and Consulting, and WAM.
Egypt and Iraq Discuss Opportunities for Cooperation in Higher Education
Iraq’s minister of higher education, Naeem Al-Aboudi, received Walid Mohamed Ismail, Egypt’s ambassador to Baghdad, to discuss how to enhance academic cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement, Al-Aboudi said his ministry was keen to develop scientific and educational partnerships with its counterparts in the region and the world. Iraqi universities are ready to exchange scholarships and fellowships and to hold conferences, workshops and joint research with Egyptian universities in the scientific fields, Al-Aboudi said.
In turn, the Egyptian diplomat welcomed plans to push academic relations between Egypt and Iraq to greater cooperation levels.
academic cooperation between the two countries. (Photo via the Iraqi ministry)
Recommended Reading from Al-Fanar Media:
Egypt Launches Educational Tourism Initiative to Attract More International Students
In an effort to gain a larger share of the global educational tourism market Egypt is seeking to attract more international students to the country’s universities through a new initiative that offers them scholarships, travel discounts, and residency rights. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research recently launched the “Egyptian Initiative for Scholarships and Educational Tourism” (EGYAID) as part of the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030. Read more in this article.
Arab Students in the United Kingdom Talk about Their Experiences
An estimated 30,000 young Arabs who are studying at universities in the United Kingdom. Some of them recently spoke to Al-Fanar Media about their experiences, including things they liked and some challenges they had to overcome. Read more in this article.
Tips and Resources:
Erasmus+ Opportunities for Students and Organisations
Erasmus+ is the European Union programme that supports international opportunities in education, training, youth and sport in Europe. It offers opportunities for individuals and organisations at all levels of education, including higher education, vocational education and training, school education (including early childhood education and care), and adult education, as well as youth and sports activities. Explore more in this article.
Culture:
A Digital Library Preserves the Traditional Art of Palestinian Embroidery
Zain Masri created Tirazain, a digital library of traditional Palestinian embroidery, to document, preserve and reclaim a culturally important element of Palestinian heritage. Read more in this article.
Opinion:
Teaching Media in Arab Universities: Challenges of 2023 and Beyond
The world is undergoing many transformations that educators and policymakers must take into account to design higher education programmes that are flexible enough to keep pace with developments and empower graduates. Read more in this commentary by Ehab Hamdi, a journalist and scholar who has taught at several universities in the Arab region.
Scholarships
Al-Fanar Media maintains a database of quality scholarships available to Arab students, which we continuously update. To stay up to date on the latest scholarships available in international universities, check the Scholarships section here, and watch for updated feedback on free learning opportunities in our News and Reports section, here.
Recent additions to our scholarships database include:
- Pan African University Scholarships for Master’s and Doctoral Studies
- DAAD Scholarships for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) in Germany
Scholarships – Facebook – Newsletter
