Bulletin: Birzeit U. Shifts to Online Work as Violence in West Bank Escalates; Saudi University Seeks to Fill 116 Teaching Jobs
University Rankings
University rankings play a crucial role in enabling academic institutions to maintain international standards of quality in their programmes, academic focuses, and infrastructure. They also assist students in understanding the characteristics of institutions before they their select the pathway for continuing their educational journey.
These classifications empower students to identify top universities that offer specialised programmes that align with their interests and will give them a competitive edge in pursuing future career opportunities.
Al-Fanar Media takes pride in its strategic partnership with QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a British firm known for providing services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector, and publishing the esteemed QS World University Rankings portfolio.
This portfolio includes QS’s signature ranking of 1,500 universities and other academic institutions around the world, plus additional rankings by subject, region, and other categories. In a recent article, we highlighted the strong presence of 67 universities from 12 Arab countries in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
This ranking analysed over 16,400 programmes taught at more than 1,500 universities worldwide. Besides assessing individual programmes in various fields, the classification also ranked how universities were performing in five main subject areas: arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences and management. This year, those five subject areas included 115 programmes at universities in the Arab region. Computer science stood out as the leading discipline in the region, with 49 programmes featured.
To learn more about university rankings, you can explore Al-Fanar Media’s coverage under the Rankings section of our archive.
Mohammad El-Hawary
Al-Fanar Media editor-in-chief
News from the Region:
Birzeit U. Shifts to Online Work as West Bank Violence Escalates
Palestine’s Birzeit University shifted to remote work for both administrative and academic hours on Monday, 15 April, citing the escalation of violence by Israeli troops and settlers against Palestinian villages in the West Bank.
In a statement, the university said exams planned for Monday would be rescheduled to next Saturday, 20 April, and would be conducted in person. Employees whose roles require them to be on campus were exempted from the remote-work adjustment, as long as their personal safety was not endangered by travelling to the university.
Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal U. Seeks to Fill 116 Academic Positions
Saudi Arabia’s Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University is seeking to fill 116 academic positions for assistant teachers and practicing teachers through a general job competition.
The Saudi Press Agency quoted Tufail Al-Yousef, the university’s spokesperson, as saying that 79 positions were available for assistant teachers, and 37 for practicing teachers. Candidates interested in assistant teacher positions may apply via this link , and those interested in practicing teacher positions may apply via this link. Applicants must be Saudi nationals with a minimum grade point average of very good.
- Also see: Saudi Arabia’s Subol Platform Lists 1,900 Training Opportunities for Students and Graduates
American U. in Cairo Unveils Cultural Festival
The American University in Cairo will open a weeklong cultural festival on Wednesday, 17 April, at its Tahrir Square campus in the heart of Cairo. The festival, which the university plans to make an annual event, spotlights Cairo, emphasising the city’s vibrant history, diverse inhabitants, and lively culture.
The lineup for the inaugural features numerous events and programmes, such as artistic displays, cultural exhibitions, panel talks, workshops, theatrical performances, poetry sessions, public lectures, concerts, and guided tours of downtown landmarks, alongside activities curated by university students. See the full schedule here.
Qatar U. Hosts Conference on AI in Health Education and Applications
Qatar University will host its second international conference and exhibition on artificial intelligence in health education and applications next week, from 21 to 23 April.
In an announcement on its website, the university said the conference would seek to promote the integration of AI into healthcare workflows through educational programmes, and would consider approaches to ensure awareness of AI integration opportunities in healthcare service provisioning. More than 20 international, regional and local experts will share up-to-date knowledge about AI in the field of health practice and education, and international corporations will put their latest state-of-the-art products on display.
- Also see: 10 Essential Questions to Reimagine Higher Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
U. of Dubai, Hayford Institute to Collaborate on Training Programmes
The Executive Development Centre at the University of Dubai and the Hayford Integrated Training Institute, based in Dubai, have agreed to work together in offering and enhancing professional programmes focusing on e-learning and training.
As reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Eesa Mohammed Al Bastaki, president of the University of Dubai, emphasised that the agreement reinforces the accomplishments of the university’s Executive Development Center in e-learning and training domains. He also highlighted the university’s pivotal role as an academic institution in designing and enhancing training programmes that align with market demands.
Collaborative efforts with diverse companies and specialised institutes in training and other sectors help the university stay abreast of the latest developments in professional and practical domains, Al Bastaki said.
From Al-Fanar Media:
Why Study AI? A Guide to AI Studies and Jobs
As increasing numbers of Arab university students aspire to study artificial intelligence (AI), Al-Fanar Media put together a brief guide to AI studies and the careers available to graduates in this rapidly expanding field.
Our guide looks at the various departments and majors that have introduced programmes in artificial intelligence and gives examples of some of the major universities across the Arab world that emphasise AI teaching and research. It also looks at some of the high-paying careers that AI graduates can pursue. Read more in this article.
University Rankings:
67 Arab Universities Included in 2024 QS Rankings by Subject
The latest edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject features 67 universities from 12 Arab countries. Besides evaluating programmes in specific subjects, the list also ranks universities in five broad subject categories: arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences and management. This year, the Arab region boasts 115 entries in the five broad areas of study. Computer science stands out as the most prominently ranked subject in the Arab region, with 49 entries in the rankings. Read more in this article.
Media Literacy:
Media Literacy Courses Help Students Question What They Read and Watch
In a recent Al-Fanar Media panel discussion, scholars and specialists delved into the complexities of teaching media literacy at Arab universities. The session tackled multiple questions and challenges, such as how to define media literacy and how to incorporate it into curricula within Arab higher education. You can listen to a replay of the discussion (in Arabic) on Al-Fanar Media’s Facebook page or YouTube channel, or read more about it here.
Opinion:
Audiobooks in Arabic: YouTube Channels that Unlock Worlds
Our correspondent Gilgamesh Nabeel presents a selection of YouTube channels that offer a vast collection of audiobooks in Arabic. Whether you’re a seasoned reader looking to explore new genres or a language learner eager to immerse yourself in literature written in or translated to Arabic, this curated list aims to be your guide to unlocking the world of audiobooks. While many of these resources offer free access, some may come with paid services as well. See the full list here.
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.
