Artists in Saudi Arabia Gain New Recognition and Support
A new art grant from the Misk Art Institute provides major support for artists and could help shift attitudes about careers in art.
Saudi Universities Take Steps Toward Financial Independence
Three public universities are the first to start operating under a new plan that gives them more freedom but reduces state funding. Questions remain about how it will affect students and professors.
Attacks on Yemeni Higher Education Highlighted in ‘Free to Think’ Report
The annual report documenting attacks on higher education and the freedom of academics details the toll the civil war in Yemen has taken on universities.
Film Studies Thrive in Saudi Arabia, Promising Jobs and Cultural Change
The film industry is growing as the kingdom modernizes, and university film programs are poised to attract more students who want to study at home.
‘Home’: Nine Arab Poets Explore Interior Spaces in a New Bilingual Anthology
The dual-language volume does not aim to be completist or canonical, but it may help amend the dearth of contemporary Arabic poetry in English translation.
Black Saudi Author Focuses on Neglected History of African Migration and Slavery
Mahmoud Trawri dug into the thorny history of Black Africans and slavery in the Arabian Peninsula while writing Maymouna, published in 2001. The novel is still hard to find in Saudi Arabia.
Pandemic Disrupts Arab Students’ Dreams of Studying Abroad
Many students in the Arab region are concerned about losing the chance to continue their higher education abroad because of restrictions related to Covid-19.
Thrills and Fantasies: Lighter Reading for a Summer of Disruption
Here’s a recommended reading list of lighter works to take your mind off Covid-19. Many are inspired by the broad sweep of history across the Middle East and North Africa.
Where to Find Advice for Building Better Courses Online
The emergency adaptation of online learning during the coronavirus crisis left little time for reflection on best practices. Here is a sampling of resources for instructors who want more guidance.
A Quarantine Reading List: Escapist Nonfiction from the Arab World
Readers who need a break from news of Covid-19 and chronicles of disease may find welcome relief in these books from the Middle East and North Africa.
