A Financial Crisis, Then Coronavirus. Lebanese Universities Could Still Thrive.
Lebanese higher education is caught between two crises. A scholar looks at how that’s likely to affect universities and offers suggestions for how they can prepare.
Coronavirus: Universities Are Shifting Classes Online—But It’s Not as Easy as It Sounds
Universities trying to make a sudden shift to online learning face many challenges, including holding student attention, measuring student progress, and designing online interfaces that will work on smartphones.
Coronavirus Outbreak Forces Arab Countries to Consider Long-Ignored Online Education
Online education is distrusted by governments and the general public in the Arab region. Some educators see its use during the coronavirus epidemic as an opportunity to change that.
Palestine’s Universities Scramble to Move to Online Learning During Coronavirus Shutdown
Universities in the West Bank have been closed for 30 days, forcing them to make a sudden switch to online learning. Students and some professors are concerned.
Coronavirus Fears Shut Down Universities and Schools in the Arab World
Several countries have closed educational institutions and others are restricting school activities in an attempt to limit the spread of the dangerous new virus, Covid-19.
Arab Students Trapped in China by Coronavirus Outbreak
Some Arab countries have begun evacuating students from the area under quarantine, but many students feel abandoned and want more help.
Algerian Scientist Sees Healing Potential in Olives and Dates
Halima Benbouza, who has won acclaim as a researcher and served as a role model for women in science, is studying the genetics of local crops.
Will Arab Youth Reach Their Potential? The World Bank’s ‘Human Capital Index’ Offers Predictions
The institution’s new Human Capital Index indicates that many of the region’s youth face significant barriers in pursuing their full potential, but economists say it’s a more complicated than a single metric.
Why Did People Die? Unreliable Data Affect Research in Many Arab Countries
Two new studies question the accuracy of death certificates in the Middle East, an issue that creates difficulties for researchers and policymakers who want to improve public-health efforts.
Female Genital Mutilation Is a Stubborn Problem, but Education Helps
New research shows that educating teenage girls about the risks of female genital mutilation changes their opinions to view it less favorably, but experts say that alone won’t work.
