Iraq’s Former Higher Education Minister Strives to Improve Universities
Abdul Razzaq Al-Issa led Iraq’s higher education ministry during a period when the Islamic State controlled much of the country.
Academic Self-Censorship Is a ‘Brain Drag’ on Arab Universities and Societies
Academic self-censorship not only hinders individuals’ intellectual output and creativity but comes at a cost to whole societies.
Libyan University Professors Are Promised a Pay Raise
After five years of activism, Libyan university professors won a government pledge to increase their wages. But they may not see the money soon.
Moroccan Academics Protest Plan to Give Ministry More Control
Lecturers at Morocco’s public universities oppose a draft law that would give the Higher Education Ministry more control over their wages and work conditions.
New ‘American’ University in Baghdad Aims to Train Future Leaders
The new American University of Iraq–Baghdad brings a liberal-arts approach to higher education to the Iraqi capital.
Why the World Urgently Needs Interdisciplinary Research and Policy Making
Covid-19 is the perfect example of a complex, global problem that requires scientists and policy makers to build bridges through collaborative interdisciplinary research.
Changes in Algerian Admission Requirements for Advanced Degrees Draw Sharp Criticism
New rules making it easier to be enrolled in graduate studies at Algerian universities have drawn opposition for potentially harming the quality of graduates.
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.
How ‘Supportive Disruption’ Could Transform Arab Higher Education
In his new book, John Waterbury proposes a series of reforms that could transform educational systems in the Middle East and North Africa.
Supportive Innovation: A Model for Change in Arab Higher Education
After long scholarly and administrative experience in the Arab region and an intense study of Arab higher education, a political scientist proposes a way forward.
