Tag: Higher education

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Happy Birthday Al-Fanar Independent Education News for the Arab World

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In April 2012 David Wheeler formerly Managing Editor, Global Edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education asked if I would be interested in attending a workshop and giving my input in the potential launch of a journal/paper.  The basic idea was to hear from the participants their views on a potential new publication with the tentative name of the Arab Journal of Higher Education. The Workshop was organized and sponsored by the Alexandria Trust and was held in in Cairo May 12-14.

Forty eight of us including many Arab academics and western expats who worked in the region were in attendance during the two and half days. It was a passionate group who had varied and strong views about what a new publication should be, but unanimous in the view a higher education publication which focused on the Arab world was needed.  Al-Fanar as it’s now called states its mission is to, “publish independent news and analysis and serve as a platform for dialogue among institutions within and beyond the Arab world.”

One year ago Al-Fanar began publishing its online paper in English and in Arabic. It has slowly but surely progressed and has been gaining a loyal audience.

On the 11th of January, 2014 Al-Fanar ran a series of articles on the compensation packages of professors in the Public-university in 12 Arab countries.

ü  A Survey of Public-University Professors’ Pay

ü  Employment in the Gulf: Not Always What it Seems

ü  The Economic Struggle of Public-University Professors

ü  Graphic and FAQs: Arab Public-University Salaries

The series brought to light the economic status of higher education professors through the region. In Graphics and FAQs Arab Public-University Salaries they stated:

This survey is the first regional survey of the compensation of Arab public-university professors. The vast majority of Arab youth are educated at public universities, and so the professors at them are responsible for shaping the next generation. But in many countries, they have little or no economic motivation to take up this important profession. While money isn’t the only motivation, it is an important one, and compensation can show the priorities of governments and societies. This survey is not necessarily an argument for more spending on higher education–economic data indicates that education spending in many Arab countries is strong, but does not always seem to effectively produce qualified graduates.

The series broke new ground showing the economic challenges of being a professor in the Arab world. The stories were well written, presented data not well known to the higher education community, and will be a bench mark on compensation for future studies.

I was excited when David Wheeler told me of his plans in 2011 while I was visited him in DC and honored to be one of the people asked to attend the Workshop in May 2012.  With Al-Fanar just finishing its first year of publication it’s apparent to me they have succeeded as an independent news platform for higher education in the Arab World.

If you have not subscribed for this free publication I would recommend you do so. Go to Al-Fanar Media and click subscribe.

Happy Birthday and keep up the good work.

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Mandatory Military Service Required of all Emirati Males

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News services throughout the UAE are reporting the government has announced mandatory military service. All Emirati males between ages 18 and 30 will be required to serve in the military while it will be optional for women. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the details of the plan on Twitter on Sunday, January 19.

All Emirati males who have finished secondary school will be required to serve for nine months while those without a high school diploma will serve for two years.  “The new law adds another layer to the national defense force to further protect our nation, secure its borders, and preserve its achievements,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted. “Our message to the world is a message of peace; the stronger we are, the stronger our message.”

The reserve force will consist of retired soldiers and national service program graduates, he said.

The requiring of military service is not unusual and many countries including Russia, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico and others have such laws. It is under consideration in other GCC countries such as Qatar and Kuwait. 

My blog has focused on education in the UAE and therefore my comments will address the possible affect of military service on higher education. I am of the belief that mandatory service will have a significant affect on the upcoming freshmen classes and especially male students who are completing their initial degree. The first question which came to my mind is; will military service be required before going to further education? I would assume not but nothing has been stated so far.

However, lets go with the assumption a student can enroll in a higher education institution before doing military service.  A fact to consider is the vast majority of male UAE Nationals are in Foundation programs trying to improve their skills so they can be accepted into a standard bachelors degree program. I wonder if these students who do not gain “direct entry” would then be required to do nine months of military first? Perhaps as a part of the military experience additional educational training would be provided in some method for these citizen soldiers. 

There are a number of questions educators will have and I would like to post your thoughts on this recent development. I look forward to your comments.