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Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
Higher education in the Arab world is non-compulsory, formal education that occurs after secondary education in the twenty-two Arab states. The landscape of higher education in the Arab world is characterized by its dynamic evolution, reflecting the region's diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts across 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.[1] From its origins in ancient centers of learning to the modern institutions shaping intellectual discourse today, the sector has undergone significant transformations throughout history.[2]
The Arab world is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, Al-Azhar University, established in the tenth century C.E. in Cairo. Initially founded as a center for men to study Islamic law and theology, Al-Azhar now offers many academic disciplines to both male and female students.[3] The historical narrative of higher education in the Arab world is marked by intellectual exchange, cultural diffusion, and academic excellence.[4] From Islamic Golden Age civilization's pioneering educational institutions, which preserved and expanded knowledge, to modern establishments influenced by colonial legacies and nationalist movements, education has been a cornerstone of societal progress and Arab identity formation.[5] Al-Azhar aside, contemporary higher education in the Arab world is often traced back to colonial and missionary universities established by Europe and the United States in the early nineteenth century. These institutions were few in number, and access was limited to upper-class individuals living in major cities.[6]
Higher education in the region has grown dramatically and has experienced many changes, since its beginnings in the colonial period, and especially since the middle of the twentieth century. In the 21st century, the Arab world's higher education sector faces numerous challenges amid opportunities brought by globalization and technological advancement.[7] Quality assurance, accessibility, relevance, and brain drain are key concerns, prompting stakeholders to engage in dialogue and implement measures for improvement.[8] Though significant differences exist between higher education sectors in each country of the Arab world, some general trends are evident, including navigating the forces of globalization and attempts to increase access and gender equality.[9] Despite significant changes, Arab universities continue to receive relatively poor evaluations from the major global university-ranking systems.
^"Trends in Global Higher Education: Tracking an Academic Revolution". unesdoc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
^Wit, Hans de (2020-02-15). "Internationalization of Higher Education: The Need for a More Ethical and Qualitative Approach". Journal of International Students. 10 (1): i–iv. doi:10.32674/jis.v10i1.1893. ISSN 2166-3750.
^"Encyclopædia Britannica Online". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
^Makdisi, George (1981). The Rise of Colleges: Institutions of Learning in Islam and the West. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-85224-375-6. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctvxcrkxg.
^Hourani, Albert Habib (2002). A History of the Arab Peoples. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01017-8.
^Mazawi, Andre Elias (2005). "Contrasting perspectives on higher education governance in the Arab states," in Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, 20: 133-189.
^Altbach, Philip G.; Knight, Jane (2007). "The Internationalization of Higher Education: Motivations and Realities". Journal of Studies in International Education. 11 (3–4): 290–305. doi:10.1177/1028315307303542. ISSN 1028-3153.
^Marginson, Simon; Rhoades, Gary (2002-04-01). "Beyond national states, markets, and systems of higher education: A glonacal agency heuristic". Higher Education. 43 (3): 281–309. doi:10.1023/A:1014699605875. ISSN 1573-174X.
^Forest, James J. F.; Altbach, Philip G., eds. (2007). "International Handbook of Higher Education". SpringerLink. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-4012-2. ISBN 978-1-4020-4011-5.
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