Education observatory

The private sector – already providing about 30% of higher education places in Africa – can do more to meet the continent’s educational challenges, and African governments should be maximizing its contribution, rather than ignoring or acting against it. Read more>

India and Egypt have unveiled a higher education cooperation plan that includes setting up a joint institution, networking among universities in the two countries and enhancing student and academic mobility. Read more>

Data from Times Higher Education‘s World University Rankings reveal the best universities in the Arab World 2017. Read more>

An Asian Universities Alliance was established with the aim to enhance cooperation and communication among 15 member universities, including four from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Indonesia. Read more>

While international students studying in Egypt currently generate US$186 million for the Egyptian economy, this figure is low by international standards. An ambitious government plan aims to double the number of international students by 2020-21 and increase their contribution to the country by as much as US$700 million. Read more>

A recently published higher education cooperation plan with Tunisia represents the latest milestone in Turkey’s plan to set up joint universities with North African Arab states in what is seen as an expression of cultural diplomacy or ‘soft power’ aimed at building regional alliances and partnerships. Read more>

Despite the fact that two-thirds of African countries have policies and strategies in place for science, technology and innovation, the capacity of the continent’s higher education institutions and associated research centres to implement them remains very low. Read more>

Students have raised concerns in a recent report about the lack of masters degree programmes being offered by universities, a situation they believe is thwarting their academic and professional aspirations. Read more>

In an effort to establish itself as a regional hub for higher education, science and technology, Egypt plans to set up a Knowledge City in the new administrative capital east of Cairo that will host branches of foreign universities and research, innovation and entrepreneurship centres along with a science park. …

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University opened its first overseas office this month, in Tunisia, in what has been hailed by the university’s president as an opportunity to “bring the world to Harvard and Harvard to the world” Read more>