Arab world teaching methods 'need reform'

Experts in the Arab world are discussing the need to reform traditional teaching methods and boost competitiveness among Arab universities.

Specialists met in Amman this week to discuss a blueprint for a pilot project that would expose Arab universities to international standards of evaluation. The blueprint was prepared by an advisory committee led by Dr Rima Khalaf, Director of the Regional Bureau of Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme.

It scrutinised two subjects - computer science and business administration – seen as key areas to generating a skilled workforce and developing a modern economy. A sample of 20 universities from the Arab countries will be invited to take part in the project by conducting an internal assessment, followed by an external review.

The results will be used to develop a full-scale regional programme benefiting universities across the Arab world. "By adopting independent professional peer reviews, universities in the Arab world will not only be able to respond to developments in the international scene but they will also be exposed to healthy competition, with greater institutional accountability and transparency," stated Dr Khalaf, who had pointed out that the ultimate aim is to increase the developmental impact of higher education programmes on Arab economies.

Former Bahrain Education Minister, Dr Ali Fakhro, who attended the Amman meeting as a member of the advisory committee, said yesterday it would ensure constant assessment of objectives, facilities and output. Such a programme will help provide students with the latest of skills to meet the challenges and requirements of various sectors.

He said quality assessment, both self and external, would help update these universities and a random test of fourth year students would show whether they are up to international standards.

This pilot project is expected to be a step towards the assessment of other programmes which would lead to the accreditation of universities. This will be voluntary and not mandatory, and Dr Fakhro hailed the role played by the UNDP in this regard.

Applauding this long overdue initiative, former Kuwaiti Education Minister, Dr Hassan El Ibrahim, stated: "It is our duty to tell Arab youth which universities to apply to — whether public or private."

He said the initiative draws upon the fine tuning of higher education in the West which has been driven by demands for a dynamic workforce. Arab scholars and decision makers conceded in the meeting that universities in their countries have been constrained by the decline in traditional sources of revenue and a rapidly growing student population with only limited public scrutiny and independent quality assessment.

As a result the introduction of independent professional reviews, ratings, audits and performance indicators have become all the more important for students, employers and funding agencies to make informed decisions.