1 / 15

The ‘knowledge society’ in the middle east: education and the development of knowledge economies

The ‘knowledge society’ in the middle east: education and the development of knowledge economies. Dr. Daniel Kirk Macon State College Georgia, USA. background. IIE 4 th Global Education Report (Obst & Kirk, (Eds), 2010)

maine
Download Presentation

The ‘knowledge society’ in the middle east: education and the development of knowledge economies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The ‘knowledge society’ in the middle east: education and the development of knowledge economies Dr. Daniel Kirk Macon State College Georgia, USA

  2. background • IIE 4th Global Education Report (Obst & Kirk, (Eds), 2010) • Focus on role of innovation & education in developing knowledge-based economies in MENA • Aim to explore how countries in the region were addressing education / knowledge production continuum • Moving from ‘segmented’ educational programs toward a ‘joined-up’ educational strategy • My question: what does a ‘knowledge society’ look like in the ME region

  3. introduction • Knowledge Production: Driver of economic development • National Development Plans in region draw heavily on educational discourse and practice • Definition of Knowledge is slippery concept • Notions of Multiple/Many ‘Knowledges’(social constructivist model)

  4. Building a knowledge capacity • Knowledge: transmitted traditionally through basic formal and informal education • Building knowledge capacity among local citizenry is effective way to develop socioeconomically • Able to position national governments in relation to global structures of knowledge production

  5. Middle east as a region • Governments across Arab world embracing development in terms of knowledge production • Recently seen popular movements calling for reforms, part of which education will play a central role • Progress toward knowledge societies slow: mired in regional and cultural considerations • Awareness of the benefits such progress would bring

  6. Arab societies traditionally place high value on education: historical evidence of this • Must be aware that MENA is not the homogenous region it is often presented as • Such heterogeneity will support the develop of regional knowledges • Such differences will enhance efficacy of the process

  7. Current context • MENA: currently facing raft of social, political and economic challenges • High profile aspirations and developments in some quarters: attracting global attention (e.g. self-branding of some Gulf states) • Western media fascination with regional issues / conflicts (Iranian posturing, Oil security, Israeli/Palestinian situation, Regional conflicts, Popular demonstrations and calls for reform) • Often placed in opposition to Western practices

  8. Educational development in mideast • Educational Infrastructure: Global to Local • UNDP reports: Catalyst for regional introspection • Arab Knowledge Report (2009) makes link between knowledge and education as economic and social driver • Educational development linked to social policy • Perception that Western credentials are key

  9. Arab human development report • Knowledge-based society: “one where knowledge diffusion, production and application become the organizing principle in all aspects of human activity: culture, society, the economy, politics, and private life” (p.2) • Such an all-encompassing understanding is problematic in terms of achievement • Needs to be linked to Human Capital and high-level educational attainment

  10. The ‘right’ conditions for development • In region, conditions often far from ideal for building capacity • Arab countries as a whole have some of lowest R&D funding (UNDP, 2009) • R&D spending: Global 1.7% GDP/ MidEast 0.2% GDP • Region: 1.1% global total of books published • Low rates of Literacy (particularly among women)

  11. Current Positive trends in regional development • Some moves by individual states to overcome issues toward development • Example: Saudi Arabia: substantial investment in education: 26% non-military GDP (Dunlop, 2010) • Example: Dubai: self-positioning as ‘educational hub’ for region • Social calls from citizenry for further investment and opportunities, linked to educational provision

  12. Regional demographic issues • Chronic under-employment with under-utilized human potential • Young populations, demanding access to education and employment opportunities • Wealthy, Gulf States reliance on imported labor & expertise • Poorer regional countries suffer from exodus of youth – “knowledge deficit” (Al Shamsi, 2008)

  13. Regional barriers to development • Quality and structure of education, not access • Curriculum overhaul to promote knowledge production, not repetition • The Road Not Traveled(2008): educational structures need re-examination

  14. The Way ahead • Address low rates of literacy • Closely align education with national development aims • Access to, and participation rates in schools need to rise • Promote education, beyond lower levels, to FE • Increase duration of formal schooling for youngsters • Address curricula to focus on high-order thinking skills and 21st century workplace • Retain youth to mitigate ‘brain drain’ and economic loss through migration

  15. references • Al Shamsi, M. (2008). The imbalance in the population structure and its impact on the states of the region. In, Arabian Gulf Security: Internal and external challenges. Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 389-447 • Arab Human Development Report 2003: Building a knowledge society. United Nations Development Programme. United Nations, New York, NY • Arab Human Development Report 2009: Towards productive intercommunication for knowledge. United Nations Development Programme. United Nations, New York, NY • Aubert, J. & Reiffers, J. (2003). Knowledge Economies in the Middle East and North Africa: Toward new development strategies. The World Bank: Washington, D.C. • Greater Middle East Partnership (2004), al-Hayat, 13th February 2004, retrieved from, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/international/gmep2004.htm • Herrera, L. & Torres, C. A. (2006). Cultures of Arab Schooling: Critical ethnographies from Egypt. State University of New York, Albany, NY • Kirk, D. (2010). Global Reach, Local Need: The development and rise of the United Arab Emirates higher education sector. Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates • Leyne, J. (19 May, 2007). Dubai Ruler in vast Charity Gift. BBC news online, retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6672923.stm • Saudi Goes to Market. (2010). BBC World, documentary. Dir. Geoff Dunlop, broadcast 13th February, 2010 • Starrett, G. (1998). Putting Islam to Work: Education, Politics, and Religious Transformation in Egypt. University of California Press,Berkeley, CA • The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa (2008). The World Bank, Washington, D.C.

More Related