Internationalization of Higher Education in the MENA Region: Current Trends and Future Scenarios

This webinar was organized by the International Association of Universities (IAU) in collaboration with Qatar University on 3 September 2024.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are among the youngest regions in the world. According to OECD data, more than half (55%) of the population across the MENA region, is under the age of 30. Such a young population demands access to higher education. In response to these dynamics, the MENA region's tertiary education sector has dramatically expanded in recent years (as shown by World Bank data). Despite this expansion, overall enrollment remains low compared to other regions of the world.

Internationalization of higher education has been one answer to provide further opportunities to students from the region. However, the MENA region is very heterogeneous, both in terms of the socio-economic status of countries, and political stability, which impacts the quality of the higher education sector and its internationalization in each country. To reflect on these different and contrasting perspectives, this webinar investigated internationalization in the MENA region starting from some relevant trends for the region emerging from the results of the 6th IAU Global Survey on internationalization. The webinar welcomed experts from major countries in the region to discuss the above.

Speakers:

Marcello Scalisim, Director, UNIMED - Mediterranean. Universities Union
Cesar Wazen, Director of International Affairs Office, Qatar University
Carla Eddé, Vice-rector for international relations, Saint Joseph University - Beirut, Lebanon
Nabil Cherni, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Letters, Arts and Humanities, Department of English, Manouba University, Tunisia
Omar Al-Ansari, President, Qatar University, Qatar
Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General, International Association of Universities
Giorgio Marinoni, Manager HE and Internationalization, International Association of Universities

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0:03 - Welcoming and opening remarks from Dr. Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General, IAU
6:12- Introduction Omar Al-Ansari, President of Qatar University
8:03 - Giorgio Marinoni, Manager HE and Internationalization, IAU - Presenting the results of IAU's 6th Global Survey on MENA region.
21:37 - Discussion with Marcello Scalisim, Director, UNIMED - Mediterranean. Universities Union.
30:58 - Discussion with Cesar Wazen, Director of International Affairs Office, Qatar University - Sharing his perspective from the GULF countries and University of Qatar.
39:00 - Discussion with Carla Eddé, Vice-rector for international relations, Saint Joseph University - Beirut, Lebanon.
46:15 - Discussion with + Nabil Cherni, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Letters, Arts and Humanities, Department of English, Manouba University, Tunisia.
58:50 - Q&A - Answering the questions from the audience.
1:24:05 - Dr. Hilligje van’t Land's closing remarks.

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IAU Communications