News and stories with a focus on the publishing industry, education, and technology from across the Arab world.
The Arab World Learning Barometer
(Brookings Institute)
The Center for Universal Education at Brookings has developed an interactive tool that depicts the state of education and learning in the Middle East and North Africa.
A Conversation with the Head of the Association of Arab Universities
By Rasha Faek (Al-Fanar Media)
Al-Fanar Media interviews Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities Sultan Abu-Orabi.
Inter-University Platform for Middle East, North Africa
By Wagdy Sawahel (University World News)
An inter-university collaborative platform is planned for countries in the Middle East and North Africa with the aim of developing partnerships and academic exchange in higher education.
CourseSmart Looks to Arab Market for Growth
By Lisa Campbell (The Bookseller)
Digital textbook provider CourseSmart strikes a deal to provide several countries in the Middle East with academic textbooks.
Arabterm: An Online Technical Dictionary
By Rasha Faek (Al-Fanar Media)
The new online technical dictionary Arabterm seeks to create Arabic equivalents for technical terms by translating from English, German, and French.
Algeria’s Book Crisis
By Mabrouk Boutakouka (Al-Monitor)
Mabrouk Boutakouka explains that the book industry in Algeria is undergoing a difficult transition as publishing companies now outnumber bookstores, creating a void in the availability of books to the majority of citizens.
Tunisia: Legal Deposit Regulations Raise Censorship Fears Among Publishers
By Afef Abrougui (Tunisialive)
A new regulation in Tunisia which requires legal review of periodical and non-periodical publications sparks concern.
Controversy at the 2014 Cairo International Book Fair Awards
By M. Lynx Qualey (Arabic Literature [in English])
The closing of the Cairo International Book Fair stirs controversy over new guidelines for this year’s prized novels.
Renowned Scholar in Egypt Charged with Espionage
By David D. Kirkpatrick (New York Times)
Egyptian political scientist and scholar of political Islam Emad Shahin was charged with conspiring with foreign organizations to destabilize the country’s national security.
Looking for Alternative Education in Egypt?
By Farida Makar (Mada Masr)
Farida Makar writes for Mada Masr about the woes of the Egyptian education system and how some alternatives, such as home schooling and online education, are being sought in place of slow attempts at reform.
Online Education Platform Coursea Blocks Students in Syria and Iran
By Nina Curley (Wamda)
The online education platform Coursea recently blocked access to its web portal in Iran and Syria, claiming that some course offerings are subject to sanctions.
A Brilliant Scheme for Making Sure Syria’s Child Refugees Get an Education
By Gordon Brown (The Guardian)
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown takes on the issue of educating Syria’s child refugees by promoting a plan which “timeshares” a school in Lebanon to teach refugees.
Syrian Publishers at Cairo Book Fair: ‘We Came Because We are Still Alive’
By Mohammed Saad (Ahram Online)
The ongoing conflict in Syria has created a whirlwind of problems for the country’s publishing industry; however, publishers were still able to attend this year’s Cairo International Book Fair to prove they have not given up their trade.
Palestinian Refugees from Syria Struggle to Attend Gaza’s Universities
By Rasha Abou Jalal (Al-Monitor)
Palestinians refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria are finding it difficult to continue their higher education in the Gaza Strip.
Podcast: Higher Education in Palestine
By Chris Parr (Times Higher Education)
Times Higher Education interviews assistant deputy minister for higher education in Palestine Fahoum Shalabi and professor at the Palestine Polytechnic University Karim Tahboub about the state of higher education and academic research in Palestine.