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

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 Scalisi, 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