By Björn Kjerfve Dec. 17, 2014 | 2:40 p.m. EST + More

Education plays an ever-important role in Middle Eastern society, writes the chancellor of the American

University of Sharjah.

The Middle East represents a diverse geographic spread of 18 countries, each with their own economies,

political frameworks and social needs. However, collectively, underlying trends in higher education across

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the whole region point to one clear reality: Thanks to a population heavily skewed towards youth and a

growing middle-class affluence in many of the markets, the higher education sector in the Middle East is

now a viable target for many international institutions’ global expansion plans.

Culturally, a higher education is highly prized in the Middle East and today, the educational sector plays

an even more-important role in society than ever before. With shifting demographics, political challenges

and economic diversification, a move away from pedagogical learning methods to more interactive

teaching styles and access to higher education are now high governmental priorities across many

nations.

[SPECIAL REPORT: College of Tomorrow]

Current expenditure on this sector, according to a recent study published by Al Masah Capital Limited,

has reached an average of 3.8 percent of the gross domestic product in Middle East and North African

(MENA) countries – higher than that of many developed nations – and this figure is expected to continue

to increase. Enrollment rates in higher education are considered to be on par with global figures, with

current MENA rates of 31 compared to a world average rate of 30. A high number of MENA countries

– including the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia and Kuwait – are now reporting higher

enrollment rates for women than for men, Forbes Woman Middle East recently reported. This growth in

the education sector will lead to an increasing number of schools and universities in the Gulf Cooperation

Council, which are expected to rise from around 49,500 institutions in 2010 to more than 55,000 in 2020,

according to a report issued by investment banking firm Alpen Capital.

Ongoing political developments in the region are also having a tangible impact on the education sector.

Interestingly, and possibly counterintuitively, political tensions are seen as one of the drivers behind the

rise in female enrollment. There is a trend for men to bypass higher education for public sector or military

employment, but it is also clear that a number of governments, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation

Council area, are heavily promoting higher education to female citizens.

[READ: E-Learning Engages Women at Saudi University]

Social shifts and changing economic marketplace requirements are also driving the increased interest in

higher education. Today, according to the World Bank, “the key to prosperity is a well-educated,

technically skilled workforce producing high-value-added, knowledge-intensive goods and services.” The

rise of globalization and knowledge economies, and the MENA nations’ efforts to transform their

economic frameworks accordingly, are fueling a more competitive employment environment that is

requiring ever more specialized skill-sets, in addition to fundamental education.

Of course, higher educational establishments in the region have a key role to play in MENA’s ability to

fulfill its future potential in this regard. Critically, their competitive advantage is the ability to tailor their

educational offerings to localized or regional economic need. Given the undeniable global shift from

"West to East," this gives universities in the region heightened appeal to both young people from the

region itself, as well as to candidates from outside the region who are looking to pursue a truly

international career.

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In the UAE, for example, Dubai’s hosting of EXPO 2020 is expected to create over 300,000 additional

jobs across sectors such as hospitality, transportation, retail, banking, finance, real estate and

infrastructure. Several UAE universities have already announced additions to their course offerings as a

direct consequence, and others will increase places in existing courses to meet this demand.

TAGS: Middle East, STEM education, Arab region universities

Dr. Björn Kjerfve is the chancellor of American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

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