Download The `knowledge society` in the middle east: education and the

THE ‘KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY’ IN THE
MIDDLE EAST: EDUCATION AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE
ECONOMIES
Dr. Daniel Kirk
Macon State College
Georgia, USA
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

INTRODUCTION
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Knowledge Production: Driver of economic
development
National Development Plans in region draw
heavily on educational discourse and practice

Definition of Knowledge is slippery concept
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Notions of Multiple/Many ‘Knowledges’ (social
constructivist model)
BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE CAPACITY
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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
MIDDLE EAST AS A REGION
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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
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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
CURRENT CONTEXT
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MENA: currently facing raft of social, political
and economic challenges
High profile aspirations and developments in
some quarters: attracting global attention (e.g. selfbranding 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
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN MIDEAST
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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
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Perception that Western credentials are key
ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
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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 highlevel educational attainment
THE ‘RIGHT’ CONDITIONS FOR
DEVELOPMENT
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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)
CURRENT POSITIVE TRENDS IN REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
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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
REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUES
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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)
REGIONAL BARRIERS
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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
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
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REFERENCES
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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
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Arab Human Development Report 2003: Building a knowledge society. United Nations Development Programme. United Nations, New York, NY
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Arab Human Development Report 2009: Towards productive intercommunication for knowledge. United Nations Development Programme. United
Nations, New York, NY
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Aubert, J. & Reiffers, J. (2003). Knowledge Economies in the Middle East and North Africa: Toward new development strategies. The World Bank:
Washington, D.C.
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Greater Middle East Partnership (2004), al-Hayat, 13th February 2004, retrieved from, http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/international/gmep2004.htm
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Herrera, L. & Torres, C. A. (2006). Cultures of Arab Schooling: Critical ethnographies from Egypt. State University of New York, Albany, NY
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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
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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
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Saudi Goes to Market. (2010). BBC World, documentary. Dir. Geoff Dunlop, broadcast 13 th February, 2010
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Starrett, G. (1998). Putting Islam to Work: Education, Politics, and Religious Transformation in Egypt. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA
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The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa (2008). The World Bank, Washington, D.C.