Higher Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

This timely, international volume examines how higher education policy is shaped across the Middle East and North Africa and how educational reform is implemented. It adopts an inclusive definition of higher education, covering universities, community colleges, technical and vocational institutions, and other post-secondary entities that play a vital role in national development and educational ecosystems. Bringing together perspectives on shared historical and cultural foundations alongside varied political and socio-economic realities, the book explores both common patterns and distinctive national and institutional pathways that shape higher education reform across the regions. Against a backdrop of social, political, and humanitarian crises, as well as significant migration movements, the chapters underscore the urgent need to restructure and reimagine higher education to foster stability, security, and equitable access. Quality education for all students of higher education age is positioned as a cornerstone for sustainable development in the region. Contributors address key questions: How are policies enacted? How do governance structures balance local pressures during globalisation? What models of leadership are emerging and how do institutions navigate tensions between tradition and innovation? Aimed at scholars, graduate students, education leaders, and policymakers, this book is suitable for advanced courses in educational policy, leadership, governance, and comparative education. It will also serve as a valuable resource for NGOs and education professionals engaged in higher education reform.