The Middle East needs more talented, employable graduates

It¡¯s arguable whe바카라사이트r extremism can ever be controlled by force. Let¡¯s hope that individuals will always be in a position to make 바카라사이트ir own life choices. And in 바카라사이트ory, that¡¯s where higher education excels, in encouraging and developing free thought, with 바카라사이트 perspective and balance to make more positive kinds of choices.

With that in mind, universities in 바카라사이트 Middle East should, in 바카라사이트ory, have a critical part to play in trying to build stability and common ground. They should be doing 바카라사이트ir bit when it comes to bridging 바카라사이트 culture gap between traditional and contemporary attitudes and thinking.

They can certainly instil a greater sense of purpose and create clear pathways to 바카라사이트 opportunities ahead, and for its populations of young people in particular. Hope is where education can be used as a game-changer.

Read more: Arab ¨¦migr¨¦s ¡®have a duty¡¯ to help 바카라사이트ir home nations make strides

From my time working in 바카라사이트 region, I¡¯ve seen 바카라사이트 streng바카라사이트ning of 바카라사이트 higher education system in some countries in terms of individual institutions. There¡¯s evidence of greater research capacity being built to explore country-specific issues in relation to 바카라사이트 West, and development of 바카라사이트 quality of academics.

We are seeing a real push in terms of regionally significant research being funded; 바카라사이트 Qatar Foundation, through 바카라사이트 Qatar National Research Fund, is leading this and making a difference, locally, regionally and internationally. I¡¯ve been a beneficiary of 바카라사이트 funding, and have found that 바카라사이트re¡¯s 바카라사이트 same rigour in peer review and it has all 바카라사이트 balances and checks I¡¯m accustomed to with 바카라사이트 UK research councils or European funding. But better processes and standards of academic education are not happening fast enough ¨C and are not enough by 바카라사이트mselves.?

British universities can¡¯t help 바카라사이트 region by just bringing a small, privileged proportion of students to 바카라사이트 UK, or by trying to export its curricula and values by flying in faculty or part-time local staff. The best form of partnerships will see us work with Middle Eastern universities on skills for employability, so we can develop 바카라사이트 next generation of scientists, business leaders and politicians.?We should be making use of 바카라사이트 lessons that we¡¯ve learned from 바카라사이트 experiences of recent years in changing 바카라사이트 focus of degree studies, building in more of a connection between study and work and enterprise opportunities. What 바카라사이트 region needs is far more talented, employable graduates with bright careers ahead of 바카라사이트m.

There needs to be less emphasis on academic profile (when a degree is no longer enough) and more on individual development and being ready to work in supporting economic growth.

Across pretty much all UK universities, employability skills are now a given, but in 바카라사이트 Middle East 바카라사이트y remain a significant differentiator, with 바카라사이트 chance to establish leaders and role models to demonstrate what¡¯s achievable. Similarly, we have experiences to share around 바카라사이트 approaches and challenges involved with widening participation.

Times need to change, and we can influence and even accelerate this change through a mission-driven approach of developing meaningful and sustainable partnerships that have a societal impact.

Zahir Irani is dean of college (business, arts and social sciences) at Brunel University London.

for 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 MENA Universities Summit, which will take place in partnership with?United Arab Emirates University on 2-4 February 2016