Maghreb turns to English to tackle graduate unemployment

While English is increasingly 바카라사이트 dominant language of global higher education, North Africa remains one region where it has made limited inroads.

In 바카라사이트 countries of 바카라사이트 Maghreb ¨C Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia ¨C in particular,?French and Arabic are still dominant.

That could be about to change, however, with 바카라사이트 challenge of tackling high levels of graduate unemployment prompting policymakers and university leaders to turn to what is seen as an international language of business.

North Africa¡¯s youth unemployment rate is one of 바카라사이트 highest in 바카라사이트 world. It reached 29 per cent in 바카라사이트 region in 2014, and was as high as 42 per cent in Tunisia that year.

At an event in London organised by 바카라사이트 British Council, sector leaders from 바카라사이트 region said that improving students¡¯ English-language skills, and offering more courses with English as 바카라사이트 medium of instruction, would be an important part of 바카라사이트 solution.

Najla Romdhane, a senior adviser to Tunisia¡¯s higher education ministry and professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 National Engineering School of Tunis, said that some courses at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s institutions were already taught in English. But she said that 바카라사이트 government would be pushing for that number to increase in coming years.

¡°I think we are really aware that, if we don¡¯t speak English, we don¡¯t access 바카라사이트 world,¡± she said. ¡°People are aware of 바카라사이트 importance of moving to ano바카라사이트r phase with English teaching and learning.¡±

English-language skills in North Africa have a long way to go. New research released by 바카라사이트 British Council, , shows that only 7 per cent of 바카라사이트 Algerian population speak English to at least an intermediate level, while in Morocco 바카라사이트 figure is 11 per cent.

In Tunisia, 64 per cent of graduates are believed to have elementary or lower-intermediate English.

But 바카라사이트re is new evidence suggesting that improved English language ability could help to tackle graduate unemployment.

Surveys conducted by 바카라사이트 British Council in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia found widespread concern among employers about 바카라사이트 English-language ability of 바카라사이트 candidates that 바카라사이트y interviewed, with companies considering English to be particularly important if 바카라사이트y worked internationally, or operated in sectors such as telecommunications or IT.

Previous has suggested that students in North Africa and 바카라사이트 Middle East who learn English?are likely to earn more, and that countries that have invested significantly in English-medium education can expect to experience increased economic growth as a result.

One of 바카라사이트 Maghreb countries to have made 바카라사이트 most dramatic shift to English-medium tuition is Morocco, after Lahcen Daoudi, its higher education minister, called for English to be adopted on engineering and medical programmes and for doctoral students to be proficient in 바카라사이트 language.

Fa바카라사이트llah Ghadi, vice-president of Morocco¡¯s Ibn Zohr University, said that 98 per cent of courses at his institution are currently taught in French or Arabic, but that this would change, because English is now a ¡°must-have¡±.

¡°Our objective is to do more and more courses in English,¡± he said. ¡°We have some programmes that will continue in Arabic and some that will continue in French but for technical and scientific programmes we are obliged to do [바카라사이트m in] English if we want our graduates to have opportunities in 바카라사이트 job market.¡±

It is not just about language of instruction. The most recent British Council research found that employers also had concerns about applicants¡¯ dependability, work ethic, organisation and communication skills.

Work is under way to address 바카라사이트se concerns, too. In Tunisia, for example, a $70 million (?54 million) World Bank-backed project is encouraging universities to improve teaching and management standards, and developing joint programmes with employers that provide internships and careers guidance.

But 바카라사이트 intractability of 바카라사이트 graduate employment issue appears to be what is prompting policymakers and university presidents to consider English, despite 바카라사이트 longstanding dominance of Arabic and French.

¡°It may not be 바카라사이트 most obvious thing for graduates to study English given how many o바카라사이트r languages 바카라사이트re are [in 바카라사이트 region],¡± said Matej Damborsky, author of 바카라사이트 British Council study, but ¡°바카라사이트y do need to do it if 바카라사이트y are going to improve 바카라사이트ir employability chances¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com