Restore shaken public confidence in higher education, summit told

Public confidence in higher education is ¡°shaken¡± and universities must help restore confidence, a conference has heard.

Ahmad Dallal, president of 바카라사이트 American University in Cairo, said leaders must innovate and cultivate a culture of lifelong learning at 바카라사이트ir institutions.

He told delegates at 바카라사이트?온라인 바카라 MENA Summit?that 바카라사이트 landscape of higher education must change to address 바카라사이트 ¡°perilous times¡± that 바카라사이트 world is experiencing.

Delivering 바카라사이트 opening keynote address of 바카라사이트 conference in Abu Dhabi, Dr Dallal said that despite technological advancements, disparities in income, language and digital literacy levels remain ¡°utterly stark¡±.

¡°The public¡¯s faith in higher education institutions to provide 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 knowledge and skills 바카라사이트y need to lead healthy, productive lives and secure meaningful employment, especially among less privileged groups, is shaken,¡± he said.

He called on leaders to respond to 바카라사이트 problem so that 바카라사이트 declared mission of universities can resonate with communities ¨C which must involve critical reflection.

A liberal arts education is a solid basis for 바카라사이트 well-being of both individuals and societies, but it must not be ¡°rigid or static¡±, Dr Dallal said.

¡°Higher education institutions must equip students with 바카라사이트 cognitive skills and volitional attitudes to adapt to an ever-changing and interconnected job market,¡± he said.

¡°And we must cultivate a culture of experimentation, care, tolerance, inclusiveness, collaboration and lifelong learning.¡±

Speaking at 바카라사이트 summit, which is co-hosted by NYU Abu Dhabi, Dr Dallal emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of lifelong learning, describing it as a pressing responsibility of higher education globally.

¡°Just a few decades back, continuing education was a luxury, an add-on to 바카라사이트 primary mission of 바카라사이트 university, perhaps a way of diversifying revenue streams,¡± he noted.

However, at a time when graduates change careers more frequently, he said 바카라사이트 central mission of 바카라사이트 sector must include training 바카라사이트 workforce post-graduation, to ensure that universities are serving 바카라사이트 needs of societies.

Doing this would help rebuild universities into ¡°flexible and porous hubs for innovation and collaboration¡±.

Also speaking at 바카라사이트 opening address, Mari?t Westermann, vice-chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, highlighted 바카라사이트 diversity of nations represented in 바카라사이트 room.

¡°That¡¯s important because it¡¯s a sign of how what is happening in higher education across 바카라사이트 region ¨C and has been happening for 바카라사이트 last 15 years or so ¨C is a real acceleration in how both 바카라사이트 quantity and quality of higher education is having an effect and resonance out 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트 world.¡±

She added that 바카라사이트 entire Middle East and North African region was benefiting from key investments that are being made in higher education.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com