Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011 - Arab Human Development

642 Pages·2012·2.66 MB·English

Arab Knowledge
Report 2010/2011
Preparing Future Generations for the Knowledge Society
This Report has been produced through joint sponsorship and support of the
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) and The United Nations
Development Programme / Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP/RBAS)
Cover is printed on 350 GSM paper that is Chlorine – Free
and meets the Sustainable Forest Initiative guidelines.
Text pages are printed on 80 GSM uncoated white opaque,
wood free Paper. Both cover and text papers are printed with vegetable-based inks
and produced by means of environmentally–compatible technology.
Cove Design: Pro Creative Concepts Advertising Agency-Cairo, Egypt
Layout and Production: Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing House L.L.C
Printed at: Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing House L.L.C, Dubai, UAE
Printed in Dubai - United Arab Emirates
The analysis and policy recommendations of this (cid:53)eport do not necessarily re(cid:193)ect the views of the
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation or the United Nations Development Programme,
its Executive Board Members or UN Member States. The Report is the work of an independent
team of authors jointly sponsored by the Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP, and the
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.
This work was originally published in Arabic. In case of discrepancy, the original language shall take precedence.
Foreword by the Chairman of the Board,
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Foundation
“Undoubtedly, the Arab reality is thorny and are capable of confronting challenges and
problematic; this is our reality, and we know of contributing to comprehensive and
it well in detail. We have no way out but to sustainable development.
work through this reality, with awareness and
determination to overcome obstacles, and The (cid:192)rst Arab Knowledge Report for
with recognition that human’s worthiness 2009 expressed the structural relationship
is not measured by the success to adapt between the triad of community, knowledge,
with reality, whatever it may be, neither by and development for establishing and
the skills in managing the statuesque, but supporting knowledge economy bases,
rather by the ability to develop this reality and for achieving the welfare and pride of
and change it for the better through serious, the Arab citizen. This involved a detailed
persistent, and well thought hard work that analysis and description of the knowledge
is driven by a spirit of optimism, sel(cid:193)essness, scene in the Arab world, and the formulation
and devotion. By this, change will happen of a road map for achieving a “knowledge
and development will be achieved”. renaissance” along with identi(cid:192)cation of the
relevant priorities.
This is one of the fundamental basis in the
vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed The second Arab Knowledge Report
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and sheds light on one of the most important
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of recommendations of the previous Report
Dubai, for achieving sustainable and fruitful by addressing the issue of preparing future
Arab development through diagnosis of generations for the knowledge society which
the status of knowledge in the Arab world, is considered the cornerstone for building a
developing its infrastructure and improving sustainable human development. Relying
its quality, in order to produce a reliable high- on updated (cid:192)eld surveys undertaken in
quality cognitive outputs that correspond various Arab countries, the Report provides
with the requirements of the labour market. practical solutions that can guide Arab
countries in bridging the ”cognitive gap”
The annual Arab Knowledge Report that was highlighted in the (cid:192)rst report.
project; a joint initiative of the Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Using a detailed methodology, the report
the UNDP, provides an international Arab also reviews many pedagogic and educational
index for measuring the state of knowledge theories that are related to preparing future
in the Arab countries. It is also considered generations for the knowledge society, as
a qualitative and accurate analysis and well as the associated problematic issues
description, from several perspectives, including those related to the political,
that can assist of(cid:192)cials in evaluating the economic, and social conditions and the
performance and improving developmental impact of these challenges on building the
plans for building knowledge societies that desired knowledge society. Going beyond
A
theories and studies concerned with In this context, I would like to extend
building knowledge societies, the scope of thanks and appreciation to the UNDP/
this Report extends to the investigation and Regional (cid:50)f(cid:192)ce for the Arab States,
collection of data and information from especially the report team in Dubai, and
their original resources by going to the to every person who contributed to the
Arab streets to gather facts and conduct completion of the report, be they thinkers,
comprehensive (cid:192)eld surveys using real and authors, editors or technicians.
representative samples of the young Arabs,
from north to south and from east to west. I am looking forward to continuing
This Report, which is optimistic in nature, further fruitful cooperation between us in
provides practical solutions derived from solidifying the pillars of the cognitive and
the Arab reality, that are based on theories intellectual structures in the region, and in
and methodologies of sustainable human consolidating the foundations of the aspired
development, providing a guiding reference human development in the Arab world.
for the Arab decision-maker that can assist
in building the knowledge society.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Chairman of the Board
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation
B
Foreword by the Regional Director,
UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States
The partnership between the Mohammed that are consistent with the requirements
bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the of the future era including cognitive,
Regional Bureau for Arab States in UNDP compassionate and social skills. The Report
to support the Arab and international stresses that skills alone are not enough
efforts in building the knowledge society unless they are accompanied by a set of
and economy, brings to fruition the Arab values that guide the youth in their work
Knowledge Report for 2010-2011 which for the good of humanity and society.
deals with one of the most important issues The vision of the Report emphasizes the
in the preparation of the future generations importance of providing supportive and
for the knowledge society. motivating enabling environments, including
The second Arab Knowledge Report for the provision and protection of freedoms in
2010/2011: “Preparing Future Generations their broader sense, in order to nurture and
for the Knowledge Society” builds on the maintain the value system, and embrace and
main (cid:192)ndings of the (cid:192)rst Arab Knowledge develop the skills of the youth in order to
Report launched in 2009, which showcased optimize their investment in the processes
the de(cid:192)cits and gaps in the Arab knowledge of building the knowledge society.
scene and proposed ways to address these The Report is characterized by its
gaps, including political will and mobilization inclusion of (cid:192)eld studies on the status of
of required capabilities and resources. preparing future generations in four selected
It relied on one of the most important Arab countries; the United Arab Emirates,
recommendations calling for building “the Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen, as well as
necessary capacity” of quali(cid:192)ed human addressing issues of preparing the future
capital to lead the processes of moving generations for the knowledge society in
forward the knowledge society and economy. the Arab region as a whole. The (cid:192)rst part
Following these diagnoses, and based on of the Report highlights the most important
the triad of “knowledge, development, and concepts and practices in the preparation
freedom” which was adopted in the previous of the future generations for the knowledge
Report, “the Arab Knowledge Report society in the Arab region, including an
2010/2011: Preparing Future Generations in-depth investigation on the status of
for the Knowledge Society” moves to the education systems as being among the most
stage of “action”. This puts us at the core signi(cid:192)cant approaches to the preparation
of building the knowledge society through processes along with the overall family and
preparing of the Arab society to actively societal conditions.
participate in building the aspired knowledge The Report also provides an objective
society and to bene(cid:192)t from its fruits; and analysis of the status of enabling environments
then utilize the gains in serving the objectives for the future generation, stressing the
of sustainable human development. urgent need for effective intervention
According to the Report’s authors, the for the establishment of proper enabling
preparation of the future generations for environments stimulating the youth and their
the knowledge society requires providing preparation for the knowledge society.
them with a comprehensive set of skills After a consolidated presentation of
C
the outcomes of the empirical studies that most ef(cid:192)cient and effective way to build the
were conducted as case studies in the four knowledge society as a (cid:192)rst step towards
selected Arab countries, the (cid:192)rst part of the achieving the aspired Arab renaissance.
Report concludes by presenting a proposed A selection of Arab intellectuals and
model for the future practices towards experts in related (cid:192)elds participated in the
the preparation of the future generations. preparation of this Report to be a platform
The second part of the Report contains for views and aspirations and to provide
a comprehensive in-depth assessment of theoretical and practical bases for the
the status of the preparation of the future establishment of the desired knowledge
generations in each case study country. society. For this outstanding effort, I would
The case studies are based on: the available like to extend sincere thanks to all those who
research and information; outcomes of participated in the completion of this work,
the surveys and (cid:192)eld activities that were including the teams of authors, writers,
conducted by the Report team including coordinators, editors, and the work teams
the students’ and teachers’ questionnaires; in both the UNDP and Mohammed bin
workshops held with the participation of Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation. I would
experts and stakeholders in each of these like also to thank all those who contributed
countries; and results of tests and innovative and participated in building the tools of
tools speci(cid:192)cally designed to measure the this Report, including the participants
skills and orientations of students which in the workshops held in the context of
were applied for the (cid:192)rst time on pioneering preparing the Report with a commendable
bases in the Arab region. participation by specialists and interested
The (cid:192)eld results on the conditions of parties in the countries of the four case
the future generations and their readiness to studies, as well as students and teachers who
access the knowledge society showed many participated in the (cid:192)eld study.
gaps that must be dealt with if we really In conclusion, I have the honor to extend
want to move forward towards building my deepest gratitude and appreciation to His
the knowledge society. The challenge is big Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
and we have to face it. We hope that the Maktoum for his support to the knowledge
empirical results of this Report will help the initiatives in the Arab world, which would
decision makers and stakeholders in the four not have continued without His Highness’s
case study countries, and in the Arab region ongoing sponsorship and patronage. We,
in general, in identifying and adopting the at UNDP, are proud of the partnership
required policies and solutions. We hope with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
that this Report, like its predecessor, will Foundation, and we are keen to maintain it
stimulate constructive discussions on these in the best bene(cid:192)t of the knowledge society
issues. Again, we do not claim ownership in the region and in enhancing the prospects
or monopoly of the truth, but we aspire for sustainable human development in Arab
to stimulate an Arab dialogue about the countries and in the world at large.
Amat Al Alim Alsoswa
Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator
and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
D
Report Team
Readers Group Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ahmed Al-Hadramy, Ahmed Heggi, Atef Foundation (MBRF)
Obidat, Abdesselam El-Meftahi, Atef Odibat, Adel Rashed Al Shared (Vice Chairman
Abdellah El-khyari, Abdalla Al-Ababneh, Ali Al and Managing Director), Sultan Ali Lootah
Kaabi, Antelak Almutawakel, Abdulrahman Al (Acting Chief Executive Of(cid:192)cer),
Nyaimi, Inam Bioud, Omar Al-Bizri, Kaltham Salim Ali Al-Owais, Ibrahim Mohammad Ibrahim,
Al-Ghanim, Mohamed Al-Mottahar, Mohamed Ali Saif Al Shaali, Ahmed Al Shamsi, Rasha
El-Tom, Miloud Habibi, Noureddine Sassi, Al Dam, Fatima Shuwaihi, Khaled Kalaji.
Moza Al-Kayyal, Bashir Al-Rawasdeh.
Questionnaire design/ Tools
Core Team and Statistical Analysis
Amna Khalifa Al Ali (UAE case study), Ahmad Najoua Fezza Ghriss (questionnaire/
Ouzzi (Morocco case study), Tayseer Al tools design and analysis review).
No’ami (Jordan case study)*, Hassan el Bilawiy Hany Torky (statistical analysis).
(General report), Sabria Al-Thawr (Yemen Ajman University of Science and
case study), Fawaz Jaradat (Jordan case study), Technology (data entry).
Najoua Fezza Ghriss (General report).
(cid:44)mplementation of (cid:192)eld survey(cid:29)
Report Director/ Coordinator o Jordan: (Jordanian development
Ghaith Fariz (UNDP). institution initiatives).
o UAE: (Higher Technical Colleges).
Authors of Background Papers o Morocco: Serec Institution.
Ahmed Hijji, Fahmi Houidi, Mohammad Malki, o Yemen: (The Centre for the
Atif Kubursi, Maryam Ait Ahmad, Hussein development of young leaderships).
Bahaaldin, Ra(cid:192)ca Hamoud, Maryam Lootah,
Abdelwahab Ben Hafaiedh, Mohamed Ben Translation
Fatma, Fayez Saudi, Mohamed Matar, Kamal Euro Script, Nada Abdelkhalek
Abdullatif, Mustafa Abdl Samie, Mahmoud
Abdulfadil, Kamal Naguib, Mohamed Zabara, Editors
Nawal Al Fauri, Hassan Al Bilawi, Yusour Arabic: Fayiz Suyyagh
Hassan, Munther Masri, Mona Hadidi, Adel English: Euro Script, Christina Curran
Salama Sayed, Ahmad Idali, Kholoud Al Sibai’e,
Abdellah El Khyari, Husein M. Alothman, Salama Cover Design
Al-Rahoumi, Abdulsalam Alhakimi, Hamoud Pro Creative Concepts, Cairo, Egypt
Al-Seyani, Taw(cid:192)k Ahmed Mikhla(cid:192), Mustafa
Hijazi, Enam Bioud, Abdalla Al Ababneh. Research Assistants for the Core Team
Ali Ibrahim, Wesam Abdo
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
Amat Al Alim Alsoswa (Assistant Secretary-
General, Assistant Administrator and Director
of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, RBAS),
Adel Abdellatif (Chief, Regional Programmes
Division, RBAS), Ghaith Fariz (Report Director/
Coordinator), Tamara Maaita, Dima Al–Khatib,
Deena Abul Fottouh, Siff Pedersen, Manal Habash,
Mary Jreidini, Melissa Esteva, Hany Torky.
*Dr. Tayseer Al No’ami was the author of Jordan’s case study until 9/2/2011 when he was appointed as the Minister of Eduation in Jordan. Dr. Fawaz
Jaradat completed Jordan case study after that date.
E

ARAB KNOWLEDGE REPORT 2010/2011
Part I: The General Report
FUTURE GENERATIONS AND
THE ARAB KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY:
ANALYTICAL VIEW AND CASE STUDIES SUMMARY