Foreword -- Chapters.-1.Introduction -- 2. Transforming Higher Education in the Arab Region: Ways and Means -- 3. The Future of Universities in the Arab Region -- 4. Governance of Arab Universities: Why does it Matter? -- 5. Building a Knowledge Economy -- 6. Business Engagement is no longer an Optional Extra for Universities -- 7. Challenges and Constraints facing Engineering Education in Arab Countries -- 8. Higher Agricultural Education in the Arab World: Past, Present and Future -- 9. Produced but not Used: Research on the Arab World and the Lack of Social Impact -- 10. Gender Equity in Arab Universities -- 11. Online Education and Distance Learning in Arab Universities -- 12. How Should Professors Address Islam and Science Issues? -- 13. Christianity and Science: From Conflict and Divorce to Mutual Influence and Enrichment -- 14. Is Liberal Arts Education a Good Model for Arab Universities? -- 15. The Political Economy of Higher Education in Jordan: Cost-Sharing Revisited -- 16. University Reform in the Maghreb Countries: Institutional Autonomy as a Lever for National Development -- 17. Who Pays What for University Education: Context of Jordan -- 18.Reversing the Brain Drain to Provide Healthcare Education in the Arab Region: a Lebanese Model -- 19.Education City Model: Regional transformation -- 20. Higher Education in Syria: Past, Present and Future.

This book provides an overview of the current state of universities in the Arab world, and how they have the potential to transform society to raise the quality of life and stimulate wealth. The main themes progress from general to the specific.  Each chapter providing an overview followed by factual analysis and options for the way forward. All of the major challenges facing universities in general are addressed with reference to issues of particular importance in the Arab Region. The challenges faced include: the need to accommodate a social model of life-long learning; the desire for institutional autonomy while interacting with governments; the availability of open-access online courses and distance learning. Arab universities are diverse, ranging from those entirely state-controlled and funded, to wholly independent private universities. The quality of governmental oversight is also variable, and some institutions are clearly unworthy of the appellation ‘university’. The book comprises of 20 chapters authored by senior academics with a wide international experience and a commitment to assisting the improvement of Arab higher educational and research communities.  .