Higher Education: Arab Countries Struggle with E-Learning

Publication: L’Économiste | Date: 20 November 2019

Article by Ahlam Nazih

Higher Education: Arab Countries Struggle with E-Learning

In an article published on 20 November 2019, the daily newspaper L’Économiste highlights the challenges faced by Arab countries in developing distance higher education and integrating digital technologies into quality assurance systems.

The article examines findings from a survey of quality assurance in the digital age in the Arab region, presented at a meeting organised in Rabat from 12 to 14 November 2019 by the National Agency for Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Scientific Research (ANEAQ).

A considerable delay in accrediting distance-learning programmes

Conducted across 16 countries in the MENA region, the survey reveals the difficulties of recognising and accrediting online education programmes. At the time of the study, only three agencies had accredited e-learning programmes, and two had accredited institutions specialising in this field.

These findings particularly highlight the lack of standards adapted to digital education. According to the results presented, approximately one-third of agencies had specific standards for distance programmes, but only two actually applied them.

Recognition of online degrees remains limited

The survey also highlights obstacles to recognising qualifications obtained through distance learning. According to the reported findings, only 20% of the countries concerned granted equivalence to degrees from fully online programmes. The proportion rose to 50% for programmes that partly incorporated digital learning.

Adapting evaluation and accreditation criteria therefore appears essential to support changing teaching methods and the development of digital programmes.

The digital transformation of quality assurance agencies

The study also examines the digital practices of evaluation and quality assurance agencies. Although 80% of the organisations surveyed had websites, these were not sufficiently updated or secured. The survey notably indicates that 36% of agencies used no security system for their platforms.

Integrating digital tools into evaluation activities, data management and communication among institutions was therefore another area requiring modernisation for organisations in the region.

ANEAQ and regional cooperation on quality

The meeting in Rabat enabled representatives of Arab evaluation and quality assurance agencies to share their experiences and examine challenges associated with the digitalisation of higher education.

A member of the Arab quality assurance network since 2016, ANEAQ participates in this regional cooperation. The discussions emphasised the importance of developing standards suited to new forms of learning and strengthening the exchange of good practices among agencies.

Read the press article