Tadween Roundup: News and Analysis in Publishing and Academia from the Arab World

News and stories with a focus on the publishing industry, education, and technology from across the Arab world.

MOOCs Coming to the Arab World
(Tadween Publishing)

A joint agreement between the online education website edX and the Queen Rania Foundation will create a new portal for Arabic-language MOOCs (massive open online courses) called Edraak. You can also read Tadween’s interview with edX president Anant Agarwal here.

Arab Universities Head Calls for Regional Quid Pro Quo
By David Matthews (Times Higher Education)

Sultan Abu-Orabi, head of the Association of Arab Universities, calls on countries in the region to cooperate and share wealth and resources in order to boost regional education standards.

Calls for Arab Academic Freedom Echo Across the Atlantic
By Tina Kelley (Al-Fanar Media)

A panel discussion at New York University tackles the issue of academic freedom in the Arab world.

Qatar University President’s Comments Spark Angry Response
By Victoria Scott (Doha News)

Qatar University President Dr. Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad receives criticism over her comments about reforming the university.

Libyan Students Call for More Secure Campuses
By Reem Tombokti (Al-Fanar Media)

With the looming threat of violence, students in Libya are calling for an increase in security across university campuses.

United Arab Emirates Looks to Vocational Education
By Sara Hamdan (New York Times)

Despite being considered a burgeoning educational hub in the region, the United Arab Emirates struggles to equip its native students with the necessary skills for employment. As reported by the New York Times, vocational studies institutions have stepped in to bridge the gap.

Women Losing Education Rights in Egypt Since Arab Spring
By Sam Clemence (Desert News National)

A report released by the Thomas Reuters Foundation in early November claims that Egypt is the worst country in the Middle East for women’s rights, including the right to an education.

Egyptian and German Writers Share Their Experiences in Cairo
By Mohammed Saad (Ahram Online)

The Goethe Institute in Cairo brings together six writers, three from Egypt and three from Germany, to discuss the similarities each share in their writing processes despite their language and cultural differences.

Al Kotob Khan Book Shop
By Mark Muehlhaeusler (Cairo Booklore)

The new blog by American University in Cairo librarian Mark Muehlhaeusler titled Cairo Booklore profiles Al Kotob Khan Book Shop.

PEN Survey: US Writers Censor Themselves on Military, Middle East 
By M. Lynx Qualey (Arabic Literature [in English])

A recent PEN report discovers that a large number of US writes stay away from red-line topics and employ self-censorship to avoid writing about the US military and the Middle East and North Africa.