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.

The Booksellers of the Arab World
By Sal Robinson (Melville House)

Between wars and economic crises, booksellers across the Arab world champion on with the determination to keep their doors open.

Portal 9: A Belief in Bilingualism, A New Approach to Arabic Publishing
By M. Lynx Qualey (Arabic Literature [in English])

In an interview with Arabic Literature (in English) Eyad Houssami explains how the new Beirut-based journal Portal 9 strives to explore a new approach to Arabic publishing.

At Cairo University, New Term Kicks Off Without a Bang
By Osman El Shamoubi (Ahram Online)

Despite calls for strikes and protests, the new academic year at Egypt’s largest center for higher education, Cairo University, begins without disruption.

Egypt & The Liberal Arts: A Conversation With Khaled Fahmy
By Daria Solovieva (Al Fanar)

Al Fanar interviews Khaled Fahmy, professor and chair of the history department at the American University in Cairo, about higher education and liberal arts education in Egypt and the Arab world.

Arab Spring Students Reluctant to Question Tutors
By Jack Grove (Times Higher Education)

At the annual conference for the European Association for International Education in Istanbul, Egyptian academic Khaled Fahmy argues that a culture of deference to lecturers and tutors is suppressing educational growth.

Middle Eastern Academies Gauge Governance for First Time
By David Matthews (Times Higher Education)

“Benchmarking Governance as a Tool for Promoting Change: 100 Universities in MENA Paving the Way,” a World Bank report measuring the governance of universities across the Middle East and North Africa, takes on the arduous task of analyzing how well institutions of higher education in the region are run.

Vocational Education Thrives in Palestine
By Thaer Thabet (Al Fanar)

In Palestine, where unemployment plagues the youth population, vocational education is providing an entryway for those seeking jobs.

International Conference on Education Looks at Ways of Reforming Libyan Teaching System
By Houda Mzioudet (Libya Herald)

The Libyan Ministry of Education holds a three-day workshop in Tripoli to develop and analyze the Libyan teaching system.