Gulf Education and Social Policy Review (GESPR)

Editorial - Navigating the Intersection of Sustainability, Localization, and Education Policy in the Gulf

2024-11-13T11:48:27+00:00

This is an Editorial and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article in HTML.

Historicizing the Geopolitics of Education and the SDGs: From Western Hegemony to a Multi-polar World?

2024-11-13T11:48:41+00:00

This paper seeks to take a critical and historical look at the rise and fall of the SDGs, with a particular focus on education. At the core of the argument is that the SDGs (2015–2030), their predecessor the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015), and the Education for All movement (1990 onwards) were the product of a post-Cold War, neoliberal, development agenda whose framing and logic were constructed in a moment of unipolar, US-led, Western hegemony, which today is collapsing around us. Geopolitics and global power are changing in important ways and we need to recognize this, and think through ways to ensure that we can support this in the interests of the marginalized global majority, in education and beyond. “Pax- Americana” needs to be replaced with a “Pax-Pluralis” that can underpin new global models of security, development, and growth that can better address the massive global challenges that we face.

Institutional Agents: A Significant Facilitator of the Advancement of Women Leaders

2024-11-13T11:48:39+00:00

Research on women's employment in the Arab world has highlighted a scarcity of women in senior leadership positions, often suggesting cultural conservatism and embedded gender-segregation within organizational structures. While these perspectives are not unfounded, these views may not fully capture the varied lived experiences of women leaders in the Arabian Gulf, particularly in the UAE. This study examined the influence of institutional agents on the career advancement of women leaders. The authors employed a phenomenological approach to explore the professional experiences of highly educated, women Arab leaders. The focus was specifically on their perceptions of gender discrimination, networking opportunities, and access to institutional agents. A sample population was purposefully identified; as such these findings may not be generalizable to the broader population. Data were collected via open-ended interviews and analyzed through multiple stages of coding stages using Atlas.ti. The results of this study present certain contradictory evidence to the existing literature. Notably, the women in this sample reported that gender discrimination was not a significant barrier to their career advancement. Further, the institutional agents most frequently identified by this sample of women were men. These findings suggest emerging narratives of a more gender-inclusive work culture. Moreover, these results offer a unique perspective that UAE professional environments may be more inclusive than previously reported. The findings of this study suggest that a more educated and diverse workforce could be contributing to a more inclusive atmosphere, challenging traditional views of workplace dynamics in the region.

Comparison Despite Uniqueness: A Thematic Analysis of the PISA 2022 Results for the United Arab Emirates

2024-11-22T09:43:24+00:00

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) participates in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) as part of a strategy to ensure educational improvement and future economic development for the country. The PISA results are presented by comparing every participating country on each test part, most often as a ranking. Different computed indices or relationships are also described within the results, mainly in comparison, and countries that exemplify the patterns or do not fit the patterns are described in the accompanying text. This research was conducted by analyzing each mention of the UAE in the four main results documents for PISA 2022 to understand how the UAE is portrayed and the contextual information provided about the country. Critical thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2017) revealed the uniqueness of UAE schools, students, and PISA results. These three main themes are discussed along with my experience at the UAE PISA 2022 results announcement in December 2023. The article concludes with a discussion of the use of comparison despite the uniqueness of the UAE, the implications for using the PISA results considering the differences of the UAE, the connection to education policy, and how a focus on PISA results may constrain UAE education policy.

Teacher Education Programs in the Arabian Gulf Through the Eyes of Novice Teachers: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis

2024-11-13T11:48:32+00:00

Understanding novice teachers’ perceptions of their teacher education programmes (TEPs) remains an under-researched area in the six Gulf Council countries (GCC). This paper implements a systematic review with a narrative synthesis following Popay et al. (2006) guidelines to answer two questions: (a) what are the reported views of beginning teachers in the GCC region regarding the strengths and weaknesses of their TEPs? and (b) what are the reported suggestions of beginning teachers in the GCC region for enhancing TEP implementation? Four studies conducted between 2010 and 2022 were included in this review from three GCC countries. The findings revealed several themes regarding the first review question, such as (a) impactful practicum courses, (b) theory–practise gap, and (c) non-culturally responsive curricula. The themes around the second question were (a) enhancing course quality, (b) bridging the school-programme gap, and (c) building on work-related skills. The findings show that the perceived weaknesses of TEPs by beginning teachers outweigh the perceived strengths of some TEPs in the Arabian Gulf. Drawing upon the findings of this systematic review, broader literature, and my professional experiences, I propose a model of essential components for effective TEP implementation based on the theory of change (ToC).

Interpreting Reform of the Academic Field of Education in the MENA Region

2024-11-13T11:48:37+00:00

This policy commentary paper reviews the scope and impact of government-led educational reforms in the MENA region, with a particular focus on the role of academic institutions in the improvement of teacher education, educator professional development, and the alignment of educational outcomes with international standards. The paper analyzes the integration of international practices within local contexts, with emphasis on how the academic field of education is understood and how it has evolved within the MENA region.

From Cord to Cure: Repurposing Biological Waste for UAE's Health Revolution with Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy

2024-11-13T11:48:30+00:00

In the UAE, current hospital policies mandate the disposal of biological waste, such as umbilical cords. However, this tissue represents a valuable source of therapeutic material like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretome. The disposal of this valuable therapeutic material imposes a significant burden on public health. In the United States alone, approximately 18,000 people per year are diagnosed with diseases that could be ameliorated with stem cell therapy. These individuals often remain untreated due to the lack of available stem cells, as current methods for MSC obtention, such as Bone Marrow-MSCs, require an invasive bone marrow aspirate procedure, which is painful and can pose risks to donors, including infection and prolonged recovery times. This paper advocates for policy reform to facilitate the collection, storage, and utilization of umbilical cords. By addressing regulatory barriers and implementing standardized protocols, hospitals in the UAE can not only contribute to advancements in regenerative medicine but also solidify the nation’s position as a leader in this emerging field, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the disease burden both locally and regionally. This is particularly relevant given the significant burden of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the UAE, where 17.3% of the population aged 20 to 79 is affected with T2DM. Cardiovascular diseases and T2DM are few of the many disorders that can benefit from MSC therapy. Utilizing umbilical cord biowaste for such diseases can further build the UAE’s status as a hub for medical tourism and accentuate it’s growing prominence in the field of regenerative medicine.