The Center for Special Studies and Programs (CSSP) affiliated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's Academic Research Sector, and the World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries’ Arab Regional Partner (TWAS-AREP) are organizing an online lecture titled: Education for Sustainable Development on Wednesday 2 November 2022 at 12:00 pm Cairo Time.

The lecture aims at discussing The Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Education in the Arab Region.

Sustainable education in the Arab region is facing a growing challenge owing to a combination of factors that require urgent solutions. There is a significant population bulge in the region among the under-25 age group, a shortage of quality education for young people to access, and limited opportunities for economic empowerment after they graduate. Not surprisingly, a very small minority of Arab students who go outside the) region to improve their educational prospects return after they graduate. 

At the same time, improvement in the quality of pre-college education has been stagnant and higher education is becoming increasingly unaffordable for most people thus worsening social cohesion and increasing economic disparity. Within this context, this lecture will explicate the sources of the challenges and provide approaches that have the potential to alleviate the challenges and increase opportunities for improved access to and quality education highlighting the role of evidence-based decisions in the process.

The lecture will be presented by Prof. Saouma Boujaoude, Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut.