Saouma BouJaoude

He graduated from the University of Cincinnati, USA in 1988 with a doctorate in science education. Between 1988 and 1993 he was an assistant professor at Syracuse University, Syracuse, USA. In 1993 he joined the American University of Beirut (AUB) where he served as Director of the Science and Math Education Center (1994–2003), Chair of the Department of Education (2003–2009), and Director of the Center of Teaching and Learning (2009–2021), Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (2016–2021), and Interim Dean (January 2022 – present). BouJaoude has published in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST), Science Education, International Journal of Science Education, Journal of Science Teacher Education, the Science Teacher, and School Science Review, among others. In addition, he has written chapters in edited books in English and Arabic, edited one book, and has been an active presenter at science education conferences. BouJaoude served as associate editor of JRST and serves on the editorial boards of several science education journals. BouJaoude received the Excellence in the Field of Education/Takreem Award (2010), Kuwait Prize for contributions to education in the Arab World (2017), and the NARST Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award (2020).

Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Education in the Arab Region

Saouma BouJaoude

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 presentation will explicate the sources of the challenges and provide approaches that have the potential to alleviate the challenges and increase opportunities for improved access and quality education highlighting the role of evidence-based decisions in the process.