CIRA Education’s Post

mer. 2 oct. à 09 h 52 ICESCO Conference of Ministers of Education The education system aims for equality, inclusiveness, quality and relevance. However, hundreds of learners still do not have access to equitable and quality education, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, the challenges are compounded by political, economic, social and climate crises, such as wars, pandemics and natural disasters, which have significantly affected the education sector. Therefore, it has become imperative to transform and rethink education to build a better and more differentiated future, and to strengthen our international, political and financial commitments to education as a means to achieve sustainable development, peace and human rights. In this context, the United Nations convened the Global Summit on Education Transformation, at the end of which a global compact for education transformation was formulated, supported by the national commitments of each country. In response to this call, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Omani Ministry of Education, is organizing the Third ICESCO Conference of Education Ministers under the theme “Beyond the Education Transformation Summit: From Commitments to Actions” to be held on 2-3 October 2024 in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. The conference aims to renew the will and readiness to transform education, strengthen cooperation among Member States in this field, and build networks and partnerships that promote the implementation of the commitments of the Education Transformation Summit. The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Muscat Declaration on Transforming Education in the Islamic World. During the conference, high-level scientific sessions will address various topics related to the transformation of education, as well as presentations by experts and in-depth discussions to exchange experiences and initiatives. In addition, a specialized exhibition on education will be organized. Bilateral Meetings Book a Bilateral Meeting https://lnkd.in/e94P558R

Saudi Arabia has the largest – and most in demand – higher education sector in the Gulf and will need an extra 800,000 seats by 2030 to cope with surging requirements, a new report has found. Many of those seats will be for university places in specialized courses covering technology, artificial intelligence and sustainable energy amidst a future shift towards a cleaner – and more technologically-driven future. Mansoor Ahmed, director for healthcare, education and PPP at Colliers International, which has unveiled its latest report on the educational landscape in the Kingdom, said Saudi Arabia’s higher education sector stands as the largest individual education market across the Arabian Gulf region with a staggering two million students enrolled in 2022.

Total demand for higher education in Saudi Arabia is predicted to reach 2.75 million places in 2030, up 40% from 2022 Higher education is seen as a pillar of economic growth in Saudi Arabia, part of the efforts to diversify its economy as outlined in Vision 2030. If the kingdom’s transformation programmes and its Saudisation drive are to be fulfilled, a sea change in curricula is needed. This means a shift from traditional education offerings towards areas such as artificial intelligence, robotic sciences, nuclear energy and renewable energy. These newer fields of study need to be encouraged to overcome a mismatch between degree topics and the rapidly evolving demands of the employment market. Saudi Arabia is the Gulf’s largest single education market, with almost two million students enrolled in higher education in 2022. At the moment only 5 percent of the kingdom’s students are registered in the private sector. The remainder are enrolled in public or semi-public institutions. This imbalance is due to ease gradually, as the government seeks to increase the participation of the private sector. Ultimately, the government aims to shift from acting as a service provider towards the role of regulator and facilitator. This shift presents huge opportunities for the private sector. Saudi student mobility trends are likely to have a significant impact on provision. In 2022, nearly 50,000 students from the kingdom were studying abroad, a 50 percent drop compared to over 100,000 students in 2019, according to Unesco data. This figure represents an even more significant drop when compared to 2013/14, when almost 200,000 Saudi students were pursuing higher education abroad, with the majority (87 percent) fully funded by the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme. This decline, and the shift towards study back home, provides an opportunity for international private universities looking to expand in the kingdom, especially those institutions which currently host Saudi students. Based on the latest census issued in May 2023 the Saudi population is expected to increase to 40 million by 2030. This implies that total demand for higher education will reach 2.75 million places in 2030, up 40 percent from an estimated 1.97 million places in 2022. This means additional demand of more than 800,000 new places by 2030. ICAEW CFA Institute ACCA Middle East The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan

IBBC education conference to address Iraq's higher education strategy in skills and training. Education is becoming a significant topic in Iraq as the economy diversifies and expands, the country modernises and raises its economic ambitions and realises the potential of its growing youth population. Demography is driving the need to provide jobs for Iraq's rapidly growing population, and skills and training are key to solving this requirement. Mselect recruiters have identified key areas of the economy that are lacking in skills, including significant needs in infotech, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, power, management and project management positions  Here is the survey. The University sector is also aware of the skills gap and IBBC education sector group, comprising of UK and Iraqi Universities have skills and training for business at the top of its agenda at the IBBC Dubai Education conference. Skills are very much the focus of the conference, with both the PM's Higher education Professor Hamid Khalaf Ahmed, PM Advisor & Executive Director, The Higher Committee for Education Development in Iraq & PM office, and Professor. Dr. Hayder Abed Dhahad, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, speaking at the conference. Both Professor Hamid and Dr Hazim Al-Zubaidi, Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research have been working closely with IBBC to establish what is required to modernise the curriculum for training and upskilling Iraqi students. Together they will be covering significant topics including Iraq's strategy for education, updates on legislation for private schooling, scholarship updates and vocational training developments. The minsters are complimented by IBBC's University chancellors like Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal of Dundee university, and private school heads from SABIS .The KRG ministry of education, and leading business figures including the Wood group and Sardar group and vocational training expert's city and Guilds. In terms of vocational training both Wood and Sardar are committed to long term training. Wood is announcing the launch of their new academy in Basra and Sardar continue to extol the benefit training offers not only their business, but also to the local communities they inhabit. Both companies are exemplars and follow the aims of IBBCs educational sector and of this conference. The Education conference comes a day before the main business conference, at the Taj Hotel Dubai, but, as last year, we expect a significant turnout from IBBC business members for both days. GEMS as key sponsors will be driving the importance of qualifications and working closely with City and Guilds and the Red Crescent. If you would like to attend either the Education conference on 12th December, the evening reception for IBBC conference goers and the main business conference on 13th December please register here. And to find out more about the latest full agenda is here.

John Nguru of Craydel - Democratizing Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa John Nguru , co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Craydel has been instrumental in revolutionizing the higher education landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa. Alongside Manish Sardana (CEO) and Shayne Aman Premji (CFO), Nguru has created a seamless online platform that empowers students and working professionals to discover, compare, and apply to higher education institutions across Africa and abroad. The Problem Craydel Solved Access to higher education in Africa has long been plagued by misinformation, biases, and a lack of centralization. Students often end up studying courses they don't like or aren't confident about, affecting their career options upon graduation. Craydel's mission is to democratize access to quality higher education, addressing the low gross enrolment rate of about 9% in sub-Saharan Africa. How Craydel Works Craydel's digital end-to-end higher education service spans from course selection to application and admission stages. The platform provides a Career Match Assessment (CMA) that uses career development models, psychometrics, and advanced machine learning to give users confidence in making career decisions. Students can take the assessment and get matched with suitable courses and the best schools offering them. Key Features and Achievements - 50,000+ courses from 500+ top-rated universities - Free application and visa support - Scholarships on selected courses - Rated 4.8 stars by students and working professionals John Nguru's Vision His passion for empowering African learners drives Nguru's entrepreneurial spirit. He believes that education holds the key to creating real wealth for African youths. By providing them with the knowledge and skills to venture into dairy farming, he aims to create a thriving agricultural sector that contributes to the country's economic growth. John Nguru's dedication to democratizing access to higher education has created a lasting impact on the African education sector. His innovative approaches and unwavering commitment to empowering students and working professionals have set a new standard for the industry. As Craydel continues to grow and expand, Nguru's vision will undoubtedly shape the future of education in Sub-Saharan Africa. At P23 Africa, we are dedicated to shining a light on African businesses and their visionary leaders who are making significant impacts across various industries. We firmly believe that the continent is teeming with vast resources and talented individuals who have the potential to thrive on the global stage. Visit our website to learn more about our services: p23africa.com

Universities from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been ranked the best in the Arab world in a new global higher education league table. Seven institutions across the region made the top 250 of the QS World University Rankings 2025, with three from Saudi Arabia and two from Qatar making up the top five in the Middle East. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals led the way in 101st position – up from 180th last year – out of 1,500 universities worldwide. Qatar University is the second highest-ranked university in the Arab world, rising more than 50 places from 173rd to 122nd in the list. King Abdulaziz University, in Saudi Arabia, was ranked 149th, down from 143rd last year. Qatar's Hamad bin Khalifa University climbed more than 100 places, from 310th to 183rd. King Saud University, in Saudi Arabia, was ranked 200th. Universities were judged on academic reputation, employer’s reputation, faculty staff ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, international students ratio, sustainability score, employment outcomes’ score and an international research network score. In the Arab world, Saudi Arabia is the dominant higher education system with 20 ranked universities, four of which are new entries, and have 85 per cent of their universities in the top 1,000. UAE’s twelve ranked universities all featured in the top 1,000 and improved their overall performance by 75 per cent, with a slight decline in some cases. Saudi Arabia exceeds the global average in two performance indicators, for faculty staff ratio and international faculty ratio. https://lnkd.in/dgCXpkPu

Transitioning towards flexible learning pathways that widen education opportunities for youths and adults is a crucial policy focus for revitalising higher education systems. By doing so, we can address the triple policy objectives of improving access, quality, and equity in higher education provision. Learning pathways outline the sequential advancement of learning vertically across different levels and establish the comparability of diverse types of learning horizontally at corresponding levels. These pathways are clearly illustrated in the charts of national education systems, if not the national qualifications frameworks available in many countries. However, traditional education systems are usually characterised by limited options for academic and vocational learning programmes, as well as the closed nature of the progression of different learning routes, particularly for students transitioning from secondary to higher education. The new global Higher Education Roadmap, Beyond Limits: New Ways to Reinvent Higher Education, unveiled by UNESCO at the World Higher Education Conference 2022 [WHEC 2022], advocates flexible learning pathways that connect different levels and types of learning, aiming to ‘enlarge education opportunities for youth and adults and avoid dead ends.’ #future #youth #skill https://lnkd.in/gCXxFxkc

IBBC education conference to address Iraq's higher education strategy in skills and training. Education is becoming a significant topic in Iraq as the economy diversifies and expands, the country modernises and raises its economic ambitions and realises the potential of its growing youth population. Demography is driving the need to provide jobs for Iraq's rapidly growing population, and skills and training are key to solving this requirement. Mselect recruiters have identified key areas of the economy that are lacking in skills, including significant needs in infotech, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, power, management and project management positions  Here is the survey. The University sector is also aware of the skills gap and IBBC education sector group, comprising of UK and Iraqi Universities have skills and training for business at the top of its agenda at the IBBC Dubai Education conference. Skills are very much the focus of the conference, with both the PM's Higher education Professor Hamid Khalaf Ahmed, PM Advisor & Executive Director, The Higher Committee for Education Development in Iraq & PM office, and Professor. Dr. Hayder Abed Dhahad, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, speaking at the conference. Both Professor Hamid and Dr Hazim Al-Zubaidi, Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research have been working closely with IBBC to establish what is required to modernise the curriculum for training and upskilling Iraqi students. Together they will be covering significant topics including Iraq's strategy for education, updates on legislation for private schooling, scholarship updates and vocational training developments. The minsters are complimented by IBBC's University chancellors like Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal of Dundee university, and private school heads from SABIS .The KRG ministry of education, and leading business figures including the Wood group and Sardar group and vocational training expert's city and Guilds. In terms of vocational training both Wood and Sardar are committed to long term training. Wood is announcing the launch of their new academy in Basra and Sardar continue to extol the benefit training offers not only their business, but also to the local communities they inhabit. Both companies are exemplars and follow the aims of IBBCs educational sector and of this conference. The Education conference comes a day before the main business conference, at the Taj Hotel Dubai, but, as last year, we expect a significant turnout from IBBC business members for both days. GEMS as key sponsors will be driving the importance of qualifications and working closely with City and Guilds and the Red Crescent. If you would like to attend either the Education conference on 12th December, the evening reception for IBBC conference goers and the main business conference on 13th December please register here. And to find out more about the latest full agenda is here.

British Schools in Egypt: A Pathway to Excellence in Education The demand for quality international education in Egypt has been steadily rising over the years, driven by a desire among parents to provide their children with a world-class learning experience. Among the various international curricula offered, the British system has emerged as a popular choice, thanks to its rigorous academic standards and holistic approach to student development. For families seeking the best British education in Egypt, Kent College International in Egypt stands out as a premier institution dedicated to excellence. Why Choose a British School? British schools are renowned for their commitment to academic rigor and character development. They follow the National Curriculum of England, which is structured to provide students with a balanced education across a wide range of subjects. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving—skills essential for success in a rapidly changing world. Moreover, British schools in Egypt offer internationally recognized qualifications such as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and A-Level certifications. These qualifications are highly valued by universities worldwide, giving students a competitive edge when applying for higher education institutions both locally and abroad. The Rise of British Schools in Egypt Egypt has witnessed significant growth in the number of international schools, with British schools leading the way. Cities like Cairo, Alexandria, and other urban centers host numerous institutions offering the British curriculum. These schools are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, experienced teachers, and diverse extracurricular programs, all aimed at fostering a well-rounded education. The popularity of British schools in Egypt can also be attributed to their strong emphasis on values such as respect, responsibility, and resilience. This focus helps in nurturing students into confident, independent, and socially responsible individuals. Kent College International in Egypt: Setting a New Standard When it comes to British education in Egypt, Kent College International in Egypt offers a distinctive blend of tradition and innovation. As a branch of the prestigious Kent College in the UK, the school brings over a century of educational excellence to Egypt. The institution is committed to delivering the highest standards of British education while adapting to the local culture and context. https://lnkd.in/eWYawEcB  

The classification of countries according to the quality of education is generally based on various indicators such as access to education, quality of infrastructure, student performance, teacher training, pedagogical innovation, and social inclusion. Different rankings and reports assess these aspects. Here are some examples of global classifications: 1. PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) ranking Organized by: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Assessment: Tests the skills of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science. Top countries: Generally, countries such as Finland, Singapore, South Korea, and Canada often lead the way. 2. Education Development Index (EDI) Organized by: UNESCO. Assessment: Includes access to education, teacher quality, and enrollment rates. Top countries: Nordic countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, often rank highly. 3. QS World University Rankings Organized by: QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). Rating: Specific to universities, based on academic reputation, graduate employability, faculty quality, and research. Leading countries: United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Singapore generally dominate this ranking. 4. Global Education Monitoring Report Organized by: UNESCO. Rating: Analyzes education policy, equality of opportunity, and quality of education. Leading countries: Scandinavian countries are often cited as examples of quality and inclusive education. 5. UN Education Index Report Organized by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Rating: Part of the Human Development Index (HDI) and takes into account expected years of schooling and literacy rates. Leading countries: European countries such as Germany and France, as well as Japan and Australia, often rank well. These rankings and indices allow for comparisons of the quality of education worldwide, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of national education systems.