CHAE Speaker Series: Reform in Higher Education, Dr. Mohammad Abdel Dayem

Reform in Higher Education: A Cultural Perspective with Special Focus on Arab Countries

Culture refers to values, norms, beliefs, traditions, and ways of life. Those shape the behavior of a small group of people or even a whole nation. Language can draw several aspects of culture together. Educational institutions have their own micro-cultures which are often connected with national culture. This dynamic can be more complicated when national and institutional cultures diverge.

Culture, especially language, is an important consideration in designing or reforming systems. In this talk, Dr. Abdel Dayem shares some thoughts and tangible experiences that demonstrate how far culture can affect the success or failure of education reform in any country.

Dr. Mohammad Abdel Dayem, Emeritus Professor of International Education & Education Administration, Zagazig University, Egypt

Dr. Abdel Dayem is an Emeritus Professor of International Education and Education Administration at Zagazig University in Egypt. He has more than thirty years of experience in higher education teaching, leading, supervising, and consulting with higher education institutions in different countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to his home country of Egypt. His research foci and interests include the socio-cultural analysis of systems of education, education borrowing, school administration, and educational leadership.