scholarly journals Challenges in Saudi Universities Shift Toward a Knowledge Society

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1734-1739
Author(s):  
Ali S. Alshayea

Higher education in Saudi Arabia is facing several challenges posed by a set of transformations in society in general, and the economy in particular. As economies become increasingly knowledge-based, universities bear the burden of helping the community transform into a knowledge society. This paper focuses on the most important challenges facing Saudi universities as they shift toward becoming contributors to a knowledge society. Using a descriptive analytical approach, data was collected from several studies and published statistics. A range of challenges was discovered, the most important of them are a heavy reliance on government funding, poor productivity of faculty members, the gap between the outputs of universities and the labor market, the absence of strategic planning for higher education, the absence of a national strategy for scientific research, and the weakness of the relationship between undergraduate majors and the needs of the community.

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huda Y. Alyami ◽  
Eman A. Assiri

The present study aims to identify the most significant roles of the invisible web in improving academic research and the main obstacles and challenges facing the use of the invisible web in improving academic research from the perspective of academics in Saudi universities. The descriptive analytical approach was utilized in this study. It covered all faculty members in Saudi universities. It applied a 20-paragraph questionnaire to a randomly selected sample of 168 academics. It concluded that the participants agreed on the role of the invisible web in improving academic research, with an arithmetic means of 3.91. They also agreed on the obstacles of using invisible web for the improvement of academic research, with an arithmetic means of 4.107. The study provides ideas that would develop the use of the invisible web in higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia, in particular, and the Arab countries, in general. Furthermore, it is hoped that such results may provide decision-makers, educational designers and programmers with solutions for the development of research engines and academic databases in Arabic.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesper Eckhardt Larsen

The discourse of reform in higher education tends to focus narrowly on employability and the relationship between higher education and the labor market. Universities as research institutions are now considered solely in the dominant discourse of innovation. This way of conceiving universities is inspired by functionalist theory that focuses on the imperatives of a knowledge economy. Taking a departure in the theory of society developed by Jürgen Habermas this paper seeks to provide a theoretical framework for an empirical comparative analysis on the wider societal impact of universities. It is the argument that the wider impacts of higher education and research at universities must be seen in a more complex vision of modern societies. The paper is thus primarily a re-reading of Habermas’ critique of functionalist views of the university and an application of Habermas’ critique on current issues in the debates on higher education. A special discussion will be taken on issues of the self in view of the current tendencies to regard all education from the standpoint of the economic outputs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Ameen Ali Alhaznawi ◽  
Abdullah Saleh Alanazi

The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes of faculty members at higher education toward inclusion for students with high incidence disabilities in higher education. For the aim of this study, a sample of 247 higher education faculty members were therefore collected. Multiple linear regression was conducted for data analysis. Results have shown that university-type accommodation services, training, academic rank, and university region are statistically significant predictors of higher education faculty members’ attitudes toward the inclusion for students with high incidence disabilities in higher education. Some recommendations are hence provided to help improve the inclusion of students with high incidence disabilities in higher education in Saudi Arabia.


Author(s):  
María del Rocío Soto Flores ◽  
Ingrid Yadibel Cuevas Zuñiga ◽  
Susana Asela Garduño Román

The processes of economic globalization and accelerating technological change have led to changes in economic and social life at a global level. New technologies, such as the TICs, systems of artificial intelligence, scanning, connectivity, nanotechnology, and biotechnology, among others, have transformed the national productive structures and human capital that require technologies disruptive today. In this context, education has become the main element of the knowledge society and training of human capital that demands a knowledge-based economy. The objective of the chapter is to analyze the relationship between human capital formations in the construction of a society of knowledge in Mexico. The structure is organized in three sections: 1) an analysis of the knowledge society, 2) the formation of human capital and the institutions of higher education in the knowledge society, and 3) human capital formation and its relationship in the construction of a society of knowledge in Mexico.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalisa Pavan

This paper has 3 goals. Firstly, to explain how since its establishment in the 1920s, the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always strongly encouraged and supported scholarships for those citizens who wished to study abroad. Secondly, to explore how education and higher education are seen and supported in Saudi Vision 2030, the National Transformation Program (NTP) and the Saudi national budget 2017. New strategies and plans for progress in Saudi Arabia include education as a major tool for the human development of the Saudi nation. And thirdly, to address the following questions: what can the European Union learn from Saudi higher education policies? How do the Saudi Arabian Way to Knowledge Society and the Europe of Knowledge differ?


Education ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith Braun ◽  
Julia-Carolin Osada ◽  
Kristina Walz

Research in higher education graduate outcomes is a somewhat up-and-coming area of scientific interest. Since the new millennium, research has focused on examining the relationship between higher education, society, and the world, and on higher education as a response to demographic change and the demands of the knowledge society. During the last years, some scientists have concentrated on making international comparisons. Because there are not many international surveys, however, most employ the same data set. Research conducted with direct measurements of outcomes that go beyond self-reports based on questionnaires is rare. This article begins with an overview of international research initiatives. It then categorizes research as outcomes of higher education. There is a lot of conceptual research on frameworks of assessing learning outcomes, and outcomes are understood as learnable skills. Furthermore, outcomes of higher education can also be individual and societal returns. Next, this article presents results of research on higher education graduates’ destinations in terms of transitions and demands. Publications on transitions include the process of transitions as well as travel or study abroad that takes place during higher education. Investigations on professional demands include research on graduates ability to meet the requirements of the labor market as well as on graduates’ employability. All publications have in common the understanding of outcomes as benefits acquired through higher education. There is an impressive amount of evidence from different countries and regions that suggests that higher education has a positive impact on individual, societal, and economic outcomes. Because of its obvious advantages, more people than ever want access to higher education. We identified research mainly from Europe and North America. However, research on higher education has clearly made major headway worldwide; and publications, especially from less visible countries, are expected to contribute to future research on outcomes and destinations of higher education.


2019 ◽  
pp. 089484531986743
Author(s):  
Ellen Houben ◽  
Nele De Cuyper ◽  
Eva Kyndt ◽  
Anneleen Forrier

Learning to become employable is a catch phrase often used to highlight the importance of upskilling in today’s knowledge-based labor market. Yet, evidence on the relationship between work-related learning and employability is limited and does not account for potential reciprocity. This is important though: if employability also promotes work-related learning, labor market segmentation could be enhanced. Accordingly, this study investigates the reciprocal relationship between (formal and informal) work-related learning and perceived (internal and external) employability. Hypotheses are based on the attribution-based theory of intrapersonal motivation, which has not yet figured in employability research. Structural equation modeling was performed on three-wave survey data of Belgian employees. The pattern of results showed a reciprocal, albeit weak, relationship between formal work-related learning and perceived internal employability. No other significant relationships were established. Hence, the relationship between work-related learning and perceived employability might not be as straightforward as generally assumed.


Author(s):  
Mona Hamid Abu Warda

This study aims to identify the concept of psychological empowerment and clarify its various dimensions and their impact on the effectiveness of performance in the higher education sector. The study has been applied to a sample of 185 staff members working at 3 universities in Saudi Arabia. This study found that the degree of practice of staff members to the dimensions of psychological empowerment exceeds the middle degree, while the level of performance in these universities was high, it showed the existence of a significant effect of the dimensions of psychological empowerment (competence, impact) on the effectiveness in performance. This is while the other two dimensions (self-determination, meaning) do not significantly affect the effectiveness of performance. The study also pointed to the existence of significant differences between the practice of faculty members to psychological empowerment according to the variables (experience, scientific rank, college), and also indicates there are significant differences in the levels of effectiveness performance, according to the variables (marital status, college).


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 6837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandar Alkhayyal ◽  
Wafa Labib ◽  
Talal Alsulaiman ◽  
Abdelhakim Abdelhadi

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the understanding of sustainability of the faculty members in higher education in Saudi Arabia. One of the main objectives is to explore how they implement sustainability in the courses offered in one of the major non-profit private universities in Riyadh. Findings: A survey was conducted among the faculty members to investigate their awareness on this topic. Survey results were compared between the different departments to understand how the faculty members can contribute to sustainable education if they increase their knowledge through training and workshops related to the topic. The comparative analysis allows us to define the guidelines to build a strong institution that presents itself as a leader and change-driver in the Gulf region. The survey was done among the limited number of faculty members in the benchmark university, searching for answers about sustainability using the top-down methodology. The survey fulfilled the original aim of developing an evidence base of faculty members existing expertise, experience and interest in sustainability. The survey is also an important step to embed sustainability into the benchmark university. It also provides an opportunity to reflect and put forward suggestions on what it means to have sustainability as a core value and strategic priority. Originality/value: According to the Saudi Vision 2030, developed following the UN requirements, the Saudi Government expects companies to be more responsible towards society and sustainable economy. Increasing the understanding and learning of sustainability among faculty members is beneficial to young people to build their professional careers in a sustainable environment, considering the environmental, social, and economic implications. In this context, the role of faculty members is crucial to strengthen the awareness and knowledge about sustainability in higher education among the new generation. The work identified opportunities to engage all staff on what it means to have sustainability as a core value and strategic priority.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Imam Salem

A knowledge-based economy is one of the vital components of modern economies. Growth in most of the economies of the world, and most developed economies in particular, are increasingly based on knowledge. In a knowledge-based economy, economic development is dependent on investments in education, learning and training, among others. Universities are today becoming aware of the essential role that higher education plays in the construction of knowledge-based economies. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has adopted the drive toward a knowledge-based economy through focusing on the higher education sector. Saudi Universities are playing a pivotal role toward the Kingdom's transition into a knowledge-based economy and hence achieving economic growth and development. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the important role that universities play in building a knowledge-based economy through innovation, research commercialization, and technology transfer as economic development policies. The role of universities in building a knowledge-based economy in Saudi Arabia is also investigated. The paper confirms that Saudi universities are considered as a very important entity in the aim for the Saudi economy to achieve sustainable growth and development.


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