[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/ Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Faculty research productivity in six Arab countries

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Review of Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article analyses the research output of a sample of higher education institutions (HEIs) in six Arab countries in order to start quantifying academic research productivity in the wider region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A questionnaire classifying HEIs was administered to 310 institutions in Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The study revealed a lack of capacity of HEIs to provide quality data, raising issues concerning institutional excellence and transparency. Those data which were available were analysed using a number of statistical methods. The result is that faculty research output in the Arab world is relatively low, confirming the existing notion of a lagging knowledge sector in the region. While traditional scholarship has focused on institutional factors such as budgetary allocation as one prime determinant of research productivity, this study claims that other factors need to be considered in explaining the low output, with broad implications for policy formulation. Such factors include overall satisfaction levels of academic staff, socialisation of faculty staff members into a research climate, and university mission vis-à-vis academic research. Given the distinct paucity of studies on faculty research productivity in HEIs in the Arab region, this study seeks to bridge this gap in the literature by providing original data derived from six Arab countries. The authors aim to provide a basis for further research into this topic.

Résumé

Productivité de la recherche universitaire dans six pays arabes – Les auteurs de cet article analysent les résultats de recherche obtenus par un échantillon d’institutions de l’enseignement supérieur dans six pays arabes. Leur objectif est d’entamer une quantification de la productivité de la recherche universitaire dans la région Moyen-Orient et Afrique du Nord (MENA). Un questionnaire de classification a été administré auprès de 310 institutions situées dans les pays suivants : Arabie saoudite, Émirats arabes unis (EAU), Jordanie, Liban, Maroc et Qatar. L’étude révèle un manque de capacités dans ces institutions pour fournir des données de qualité, qui soulève des questions quant à l’excellence et à la transparence institutionnelles. Les données disponibles ont été exploitées au moyen de plusieurs méthodes statistiques. Il en ressort la constatation que le rendement de la recherche universitaire est relativement faible dans le monde arabe, confirmant l’impression existante d’un retard dans le secteur des connaissances au niveau de la région. Les études traditionnelles similaires se concentrent sur des facteurs institutionnels tels que l’affectation budgétaire prise comme critère déterminant de la productivité scientifique. La présente étude soutient que d’autres éléments doivent être pris en compte pour expliquer la faiblesse du rendement, qui ont d’importantes implications sur la formulation de politiques. Ces facteurs englobent le niveau général de satisfaction du personnel universitaire, l’adaptation des membres du personnel à un climat de recherche, et une mission institutionnelle envers la recherche universitaire. Étant donné la rareté de travaux spécifiques sur la productivité de la recherche universitaire dans la région, la présente étude vise à combler cette lacune en fournissant des données de base tirées de six pays arabes. L’intention des auteurs est d’établir un fondement en vue de travaux supplémentaires sur la question.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
£29.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The Arab League, a political, economic and cultural union founded in 1945, currently has 22 Member States (though Syria’s membership was suspended in November 2011). It has an administrative system, a charter, and many common agreements which are outcomes of Arab League summit conferences. The most recent summit was held in March 2015 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

  2. The online glossary of the UNESCO Institute of Statistics defines the gross enrolment ratio as the “number of students enrolled in a given level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the official school-age population corresponding to the same level of education. For the tertiary level, the population used is the 5-year age group starting from the official secondary school graduation age” (see http://glossary.uis.unesco.org/glossary/en/term/2048/en [accessed 12 October 2015]).

  3. According to their homepage, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, an education policy and research centre headquartered in Stanford, CA, is “committed to developing networks of ideas, individuals, and institutions to advance teaching and learning”. For more information, see http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/ [accessed 12 October 2015]. For more information on the ongoing European Classification of Higher Educational Institutions (U-MAP) project, see http://www.u-map.eu/ [accessed 12 October 2015].

References

  • Alan, R. (2005). Democracy in the Arab region: Getting there from here. Middle East Policy, 12(2), 28–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ALECSO (Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization). (2008). A plan for the development of education in the Arab countries. ALECSO Report 2008. Tunis: ALECSO. Accessed 3 November 2013 from http://www.alecso.org.tn/lng/images/stories/fichiers/en/KHOTTA%202008/KHOTTA%202008%20Eng.pdf.

  • Amo, L. C., Ada, S., & Sharman, R. (2012). The role of scholar status in the academic publication process. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 7, 79–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Athey, S., & Plotnicki, J. (2000). An evaluation of research productivity in academic IT. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 3(7), 2–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhandari, R., & El-Amine, A. (2012). Classifying higher education institutions in the Middle East and North Africa: A pilot study. New York: Institute of International Education and Lebanese Association for Educational Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R. T., Bieber, J. P., Lawrence, J. H., & Trautvetter, L. (1991). Faculty at work: Focus on research, scholarship, and service. Research in Higher Education, 32(4), 385–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brocato, J., & Mavis, B. (2005). The research productivity of faculty in family medicine departments at U.S. medical schools: A national study. Academic Medicine, 80(3), 244–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, R. L. (2005). Measuring university quality. Review of Higher Education, 29(1), 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buncker, E. (2011). The role of higher education in the Arab state and society: Historical legacies and recent reform patterns. Comparative & International Higher Education, 3, 21–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. R., & Morgan, R. G. (1987). Publication activity of promoted accounting faculty. Issues in Accounting Education, 2(1), 28–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cargue, B. R., & Bublitz, B. (1986). Factors contributing to published research by accounting faculties. The Accounting Review, 61(1), 158–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creamer, E. G. (1998). Assessing faculty publication productivity: Issues of equity. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report, 26(2). Washington, DC: George Washington University, Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

  • Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dundar, H., & Lewis, D. R. (1998). Determinants of research productivity in higher education. Research in Higher Education, 39(6), 607–631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Englebrecht, T. D., Iyer, G. S., & Patterson, D. M. (1994). An empirical investigation of the publication productivity of promoted accounting faculty. Accounting Horizons, 8(1), 45–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, T., & Birch, J. (2000). Publish, don’t perish: A program to help scholars flourish. In D. Lieberman & C. Wehlburg (Eds.), To improve the academy: Resources for faculty, instructional, and organizational development (pp. 268–284). Bolton: Anker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grover, V., Segars, A. H., & Simon, S. J. (1992). An assessment of institutional research productivity in MIS. Data Base, 23(4), 5–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guazzone, L., & Pioppi, D. (2009). The Arab State and neo-liberal globalization: The restructuring of state power in the Middle East. Reading: Ithaca Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helsi, V., & Mook, L. J. (2011). Faculty research productivity: Why do some of our colleagues publish more than others? Political Sciences and Politics, 44(2), 393–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, Q. W., & Gill, T. G. (2000). Is faculty research productivity: Influential factors and implications. Information Resources Management Journal, 13(20), 15–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, S. G., & Stephan, P. E. (1991). Research productivity over the life cycle: Evidence for Academic Scientists. American Economic Review, 81(1), 114–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitan, A. S., & Ray, R. (1992). Personal and institutional characteristics affecting research productivity of academic of academic accountants. Journal for Education for Business, 67(6), 335–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, M.-W., & Bozeman, B. (2006). Researchers’ industry experience and productivity in university–industry research centers: A scientific and technical human capital explanation. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31(2), 269–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, R. G., Bowers, W. P., Barnett, T., & White, M. C. (1998). Researcher productivity of graduates in management: Effects of academic origin and academic affiliation. Academy of Management Journal, 41(6), 704–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathur, V., & Sharma, A. (2009). Impact factor and other standardized measures of journal citation: A perspective. Indian Journal of Dental Research, 20(1), 81–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MBRF & UNDP-RBAS (Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Arab States). (2009). Towards productive intercommunication for knowledge. Arab Knowledge Report 2009. Dubai: MBRF & UNDP-RBAS. Accessed 3 November 2013 from http://www.arab-hdr.org/akr/AKR2009/English/AKR2009-Eng-Full-Report.pdf.

  • McCormick, A. C., Pike, G. R., Kuh, G. D., & Chen, P.-S. D. (2008). Comparing the utility of the 2000 and 2005 Carnegie classification system in research on students’ college experiences and outcomes. Research in Higher Education, 50(2), 144–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milne, R. A., & Vent, G. A. (1987). Publication productivity: A comparison of accounting faculty members promoted in 1981 and 1984. Issues in Accounting Education, 2(1), 94–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney, C. J. (1991). Efforts to cut amount of “trivial” scholarship win new backing from many academics. Chronicle of Higher Education, 37(37), 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moughrabi, F. (2009). Moving toward a knowledge society in the Arab world. Arab Studies Quarterly, 31(40), 17–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, J. E. (1994). Institutional and technical constraints on faculty gross productivity in American doctoral universities. Research in Higher Education, 35(5), 549–567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prpić, K. (2007). Changes of scientific knowledge production and research productivity in a transitional society. Scientometrics, 72(3), 487–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rachal, J. R., Shelley, K., & David, W. V. (2008). Publication productivity in research in higher education and the journal of higher education, 1995–2005. Educational Research Quarterly, 31(4), 50–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Read, W. J., Rama, D. V., & Raghunandan, K. (1998). Are publication requirements for accounting faculty promotions still increasing? Issues in Accounting Education, 13(2), 327–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleh, N. (2002). Research management issues in the Arab countries. Higher Education Policy, 15(3), 225–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schofer, E. (2004). Cross-national differences in the expansion of science, 1970–1990. Social Forces, 83(1), 215–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, V. N. (2002). Counseling the university professor on the securing of research grants and the publishing of research products. Education, 123(2), 395–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP-RBAS (United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Arab States). (2002). Creating opportunities for future generations. Arab Human Development Report 2002. New York: UNDP-RBAS. Accessed 25 September 2013 from http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/regional/arabstates/RBAS_ahdr2002_EN.pdf.

  • UNDP-RBAS (2003). Building a knowledge society. Arab Human Development Report 2003. New York: UNDP-RBAS. Accessed 30 September 2013 from http://www.arab-hdr.org/contents/index.aspx?rid=2.

  • UNDP-RBAS (2004). Towards freedom in the Arab World. Arab Human Development Report 2004. New York: UNDP-RBAS. Accessed 30 September 2013 from http://www.arab-hdr.org/contents/index.aspx?rid=3.

  • UNDP-RBAS (2005). Towards the rise of women in the Arab World. Arab Human Development Report 2005. Accessed 30 September 2013 from http://www.arab-hdr.org/contents/index.aspx?rid=4.

  • UNDP-RBAS (2009). Challenges to human security in the Arab countries. Arab Human Development Report 2009. New York: UNDP-RBAS. Accessed 30 September 2013 from http://www.arab-hdr.org/contents/index.aspx?rid=5.

  • UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States. (2009). A decade of higher education in the Arab states: Achievements & challenges. Regional report. Beirut: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States. Accessed 9 October 2015 from http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/FIELD/Beirut/pdf/Regional_Report_on_Higher_Education_in_the_Arab_States.pdf.

  • Ungar, S. (2003). Misplaced metaphor: A critical analysis of the “knowledge society”. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 40(3), 331–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Vught, F. A., Kaiser, F., File, J.M., Gaethgens, C., Peter, R., & Westerheijden, D. F. (2010). U-Map: The European classification of higher education institutions. Enschede: Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS). Accessed 3 November 2013 from http://www.u-map.eu/U-MAP_report.pdf.

  • Webber, K. L. (2011). Factors related to faculty research productivity and implications for academic planners. Planning for Higher Education, 39(4), 32–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, I. O., & Cable, D. (2003). Predicting early career research productivity: The case of management faculty. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24(1), 25–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2008). The road not travelled: Educational reform in the Middle East and North Africa. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie, Y., & Shauman, K. A. (1998). Sex differences in research productivity: New evidence about an old puzzle. American Sociological Review, 63(6), 847–870.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youn, T. I. K., & Price, T. M. (2009). Learning from the experience of others: The evolution of faculty tenure and promotion rules in comprehensive institutions. The Journal of Higher Education, 80(2), 204–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities, Notre Dame University – Louaize, P.O. Box 72, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon

    Kamal Abouchedid

  2. Department of English and Translation, Notre Dame University – Louaize, P.O. Box 72, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon

    George Abdelnour

Authors
  1. Kamal Abouchedid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. George Abdelnour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kamal Abouchedid.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abouchedid, K., Abdelnour, G. Faculty research productivity in six Arab countries. Int Rev Educ 61, 673–690 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-015-9518-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-015-9518-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation