LOCATING ACCREDITATION

IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE MENA

REGION: WHY? WHEN? FOR WHOM?

THE FIFTH ANNUAL GULF COMPARATIVE EDUCATION

SOCIETY SYMPOSIUMDubai Women’s College

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Dr. Boyce C. WilliamsDr. Majed AbujaberMarilyn R. Davis, Ph.D Candidate

Marilyn Davis, ResearcherUniversity of New Mexico

Center for Educational Policy & ResearchMulticultural Education Center

davism@unm.edu001 (301) 254-8829

Diversity Meanings and Meanings of Diversity

Are Diversity Meanings Translational?

Is boundary spanning possible?

Should meanings of diversity be redefined for the MENA region?

Western Countries: Diversity is socially constructed and designed to fulfill a need for various forms of labor capital.

Definition: Diversity - Different from each other; of a different kind, form, character, etc; unlike; of various kinds or forms, multiform (Merriam-Webster online, 2013)

Mills, C. (2007). Multiculturalism as/and/or Anti-Racism?” in Anthony Simon Laden and David Owen, eds. Multiculturalism and Political Theory (New York: Cambridge University Press, pp. 89-114.

Diversity Meanings: The Concept

Socially Constructed Differences Among Groups of People and Individuals Based on:

Ethnicity Race Socioeconomic

status Gender Exceptionalities

Language Religion Sexual Orientation Geographical Area

Diversity Meanings: The ConstructsWestern Higher Education Accreditation Meanings of Diversity

Western Cultures: Education for All (Residence)◦ Education/schooling is mandatory for all children

residing within its borders regardless of nationality (20/80)

MENA Region: School for All (Nationals)◦ Connotations of diversity and global economy are

the “norm” as the number of expatriates may exceed the number of Nationals. (80/20)

Diversity Meanings and Meanings of Diversity: Context

Are Diversity Meanings Translational?

Is boundary spanning possible?

Should meanings of diversity be redefined for the MENA region?

Evaluation of Curriculum and Experiences Assessments Diverse Faculty Recruitment and Retention of Diverse

Faculty Diversity of Student Candidates Student Candidates’ Experiences Working

With Diverse Students

Diversity – One Accrediting Entity: Expectations for the Emergence of Diversity (Education)

Perception:

◦ Homogenous Culture(federal schools for Nationals)

◦ Homogenous Communities of Practice (where and what Nationals do)

MENA Region Context:

Individual Diversity (Nationals)

Life experiences Different Values Academic background experiences Individual Needs (psychological; physical; special

needs) Abilities Interests Socioeconomic status Culture

MENA Region Context of Diversity: A Constellation of Global Awareness and Cultural Responsiveness Concepts

Social Diversity (Nationals):

Ethnic Origins (Historical) Cultural Backgrounds (familial identity)(inter-ethnic

marriage)(residence) Multilingual Backgrounds Socioeconomic Background Religious Background The ways in which all of the above develop in the region

MENA Region Context of Diversity: A Constellation of Global Awareness and Cultural Responsiveness Concepts

While the Educational Systems in the MENA region reflects the diversity of the population of any one of the countries, with the existence of multinational educational institutions and the employment of multinational curricula, faculty and staff; it cannot be assumed that education outcomes for MENA region National students will teach for knowledge of local and regional issues related to notions of diversity and culture and ways of knowing and serving diverse populations.

Overarching Message:

While candidates in a program might come from the same country, and a perceived homogeneous culture and community of practice, candidates do display diverse characteristics.

These characteristics must be identified, defined, and filtered through a supportive dialogical process for contextual meaning and conceptual understanding among National students as new ways of defining meanings of diversity for accreditation by western professional organizations for MENA region institutions.

Overarching Message:

Western definitions of diversity are constructs that sit within the context of Western culture and purposes.

MENA region Institutional meanings of diversity must make the above case as it relates to the region and also take a reflexive, global position on diversity that is aligned with the regional context of what “diverse” means for communities of practice in the Middle East.

Overarching Message:

Marilyn R. Davis, Research Assistant University of New Mexico College of Education Center for Policy and Educational Research Multicultural Education Center (davism@unm.edu)

001-301-254-8829

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