Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century

The skills, creativity, and research developed through higher education are major factors in any society’s success in creating jobs and advancing prosperity. Universities and colleges play a vital rôle in expanding opportunity and promoting social justice. The papers in this book reflect the main objective of a conference held in June 2007 at Ahlia University, Kingdom of Bahrain, which was to create a forum for academics, policy makers, senior administrators and industrial professionals to explore, discuss and develop practical approaches to attain strategic success and co-operation, and share ideas about the existing and emerging practices that enhance quality, productivity and innovation. Moreover, the conference was intended to provide a platform by which all private universities in the GCC countries can join together to form a regional association that will be hosted and based in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The papers address some of the most important challenges and issues relating to higher education in the twenty-first century, including:- building capacity for higher education and the professional- development of teachers;- international education and strategic partnerships;- quality assurance and academic accreditation;- research in higher education institutions;- labour markets in higher education.