Future of Higher Education in the Arab Region Working Group (HEWG)

Higher education is of key importance to the core mission of the ACSS given the centrality of higher education institutions in the production of social sciences knowledge and training in the Arab region. To build on the ACSS's long experience and established work in this area the ACSS launched the Future of Higher Education in the Arab Region Working Group (HEWG) in 2025. While the conceptual development of the working group has been underway for some time, the phenomena of scholasticide and educide – the calculated, systematic, and targeted destruction of universities, educational institutions, and infrastructure – served as a critical catalyst for its formal establishment.

The HEWG brings together seven engaged scholars to expand and deepen ACSS interest in higher education in the Arab region, by examining critical developments in this sector. The working group acts as a platform for members to engage in collaborative discussions and explore relevant themes, contributing to a deeper understanding of the future of higher education. In this concept note, the ACSS has delineated some thematic areas that reflect persistent issues as well as more recent developments in the higher education sector. Below are the titles of the projects pursued by members of the working group.

Outputs (Publications and Activities)