Arab University Rankings 2022: Diversity and growth

Browse the full results of the Arab University Rankings 2022

When Times Higher Education initiates a ranking in a new region, we’re never sure how many universities will participate.

Last year, with the inaugural Arab University Rankings, we were delighted that 125 universities across 14 countries took part. But a new ranking often gets a boost in participation in its second year, and that has certainly been the case here. This year, the number of universities taking part shot up to 169, and there are now 15 countries represented.

Thanks to all the universities that took the time to submit data, we are building a robust dataset that offers insight into the higher education systems across the Arab region.

This ranking is based on the framework of our flagship THE World University Rankings but with adaptations to account for differences in the area.

But the Arab region differs not only from the rest of the world but also among the countries within it; many countries are in vastly different situations when it comes to politics and economics. Their higher education systems, therefore, have different strengths and weaknesses.

In his analysis, THE data reporter Patrick Jack explores these differences, finding similarities but also surprising strengths in countries facing much uncertainty.

Elsewhere, we hear from Bill Rammell, a former UK higher education minister, about his career journey from British politics to leading a university in Iraqi Kurdistan and what he thinks of the region.

Sabrina Joseph, provost and chief academic officer at the American University in Dubai, gives us a detailed breakdown of how universities in the region can boost their students’ employability.

We also hear from Hugh Martin, registrar and chief administrative officer at the British University in Dubai, who reflects on his experience at a recent THE event in the MENA region. He has strong views on the edtech industry, which he sees as “jostling to wield influence and leverage income from universities”. And Zeenath Reza Khan, founding president of the Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE, outlines how to combat cheating in the digital age.

There’s plenty to learn from these experts, and the rest of the world has plenty to learn from the higher education systems in the Arab region. So thank you to all the university staff who put the effort into submitting data to the rankings.

Countries/regions represented in the Arab University Rankings 2022

rosa.ellis@timeshighereducation.com