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Enhancing higher education teaching and learning in northern Syria: Academic development needs of teaching staff at Free Aleppo and Sham universities

Abdulkerim, Sohayb, Nasir, Abir, Parkinson, Tom, Marais, Debbi, Altaha, Razan, Shaban, Fateh (2022) Enhancing higher education teaching and learning in northern Syria: Academic development needs of teaching staff at Free Aleppo and Sham universities. International Journal of Education Research (Open), 3 . Article Number 100143. ISSN 0883-0355. (doi:10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100143) (KAR id:95498)

Abstract

Free Aleppo University (FAU) and Sham University are higher education institutions established in 2015 in the non-Assad regime-controlled areas of Northern Syria. Despite ongoing conflict, the displacement of academic staff, damage to infrastructure and severe resource constraints, these universities continue to provide access to higher education to learners in the region, including thousands of internally displaced persons. ‘Modernisation and capacity building for academics in research, teaching and curriculum development’ was identified as a shared priority for both institutions at a round table in February 2020. This study, conducted by representatives from each university together with Syrian and UK-based academics collaborating on the Council for At Risk Academics (Cara) Syria Programme, responds to this priority by exploring the professional development needs and priorities of academic staffat Free Aleppo University (FAU) and Sham University. Semi-structured interviews with teaching staffat each institution (n = 20) were analysed to elicit insight into the teaching experiences and development needs of teaching academics. Findings revealed academic development priorities that are consistent with areas of emphasis in the field of academic development internationally, but also highlighted the need for specialist professional development provision to support staffin responding to the unique challenges of the resource-poor and precarious Northern Syrian HE context.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100143
Uncontrolled keywords: Higher education; Academic development; Teaching and learning; Conflict; Syria
Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Divisions: Divisions > Directorate of Education > Centre for the Study of Higher Education
Depositing User: Thomas Parkinson
Date Deposited: 20 Jun 2022 11:56 UTC
Last Modified: 21 Jun 2022 11:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/95498 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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