New Economy, Employment, and Education: Putting Education to Work
Al Akhawayn University and Luso-American Foundation
November 8-10, 2006
The purpose of this conference is to provide a working forum for improving the job readiness of university graduates not only from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, but from the national universities in Morocco, North Africa, and the Mediterranean region as a whole. The Mediterranean historically has served as an important link between the North and the South. Following historical precedence, this conference will address the current gap in the educational process and programs offered in North Africa Mediterranean countries where education systems are only beginning the process of reform initiated earlier in northern Mediterranean countries.
The education provided will need to emphasize students’ talents and abilities who themselves can help provide new job opportunities through creating new enterprises. Graduates will need to be able to not only think of creative new opportunities for the present, but will need to be forward thinking; looking at what sorts of job needs may arise in the future.
Quality assurance and accreditation are among the main challenges faced in higher education. There's also a pressing need to change the education models, giving a proper balance between university and vocational training, where economic agents can play an important role, in training and internships.
The objectives of this conference are to begin the discussion on how to make education more relevant to employment and new job/enterprise creation. The conference will first set out the major issues in the current education system; second to look at the positive improvements that have been made in educational reforms; third to make suggestions on how to make education more relevant and meaningful in the future.
The conference will bring together about fourteen educators, researchers, and decision makers from the Mediterranean region and beyond. The conference will include 1.) Background papers outlining the current situation in the countries of the Mediterranean with a focus on universities; 2.) Specific cases where educational reform initiatives are succeeding in contributing to development; and 3.) Workshops and round tables for the exchange of ideas and immediate actions that can be taken to improve the quality and type of education delivered. It is expected the conference will produce a number of specific recommendations for educators as well as for employers and decision makers.
The conference will also consider follow-up policy research on this topic connecting researchers from the participating countries though on-line organizational and communication technologies virtual “think thank” initiatives will connect the researchers and institution on both sides of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean.
