Questioning the role of internationalization in the nationalization of higher education: the impact of the EU TEMPUS Programme on higher education in Syria

Abstract

Given the need for major reform of the higher education programmes in Syria, and answering the voices that question the role of European Union (EU) in assisting the development of the higher education sector, this study presents an analysis of the contribution of (TEMPUS) Programme in modernising higher education in Syria. The study compares the national priorities of the Syrian higher education sector, and the objectives of TEMPUS projects implemented in Syria. Based on the number of national priorities that each project meets, and the number of Syrian higher education institutions involved in each project, an innovative concept of the National Project was suggested by the authors. In accordance with this concept, the results insist on the need for more national-oriented projects in the future. Implicitly, the study shows that more positive concerns from policymakers towards the Programme in general are important for its sustainability and future impact.

Keywords:

• Syria
• EU
• TEMPUS
• national project
• national programme
• universities
• higher education

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr Anas Al-Ahmar from the National Tempus Office in Syria for his earlier assistance in drafting data of the study.