Rebuilding society: It’s time to recognise the value of HE

Since the establishment of higher education institutions in Yemen in the early 1970s, academics have found themselves on the margins of making a positive change in the nation.

The responsibility for driving a political and social change has traditionally rested on the shoulders of other institutions, both political and cultural. Academic institutions have not gained the necessary autonomy to effectively contribute to shaping visions, plans and strategies for fostering a stable political and social transformation in the country.

Nevertheless, higher education institutions have made significant strides in advancing knowledge, expertise and capabilities across various fields. However, these advancements have not coalesced into a robust institutional sector. Instead, individual capabilities often remain scattered and inadequate for driving public action in the country.

The impact of conflict and an uneasy truce

Conflicts, both political and military, have further weakened academic institutions and individuals. The recent war has dealt an unprecedented blow, posing a threat to their very existence.

Therefore, we advocate for a transition towards building a cohesive society capable of fostering development, based on the capabilities of the Yemeni academic community. This should extend beyond applied sciences to encompass the civil sector, ensuring that everyone plays a role in shaping Yemen’s future through well-considered strategic plans.

Despite the current truce in Yemen since 2022, the absence of battle rumbling has not created positive changes in people’s lives overall, particularly in the realm of education. A state of neither war nor peace persists.

In higher education, universities and public institutions are witnessing ongoing decline. This is due to various factors including the disruption of academic salaries, economic instability, currency depreciation and rising prices.

In this dire situation, a recent study reveals that many academics have either migrated from Yemen or transitioned from teaching in public universities to private ones where academic standards often fall short. Some have even pursued alternative careers outside academia, such as agriculture or other professions.

Over the past decades, political regimes have viewed academic institutions through a narrow lens, primarily as places for employee training or obtaining academic qualifications.

There has been a lack of recognition of the potential for higher education institutions to engage in meaningful research on political, social, cultural and scientific issues. Consequently, they have not been entrusted with the responsibility of proposing practical solutions or constructive policies for the country’s ongoing development.

Towards sustainable change

In the aftermath of the war, many of us have found ourselves scattered across different universities worldwide, observing our homeland endure the harsh realities of conflict. Meanwhile, local academic institutions continue to adhere to traditional roles, resulting in a significant decline in educational effectiveness.

By recognising this reality, we have identified two avenues through which we can pave the way for a brighter future for our country.

The first involves enhancing academic knowledge and expertise while simultaneously working towards reforming higher education institutions.

The second avenue focuses on fostering the active participation of academics in various civil society organisations across political, social and cultural spheres. This engagement aims to catalyse an institutional change from within these dynamic bodies.

We believe that this dual approach can cultivate a shared commitment among key institutions in the country to adopt well-informed plans and strategies, thereby fostering effective and sustainable change.

An association of academics and professionals

For the practical implementation of the above broad goals, we initiated a collective effort among Yemeni academics and professionals, both residing in Yemen and displaced globally, to establish the Association of Yemeni Academics and Professionals (AYAP) in 2020.

As a non-profit association, the primary objective of AYAP is to unite Yemeni intellectuals and professionals worldwide. AYAP’s main mission is to forge a collaborative network dedicated to advocating, supporting and advancing the development, growth and sustainability of Yemen in all aspects.

Central to our mission is the aspiration to foster open academic dialogues on all matters pertinent to the country’s sustainable development in the future. Since its establishment, the AYAP has hosted many academic dialogues and workshops on different topics.

Despite a lack of funding, we are driven by a firm conviction that any meaningful progress towards peace and development necessitates well-considered, feasible and sustainable strategies. AYAP has entered a partnership with the Scholar Rescue Fund and welcomes meaningful partnerships with relevant associations.

There is an urgent need for the ministries responsible for higher education in Yemen to not only recognise the scholarly contributions of Yemeni academics and AYAP, but also to make effective use of these efforts in the improvement of current strategies and plans for a better future through higher education, which is the backbone of national development.

Without the implementation of these insights, the cycle of conflict will, unfortunately, continue forever.

Dr Mohammed Almahfali is a seasoned researcher with expertise in Arabic literature, media analysis, political discourse, capacity-building in higher education, and sustainable post-conflict recovery strategies tailored to address Yemen’s challenges in the years ahead. He served as a researcher at Lund University’s Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies from 2017 to 2019 where he conducted his fellowship supported by the Scholar Rescue Fund. In 2022, he secured another fellowship from Columbia University’s Columbia Global Centers-Amman. Beyond academia, Mohammed has played a pivotal role in founding and co-founding several Yemeni civic organisations, notably the Association of Yemeni Academics and Professionals (AYAP). Email: almahfale@hotmail.com. Dr Abdulghani Muthanna is an independent associate professor with teaching experience at national and international basic and higher education institutions. He has won several teaching and research awards. His research has been published in international journals and books. His research interests include teacher education policy and implementation, research ethics and supervision, qualitative inquiry, teaching philosophy and pedagogy, teacher agency, professional identity development, conflict and education, student mobility and lifelong collaboration. For correspondence: am96715@gmail.com