Technology's Role in Enhancing Female Higher Education Access and Experience Across the MENA Region

Abstract

Women's education has a history on a global scale of being marked by struggle, strife, persistence, progress, and more. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries are no exception. This chapter addresses the status of women's education varies by country, but and while “progress” can describe the status in each MENA country, each nation has areas that warrant attention for future improvement. Higher education, specifically, is a level that warrants attention due to its societal impact for women. This review of the literature provides an overview of the status of women's higher education in a variety of MENA countries and summarizes the major gains that each country has taken for women's post-secondary education and what areas of improvement need to be addressed. The role that technology has played and can play in the future will be emphasized. By exploring these ideas, the goal is for readers to consider future research that can help ignite next steps in policies and structures that can promote women's access to higher education and completion of post-secondary degrees.