Workshop on Reinforcing Academic Independence and Excellence in the Middle East

The workshop brought together 20 scholars from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, and the UK, to discuss challenges which researchers and university administrators in the Middle East and in the UK face in seeking to establish a secure basis for academic independence and excellence. Participants identified areas of common concern and explored how they could be tackled. The opening address was delivered by Dr Muhammad Saidam from the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, on behalf of HRH Princess Sumaya Bint el Hassan.

The workshop took place on 16 October at the CBRL British Institute in Amman, Jordan, and was jointly organised by the British Academy and the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL).