Higher Education Leadership in the Arab World: A Systemic Review ‎of Empirical Evidence

• In Event: Challenges in Higher Education and Internationalization

Abstract

This article systematically reviews empirical evidence on higher education leadership in the ‎Arab World, focusing on studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 1980 to 2023. Using ‎bibliographic data from the Web of Science (WoS) and SCOPUS, the review followed PRISMA ‎guidelines for data collection, eligibility, and analysis. A thematic analysis was conducted to ‎trace research development, volume, geographic distribution, and trends. The review provides a ‎macro-outlook of study volume and trends, presenting key topical areas such as administrative ‎policy, leadership, organizational culture, technology, and social change. The paper concludes ‎with theoretical and methodological insights, offering recommendations for future research, ‎policy, and governance to better address local and global trends in higher education ‎development.‎

Authors

• Khalid Husny Arar, Texas State University

• Rania Sawalhi, University of Jordan