After more than seven years of conflict, Syrian higher education continues to function. This observation defies expectations that higher education suffers more than other educational levels during conflict and contradicts media depictions that Syrian higher education collapsed during conflict. This paper challenges this narrative of collapse. Based on interviews with Syrian students and academics, it finds that while the system quantitatively survived for various reasons, significant negative qualitative shifts have transformed Syrian higher education through eroding quality and equity and deepening control of campuses as a means of regime security.
This article is available from the International Journal of Educational Development.
To cite this article: Milton, S. 2019. Syrian Higher Education During Conflict: Survival, Protection, and Regime Security. International Journal of Educational Development, 64: pp38-47.