Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility

Muhammed Assaf; Abdulkarim Lakmes; Mohamad Gazy Alobaidy; Feras Shabou; Wael Ahmad; Miassar Alhasan; Fuad Trayek; Leonie Ansems De Vries

doi:10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128

Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility

Muhammed Assaf^*, Abdulkarim Lakmes, Mohamad Gazy Alobaidy, Feras Shabou, Wael Ahmad, Miassar Alhasan, Fuad Trayek, Leonie Ansems De Vries

^*Corresponding author for this work

War Studies

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2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

More than a decade of conflict has disrupted all sectors across Syria, including the higher education (HE) sector, depriving much of a generation of Syrian youth of access to HE in areas to which they have been displaced. This research sought to evaluate the effectiveness of student-record systems in facilitating student transition and mobility both inside Syria and beyond, focusing on two universities in the conflict-affected northwest to which the greatest number have been displaced. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining a student survey (370 respondents), two student focus groups, and six interviews with staff (academic and administrative) from the two study universities. Results revealed a total absence of mobility opportunities due primarily to the universities’ lack of international recognition, as well as financial limitations. The adoption of hardcopy student-record systems due the lack of finance and skills to support digitisation, coupled with a lack of standardised practices across universities in the northwest, whether study-related or other, clearly constrained student transition. Most respondents had little knowledge of transition processes or of alternative integrated-institution-wide-record systems. In a world where robust efficient digitised systems are central international recognition, many students still favoured hardcopy documents, not least as a requirement of employment to help mitigate forgery. Hardcopy systems did not provide students with direct access to essential documentation, creating delays and costs, and the need for in-person transaction in an area of continued insecurity with Government universities actively obstructing transition to non-government universities. Although both study universities are looking to modernise, current limitations continue to negatively affect transition and mobility opportunities.

Original language	English
Article number	100128
Pages (from-to)	100128
Journal	International Journal of Educational Research Open
Volume	3
Early online date	22 Jan 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128
Publication status	Published - Jan 2022

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Assaf, M., Lakmes, A., Alobaidy, M. G., Shabou, F., Ahmad, W., Alhasan, M., Trayek, F., & De Vries, L. A. (2022). Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 3, 100128. [100128]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128

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title = "Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility",

abstract = "More than a decade of conflict has disrupted all sectors across Syria, including the higher education (HE) sector, depriving much of a generation of Syrian youth of access to HE in areas to which they have been displaced. This research sought to evaluate the effectiveness of student-record systems in facilitating student transition and mobility both inside Syria and beyond, focusing on two universities in the conflict-affected northwest to which the greatest number have been displaced. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining a student survey (370 respondents), two student focus groups, and six interviews with staff (academic and administrative) from the two study universities. Results revealed a total absence of mobility opportunities due primarily to the universities{\textquoteright} lack of international recognition, as well as financial limitations. The adoption of hardcopy student-record systems due the lack of finance and skills to support digitisation, coupled with a lack of standardised practices across universities in the northwest, whether study-related or other, clearly constrained student transition. Most respondents had little knowledge of transition processes or of alternative integrated-institution-wide-record systems. In a world where robust efficient digitised systems are central international recognition, many students still favoured hardcopy documents, not least as a requirement of employment to help mitigate forgery. Hardcopy systems did not provide students with direct access to essential documentation, creating delays and costs, and the need for in-person transaction in an area of continued insecurity with Government universities actively obstructing transition to non-government universities. Although both study universities are looking to modernise, current limitations continue to negatively affect transition and mobility opportunities.",

author = "Muhammed Assaf and Abdulkarim Lakmes and Alobaidy, {Mohamad Gazy} and Feras Shabou and Wael Ahmad and Miassar Alhasan and Fuad Trayek and {De Vries}, {Leonie Ansems}",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128",

language = "English",

volume = "3",

pages = "100128",

journal = "International Journal of Educational Research Open",

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Assaf, M, Lakmes, A, Alobaidy, MG, Shabou, F, Ahmad, W, Alhasan, M, Trayek, F & De Vries, LA 2022, 'Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility', International Journal of Educational Research Open, vol. 3, 100128, pp. 100128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128

Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility. / Assaf, Muhammed; Lakmes, Abdulkarim; Alobaidy, Mohamad Gazy et al.
In: International Journal of Educational Research Open, Vol. 3, 100128, 01.2022, p. 100128.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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T1 - Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility

AU - Assaf, Muhammed

AU - Lakmes, Abdulkarim

AU - Alobaidy, Mohamad Gazy

AU - Shabou, Feras

AU - Ahmad, Wael

AU - Alhasan, Miassar

AU - Trayek, Fuad

AU - De Vries, Leonie Ansems

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - More than a decade of conflict has disrupted all sectors across Syria, including the higher education (HE) sector, depriving much of a generation of Syrian youth of access to HE in areas to which they have been displaced. This research sought to evaluate the effectiveness of student-record systems in facilitating student transition and mobility both inside Syria and beyond, focusing on two universities in the conflict-affected northwest to which the greatest number have been displaced. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining a student survey (370 respondents), two student focus groups, and six interviews with staff (academic and administrative) from the two study universities. Results revealed a total absence of mobility opportunities due primarily to the universities’ lack of international recognition, as well as financial limitations. The adoption of hardcopy student-record systems due the lack of finance and skills to support digitisation, coupled with a lack of standardised practices across universities in the northwest, whether study-related or other, clearly constrained student transition. Most respondents had little knowledge of transition processes or of alternative integrated-institution-wide-record systems. In a world where robust efficient digitised systems are central international recognition, many students still favoured hardcopy documents, not least as a requirement of employment to help mitigate forgery. Hardcopy systems did not provide students with direct access to essential documentation, creating delays and costs, and the need for in-person transaction in an area of continued insecurity with Government universities actively obstructing transition to non-government universities. Although both study universities are looking to modernise, current limitations continue to negatively affect transition and mobility opportunities.

AB - More than a decade of conflict has disrupted all sectors across Syria, including the higher education (HE) sector, depriving much of a generation of Syrian youth of access to HE in areas to which they have been displaced. This research sought to evaluate the effectiveness of student-record systems in facilitating student transition and mobility both inside Syria and beyond, focusing on two universities in the conflict-affected northwest to which the greatest number have been displaced. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining a student survey (370 respondents), two student focus groups, and six interviews with staff (academic and administrative) from the two study universities. Results revealed a total absence of mobility opportunities due primarily to the universities’ lack of international recognition, as well as financial limitations. The adoption of hardcopy student-record systems due the lack of finance and skills to support digitisation, coupled with a lack of standardised practices across universities in the northwest, whether study-related or other, clearly constrained student transition. Most respondents had little knowledge of transition processes or of alternative integrated-institution-wide-record systems. In a world where robust efficient digitised systems are central international recognition, many students still favoured hardcopy documents, not least as a requirement of employment to help mitigate forgery. Hardcopy systems did not provide students with direct access to essential documentation, creating delays and costs, and the need for in-person transaction in an area of continued insecurity with Government universities actively obstructing transition to non-government universities. Although both study universities are looking to modernise, current limitations continue to negatively affect transition and mobility opportunities.

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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128

DO - 10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100128

M3 - Article

SN - 2666-3740

VL - 3

SP - 100128

JO - International Journal of Educational Research Open

JF - International Journal of Educational Research Open

M1 - 100128

ER -

Evaluating the effectiveness of student-record systems in conflict-affected universities in northwest Syria relative to student transition and mobility

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