GCE |Committee

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Joint educational efforts began prior to the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council through the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), which was founded in 1975 under the supervision of the ministers of education (the General Conference). However, subsequent educational developments in the region—including the emergence of higher education institutions independent of ministries of education (such as colleges, universities, and technical and vocational training bodies) and the creation of separate ministries for higher education—led the Bureau to focus its programs and projects primarily on general education.

Thus, the inaugural meeting of the Committee of Presidents and Directors of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in the GCC states—held at the General Secretariat headquarters in March 1986—marked the launch of organized joint educational efforts in higher education under the Council’s umbrella. The meeting addressed topics of particular importance to the trajectory of cooperation and integration among the GCC states, including Supreme Council decisions regarding general and university education; development goals, policies, and plans; priorities for joint action in higher education; student equality in admission and treatment; coordination of scientific research efforts; the Arabization of higher education; the deepening of the Council’s drive toward integration and unity; and joint student activities and gatherings.

Given the diverse areas for integration and cooperation among higher education institutions, the Committee of Presidents and Directors of Universities and Higher Education Institutions adopted a joint action plan (Kuwait, November 1993). This plan defined the scope and objectives of cooperation, as well as the mechanisms for organizing meetings, examining avenues for coordination and integration, and addressing issues of mutual interest. In accordance with the plan, several committees were established—comprising deans of corresponding academic faculties (such as Arts, Science, and Medicine), deans of support units (such as Admissions and Registration, Libraries, and Student Affairs), university vice-presidents, and heads of specific academic departments—with each committee responsible for implementing the aspects of the plan relevant to its specific area.

In 1996, with ministries of higher education established in most GCC states, a ministerial committee for higher education was formed to oversee cooperation and integration efforts among institutions and bodies concerned with higher education. In addition to these two committees, there are committees comprising the heads of higher education degree equivalency committees, the Academic Accreditation Coordination Committee, officials responsible for technical education and vocational training, and officials responsible for technical education, as well as numerous joint working committees for corresponding colleges and supporting deanships.

As part of the cooperation and integration between the activities of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), the Ministerial Council—at its 127th session (Jeddah, June 2013)—directed that periodic meetings be held for GCC Ministers of Education to discuss priority issues of specific relevance to the Gulf region. The GCC General Secretariat is responsible for coordinating and preparing for the meetings of the Committee of Ministers of Education; the Committee held its inaugural "founding" meeting in January 2015 in the State of Qatar.

Supreme Council Decisions
Joint educational efforts have received the attention of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states—Their Majesties and Highnesses. This is evident in the decisions issued by the GCC Supreme Council in this field, most notably:
*   Adopting the objectives and mechanisms to ensure that education fulfills the development needs of the GCC states (Muscat, November 1985).
*   Treating students from GCC states at the general education level in the same manner as students from the host country where they are studying (Muscat, November 1985).
*   Treating educational certificates and documents held by GCC citizens—issued by any official educational institution within the GCC states—in the same manner as those issued by the host country itself (Muscat, November 1985).

* Permitting GCC citizens to engage in economic activities within the educational sector (Muscat, 1995).
* Supporting the Arabian Gulf University through the establishment of university chairs named after GCC leaders and member-state funding for specific scientific and academic programs (Riyadh, December 1993).
* Establishing the Gulf Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education across GCC countries.
* Adopting unified guiding standards for the equivalency of degrees issued by private higher education institutions in GCC countries.

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Deans of Colleges of Engineering, Architecture, Planning, and Computer Science in GCC Countries