Quality of social work education and practice in the Arab countries: a comparative study of Palestine, Qatar and Tunisia

Integrating Technology in Qatar’s Higher Education Settings: What Helps Faculty Accomplish the Job

“…This limited English proficiency proved to be problematic due to lack of Arabic enabled software applications and hardware. According to Ibrahim et al ( 2020 ), Arab faculty who lack foreign language skills do not benefit from latest research developments and online technologies because English is the dominant language. In Qatar, language barriers prevent students and their instructors from using online resources because electronic publishing is not common in Arabic (Ibrahim et al, 2020 ; Karkouti, 2016 ).…”

“…According to Ibrahim et al ( 2020 ), Arab faculty who lack foreign language skills do not benefit from latest research developments and online technologies because English is the dominant language. In Qatar, language barriers prevent students and their instructors from using online resources because electronic publishing is not common in Arabic (Ibrahim et al, 2020 ; Karkouti, 2016 ). In order to overcome this barrier and facilitate technology integration, university administrators should provide faculty with unlimited access to existing online Arabic databases, offer language learning workshops, and develop Arabic enabled software applications and content.…”

“…Straub et al ( 1997 ) asserted that the technology integration process is directly affected by various economic, sociological, organizational, and psychological factors. For Qatar, and other Arab Gulf countries, the apparent dearth of technology integration in educational settings may be attributed in part to Internet censorship and limited Arabic content (Bahgat, 1999 ; Ibrahim et al, 2020 ; Karkouti, 2016 ; Kindilchie & Samarraie, 2008 ). The limitations imposed by the cultural context of education in Qatar, such as stakeholders’ resistance to change, misconceptions about technology, and social and religious norms may also obstruct the development of a technology-rich learning community (Al-Jaber & Dutta, 2008 ; Karkouti, 2016 ).…”

Professionals unprepared: A critical appraisal of social work practice at the Drugs Abuse Rehabilitation Centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…4 The rapid increase in drug use asks for utilizing and allocating more resources to address the issue. Also, it asks for applying indigenous methods in sync with the medical care (Ibrahim et al, 2020) According to a 2013 survey by UNODC, over 4.25 million people were drug addicts. As per the recent statistics, the number of drug users has increased to 6.7 million, making it one of the highest number countries in the world.…”

“…The narratives shared by the respondents also resonated with the IASSW and IFSW (2014) definition of social work that underscores it as a practice-based discipline that works for liberation and empowerment of people. Additionally, it addresses life challenges and ameliorates well-being by engaging people and institutions (Ibrahim et al, 2020;Ibrahim, 2018). Undoubtedly, social work is a helping, enabling, and empowering field and professional, but such narratives suit the developed countries where the professional associations provide adequate services to the people in society.…”