Maha Shuayb Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge 184 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8 PQ ms455@cam.ac.uk UK: (+44) 07795107654 Lebanon: 71 355 811 My research interest lies in the socio-political impact of education in Lebanon. I have conducted several studies examining the impact of the educational policies post-civil war (1989) on social cohesion in Lebanon. I have analysed the various approaches adopted by the Lebanese Ministry of Education for building peace and reconciliation including the teaching of civic and history in schools. I am currently implementing a whole school approach for promoting social cohesion in two schools in Lebanon. This approach aims to replace the subject and knowledge based approach with a skills based pedagogy. The project will produce a skills based curricula for teaching history, civics and sociology in the secondary stage. I was also involved in developing new history textbooks for the new history curriculum. EDUCATION 2002-2005 University of Cambridge PhD in Education, Faculty of Education 2001-2002 University of Cambridge MPhil, Educational Research Methods, Faculty of Education 2000-2001 University of Newcastle Upon Tyne MEd Guidance and Counselling in Education 1997-2000 Lebanese University BSc Sociology EMPLOYMENT Current employment: Senior Fellow Centre for Lebanese Studies, the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge 184 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8 PQ 2010- Current Senior Visiting Fellow Faculty of Education 15 Norham Gardens, Oxford, OX2 6PY April 2010- Current Senior Fellow Centre for Lebanese Studies, St Antony s College, University Of Oxford, 62 Woodstock Road, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX2 6JF
October 2008 September 2010 Main activities as the CLS fellowship Developing and piloting a multi-dimensional and holistic model for promoting social cohesion and active citizenship education in a number of public and private (faith and secular) schools in Lebanon Publishing a book entitled The Theory, Practice and Politics of Education for Social Cohesion: An international perspective (Palgrave 2011) Conducting an exploratory study on school effectiveness in UNRWA secondary schools in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Wining several research grants from the British Academy, and other international organisation to conduct research projects Developing the first declaration on promoting social cohesion through education in Lebanon Establishing a lobby group and a coalition of NGOs, and educational institutions to promote education for social cohesion through the educational policies of the private and public sector and research. An advisor for the Lebanese Ministry of Education, Citizenship Education Committee. Organising an international conference at the American University of Beirut, entitled Education for Social Cohesion in 2009. Supervising Masters students at the Teaching and guest lecturing at the University Oxford and London Institute of Education. Senior Researcher National Foundation For Educational Research (NFER), The Mere, Upton Park, Slough, Sl1 2dq September 2006- September 2008 Developing and implementing innovative research methods for studying and developing community cohesion in schools and local authorities. Bidding and winning a number of research tenders for major British organisations. Running training sessions for researchers and teachers on conducting action research. Chairing and managing the Methodology Working Group at NFER for developing research methods. The Group s aim is to identify and explore relevant methodological approaches used both within and outside the Foundation with a view to promoting and adding value to NFER s methodological development and direction. It provides a forum for both theoretical and practical considerations of methodological concerns. The group addresses the research needs for the 260 employee at NFER s. Leading and managing research projects Publishing a number of reports and articles. I have edited articles for Journal for Educational Research published by NFER. Research Fellow Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Research Fellowship University Of Gloucestershire,
Swindon Rd, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ February 2006- August 2006 (part-time) TEACHING EXPERIENCE Research Methods (MA) Middle East Centre Sociology of Education (MA) Faculty of Education Sociology of Education (MA) London Institute of Education EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT Ministry of Education and Higher Education UNSECO UNDP SCHOLARSHIP, BURSURIES AND GRANTS Research Grant for Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace British Academy Research grant from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) Karim Rida Said Foundation (PhD, Med and Mphil scholarships) Cambridge Overseas Trust (Research grant) New Hall (Research grant) The Board of Graduate Studies (BoGS), University of Cambridge (Research grant) A SELECTION OF AUTHORED REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS Shuayb, M, (in Press) Rethinking Education for Social Cohesion: International case studies, Palgrave McMillan. Shuayb, M (2009). Young People s Perceptions of Community Cohesion. A Report to be published by The National Foundation for Educational Research, Nelson, London. Shuayb, M, Judkins, M., and Sharp, C. (December 2008). Appreciative Inquiry as a Research Tool: possibilities and limitations, Journal of Practical Research in Education, Nelson, London. Shuayb, M. and O Donnell, S. (2008). Aims and Values in Primary Education: England and Other Countries. Interim Reports (Primary Review Research Survey 1/2). Cambridge: University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education. Shuayb, M. (2007). Education - a means for the cohesion of the Lebanese Confessional Society. In: Choueiri, Y. (Ed) Breaking the Cycle. London: Stacey International.
Shuayb, M. (2007). Using Appreciative Enquiry (AI) and Grounded Theory as a methodological framework for developing care in schools: possibilities and limitations, AI Practitioner, Autumn. Hetherington, M., Benefield, P., Lines,. and Shuayb, M. (2007). Community Cohesion for Children, Young People and their Families: a Rapid Review of Policy, Practice and Research in Local Authorities (LGAR Research Report 1/07). Slough: NFER. Bielby, G., Sharp, C., Shuayb, M., Teeman, D., Keys, W. and Benefield, P. (2007). Recruitment and Retention on Initial Teacher Training: a Systematic Review. Final Report. Unpublished report. A Selection of Conference Papers/Seminars/Workshops Shuayb, M, (2010) Can Faith Schools Promote Social Cohesion, World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies, Barcelona, Spain. Shuayb, M (2010), In the Grip of UNRWA s Educational Policies and State Discrimination: young Palestinian students in refugee camps in Lebanon,. Shuayb, M. and Johnson, D, (2010), 'Political reconstruction and Educational Transformation: South Africa and Lebanon', St Antony s college,. Shuayb, M. (2009), School Effectiveness in UNRWA Refugee Schools in Lebanon: The Needs, Aspirations and Concerns of Young Palestinian Refugees. Paper presented at the Middle East Studies Association of North America. Boston. Shuayb, M. (2009), Youth political views in Lebanon amidst a confessional political and educational systems. Paper presented at a seminar in the Middle East Centre, University of Oxford. Shuayb, M. (2009), Current models and approaches to social cohesion in secondary schools in Lebanon. Paper presented at the Centre for Lebanese Studies,, Beirut. Shuayb, M. (2008), The hammering effect of educational policies and practices in Lebanon, The American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Shuayb, M. (2008), Reconstruction and Reconciliation: the impact of reconstruction plans on community cohesion in Lebanon, Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford. Shuayb, M. (2008), Appreciative Inquiry as an alternative to the problem solving theory underpinning action research, National Foundation for Educational Research, London. Shuayb, M. (2008), Participative Action Research, Slough Local Authority, London Shuayb, M. (2008), Young People as Researchers, East Sussex Local Authority, England.
Shuayb, M. (2007), How to conduct an appreciative action research a training session at the National Foundation for Educational Research, London. Shuayb, M. (2006), An appreciative inquiry into school effectiveness in Lebanon, The National Foundation for Educational Research, London. Shuayb, M. (2005). Is a new curriculum based on citizenship the solution for the social division of the Lebanese society? Learning Conference, University of Granada, Spain, 11 14 July. Shuayb, M. (2005). A study of pedagogical care in secondary schools. Paper presented at the Annual Faculty of Education Conference, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 21-22nd April. Shuayb, M. (2004). School effectiveness: students and teachers perceptions in secondary schools in Lebanon. Paper presented at the TEAM International Conference, Beirut, 4-5 July.