Peeling the multiple layers of inequalities in free higher education policies

• DOI: 10.1080/23322969.2024.2374708
• Publication Date: 2024-07-12T12:31:36Z
• Authors: Oudai Tozan

It has long been debated as to whether higher education (HE) is a site of social mobility that promotes meritocracy or reproduction creates and exacerbates inequalities in societies. In this paper, I will argue HE, even when democratised provided free everyone, reproduces unless coupled with an inclusive sectoral design, expansion funding, wider strategy reduce socio-economic inequalities. To do so, studied the case Syria, which always claimed have meritocratic HE system designed achieve equality society by providing for all since 1970s. analysed database Ministry Higher Education (MoHE) 15 academic years from 2001 2015. This included data on students' access graduation rate divided type (public, private, institutes, technical institutes), level (undergraduate postgraduate), gender (male female), city, faculty, specialisations. analysis unpacked four types inequalities, namely type-based specialisation-based city-based gender-based Finally, show how dynamics roles are changing sector result Syrian conflict.