Securing Syria’s academic knowledge and industrial future through participatory action research: a case study of agricultural engineering education

Syrian higher education has been severely damaged by the ongoing conflict, with disastrous effects on the nation’s knowledge base, academic infrastructure and training provision. This presentation reports on a participatory action research project structured around a proposed strategic intervention for delivering tertiary-level e-learning to agricultural engineering students, alongside farmers and other professional stakeholders such as United Nations agencies, NGOs and local organisations. Through collaboration within the e-learning environment, the learning community engages in activities across the action research trialectic of research, capacity-building and practice (Senge and Scharmer, 2001: 40). Contextual factors such as the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis are discussed. The programme aims are set out, and the cyclical action research methodology is outlined. Anticipated challenged are addressed, and solutions proposed. Finally, the projects wider implications for educational interventions in crisis contexts are considered