The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE
This study critically examines how English-language newspaper discourse in Qatar and the UAE constructs and legitimizes neoliberal ideologies surrounding higher education institutions and international branch campuses. Drawing on critical theory and critical discourse analysis, we delve into the dis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1592878/full |
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| author | Abdellatif Sellami Abdullah Mohammad Hamdan Abu-Tineh Yousef Mohammad Khaled Alshaboul Norma Abdulrahman Ghamrawi Tarek Mustapha Shal |
| author_facet | Abdellatif Sellami Abdullah Mohammad Hamdan Abu-Tineh Yousef Mohammad Khaled Alshaboul Norma Abdulrahman Ghamrawi Tarek Mustapha Shal |
| author_sort | Abdellatif Sellami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study critically examines how English-language newspaper discourse in Qatar and the UAE constructs and legitimizes neoliberal ideologies surrounding higher education institutions and international branch campuses. Drawing on critical theory and critical discourse analysis, we delve into the discourses used in newspaper articles published between 2010 and 2024. We explore the underlying meanings, ideologies, and power relations embedded in the discourses that present institutions of higher education as providers of world-class education and models of best practices. Our findings reveal common themes shared across the two countries, emphasizing commitment to excellence, global leadership, world-class education, and best practices. At the same time, distinctions unique to each are identified, suggesting different approaches to holistic development, diversity, inclusivity, and the importance attributed to international recognition and rankings. This study enriches our understanding of the way neoliberal ideologies permeate discourses, influencing and being influenced by the academic landscape, thus charting new paths for future directions in this area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d38b588bc54b416ea617ba78ca2f541d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2504-284X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-d38b588bc54b416ea617ba78ca2f541d2025-08-20T03:23:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-06-011010.3389/feduc.2025.15928781592878The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAEAbdellatif Sellami0Abdullah Mohammad Hamdan Abu-Tineh1Yousef Mohammad Khaled Alshaboul2Norma Abdulrahman Ghamrawi3Tarek Mustapha Shal4Educational Research Center, College of Education, Duhail, QatarDepartment of Education Science, College of Education, Duhail, QatarDepartment of Education Science, College of Education, Duhail, QatarDepartment of Education Science, College of Education, Duhail, QatarThe Social and Economic Survey Research Institute, Qatar University, Duhail, QatarThis study critically examines how English-language newspaper discourse in Qatar and the UAE constructs and legitimizes neoliberal ideologies surrounding higher education institutions and international branch campuses. Drawing on critical theory and critical discourse analysis, we delve into the discourses used in newspaper articles published between 2010 and 2024. We explore the underlying meanings, ideologies, and power relations embedded in the discourses that present institutions of higher education as providers of world-class education and models of best practices. Our findings reveal common themes shared across the two countries, emphasizing commitment to excellence, global leadership, world-class education, and best practices. At the same time, distinctions unique to each are identified, suggesting different approaches to holistic development, diversity, inclusivity, and the importance attributed to international recognition and rankings. This study enriches our understanding of the way neoliberal ideologies permeate discourses, influencing and being influenced by the academic landscape, thus charting new paths for future directions in this area.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1592878/fullcritical discourse analysisinternational branch campusespolicynewspapersreportsneoliberalism |
| spellingShingle | Abdellatif Sellami Abdullah Mohammad Hamdan Abu-Tineh Yousef Mohammad Khaled Alshaboul Norma Abdulrahman Ghamrawi Tarek Mustapha Shal The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE Frontiers in Education critical discourse analysis international branch campuses policy newspapers reports neoliberalism |
| title | The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE |
| title_full | The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE |
| title_fullStr | The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE |
| title_full_unstemmed | The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE |
| title_short | The fourth estate’s invisible hand: how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in Qatar and the UAE |
| title_sort | fourth estate s invisible hand how newspaper media legitimize neoliberal higher education in qatar and the uae |
| topic | critical discourse analysis international branch campuses policy newspapers reports neoliberalism |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1592878/full |
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