'I lost my identity in the halls of academia': Arab students on the use of Arabic in Israeli higher education

Omar Mizel
Ono Academic College, Israel

Multicultural environments in academic institutions face major challenges in teaching, learning, and social integration. Although the number of Arab students attending institutions of higher education in Israel has increased, the Arabic language has little presence in the Israeli academic world. This article explores the results of teaching Arab students in their language. Can it have a positive influence on their feelings of belonging and can it enable them to integrate more successfully in academic settings? The findings indicate that teaching in Arabic alongside Hebrew in Israeli academia enhanced feelings of belonging in Arab students. They developed a sense of belonging to their institution and their integration grew. These findings can help decision-makers in multicultural academic contexts throughout the world adjust their programs to meet the needs of diverse groups in their respective student populations.
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Author: Dr Omar Mizel, Academic Director, Faculty of Education, Ono Academic College has 30 years of experience in teaching, research, and leading projects for local authorities. He holds a BA in behavioural sciences and education jointly from Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, an MA in education leadership from the Hebrew University, and a PhD in educational leadership from the University of Leicester, UK. Dr Mizel has served as a researcher and lecturer in the area of culture and leadership in Bar Ilan University, Ben Gurion University, Kaye College, Oranim College, Achva College, Al Qasmi College, and Or Yehuda College. As well, he served as a researcher and lecturer at a rank of associate professor at Wüburg University, Germany, Chester University, England, in Al-Quds University and Bethlehem University, Palestine. His research interests focus on cultural research, leadership, self-management, and education for multi-culturalism. Email: omar.mi@ono.ac.il Please cite as: Mizel, O. (2021). 'I lost my identity in the halls of academia': Arab students on the use of Arabic in Israeli higher education. Issues in Educational Research, 31(3), 930-951. http://www.iier.org.au/iier31/mizel.pdf