Introduction

There are obvious similarities in the social and historical contexts of the four Mediterranean partner countries involved in the NQF regional project (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia). Economically, the key features are the extent of rural poverty, the predominance of the public sector in the labour market, the size of the informal sector and the proportion of small and very small enterprises, and the limited role of public employment services. Demographic factors (notably the high proportion of young people), the importance of migration flows, and the access to opportunities as a result of political factors are also common to all. Other key issues are socio-cultural matters such as family influence, the impact of gender stereotyping, the influence of patronage and cultural attitudes to authority.

The education systems in all four countries are rigid and inequitable. Distinct colonial and post-colonial experiences have resulted in the existence of different traditions and models in these countries, affecting many aspects of state administration and institutions, including education. Egypt and Jordan tend to have been influenced by Anglo-Saxon approaches, whereas Morocco and Tunisia have been influenced more by French models.

Several aspects of the economies of the Mediterranean partners have implications for how issues are conceptualised and how policy is practised, and are also significant in terms of operational limitations.

The economies are diverse, particularly in terms of their integration with international markets. Overall, the region's level of integration with the world economy lags behind that of other more dynamic regions, and economic integration with other Mediterranean partners also remains low.