Louay Constant

Contact Information

Senior Policy Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in public policy and administration, University of Kentucky; M.S. in agricultural economics, University of Kentucky; B.A. in economics, University of Notre Dame

Overview

Louay Constant is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the RAND Pardee Graduate School. While at RAND, he has worked on a number of projects that have examined a range of social policy issues including K-12 education reform, postsecondary education and training, and labor markets. Constant's main research focus area has been on young people's school-to-work transition, the experiences of soon-to-be graduates or recent graduates in seeking education and employment, and the challenges young people, including marginalized groups, face in making that transition. Constant is interested in research on mechanisms to address human capital deficits and improve the alignment between labor market supply and demand. Constant has conducted policy research globally and has led or participated in research projects in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and Mongolia developing strategies to increase access and improve quality of general and vocational education, examining factors affecting the alignment of labor market supply and demand, and assessing the experiences of youth in education and employment. Constant employs mixed-methods in his analysis, and has conducted household, school-based, and employer surveys, analyzed administrative data, and carried out interviews and focus groups for qualitative research.

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Adjunct Instructor, University of Southern California

Recent Projects

Examining the Mongolian Labor Market and Identifying Constraints to its Performance
Indicators of Economic Opportunities for the Youth: A Collaboration between Silatech and RAND
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq
Improving the Private Sector Labor Market in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq
Improving Access and Quality in Education in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq

Selected Publications

Howard J. Shatz, Louay Constant, Francisco Perez-Arce, Eric Robinson, Robin Beckman, Haijing Huang, Peter Glick, Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar, Improving the Mongolian Labor Market and Enhancing Opportunities for Youth, RAND (RR-1092-ILS), 2015

Louay Constant, Shelly Culbertson, Cathleen Stasz, Georges Vernez, Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq., RAND Corporation (RR-277-KRG), 2014

Hansen, Michael L., Howard J. Shatz, Louay Constant, Alexandria Smith, Krishna B. Kumar, Heather Krull, Artur Usanov, Strategies for Private-Sector Development and Civil Service Reform in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq, RAND Corporation (MG-1117-1-KRG), 2014

Ryan Andrew Brown, Louay Constant, Peter Glick, Audra K. Grant, Youth in Jordan: Transitions from Education to Employment, RAND (RR-556-CMEPP), 2014

Constant, Louay, Charles A. Goldman, Gail Zellman, Catherine H. Augustine, Titus Galama, Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Cassandra M. Guarino, Rita Karam, Gery Wayne Ryan, and Hanine Salem, "Promoting Quality and Variety Through the Public Financing of Privately Operated Schools in Qatar," Journal of School Choice, 4(4):450-473, 2010

Louay Constant, Vazha Nadareishvili with Hanine Salem, A Survey of Qatari Secondary School Seniors: Methods and Results, RAND (TR-577-QATAR), 2008

Gabriella Gonzalez, Lynn Karoly, Louay Constant, Hanine Salem, and Charles Goldman, Facing Human Capital Challenges of the 21st Century, RAND (MG-786), 2008

Dominic J. Brewer, Catherine H. Augustine, Gail L. Zellman, Gery Ryan, Charles A. Goldman, Cathleen Stasz, Louay Constant, Education for a New Era: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar, RAND (MG-548-QATAR), 2007

Honors & Awards

Gold Merit Bonus Award (shared), RAND

Commentary

Making the 'Gap Year' More Inclusive and Purposeful
High schools and universities should work together, with the support of policymakers, to develop programs that would provide a wider spectrum of U.S. students with the opportunity to take a purposeful gap year—and enter college with some real-world adult experience behind them.
May 19, 2016 The RAND Blog
Battered by War, Syrian Refugee Kids Need to Be Taught
More than 700,000 Syrian refugee children are not receiving formal education. Host countries are struggling to create enough spaces to accommodate them in schools, and there are no formal programs to teach children who have missed years of instruction.
Jan 15, 2016 Newsweek
Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System
Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?
Dec 31, 2014 EduTech Magazine

Publications

Report
Report
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2016–2017
This report presents information on recent participants of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe, a quasi-military program for young people lacking a high school diploma. It also documents program progress in academics, fitness, and other areas.
Aug 20, 2018
Report
Report
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2015–2016
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is a residential, quasi-military program for young people at risk of dropping out of high school. This report provides information on recent ChalleNGe participants and develops metrics of program success.
Nov 1, 2017
Report
Report
Initiatives to Improve Quality of Education in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Administration, School Monitoring, Private School Policies, and Teacher Training (Kurdish-language version)
RAND supported the Kurdistan Regional Government in its aims to restructure its Ministry of Education, develop plans for a school quality assurance system, review support of private schools, and assess the content and quality of in-service training.
May 13, 2016
Report
Report
Initiatives to Improve Quality of Education in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Administration, School Monitoring, Private School Policies, and Teacher Training (Arabic-language version)
RAND supported the Kurdistan Regional Government in its aims to restructure its Ministry of Education, develop plans for a school quality assurance system, review support of private schools, and assess the content and quality of in-service training.
Apr 21, 2016
Report
Report
Initiatives to Improve Quality of Education in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Administration, School Monitoring, Private School Policies, and Teacher Training
RAND supported the Kurdistan Regional Government in its aims to restructure its Ministry of Education, develop plans for a school quality assurance system, review support of private schools, and assess the content and quality of in-service training.
Feb 26, 2016
Report
Education of Syrian Refugee Children: Managing the Crisis in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan
This report reviews education of Syrian refugee children in the three neighboring countries with the largest population of refugees -- Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan -- and analyzes four areas: access, management, society, and quality.
Nov 23, 2015
Report
Report
A Preliminary Assessment of the Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) Concept's Implications for Army Personnel Management
RAND Arroyo Center explored how the U.S. Army might need to adapt its personnel management policies and practices to support the Regionally Aligned Forces concept.
Nov 11, 2015
Report
Improving the Mongolian Labor Market and Enhancing Opportunities for Youth
Drawing on Mongolian and international data, RAND analyzed the Mongolian labor market and compared it internationally. Based on an original survey, this report also examines challenges young people face in employment and education in Mongolia.
Aug 24, 2015
Report
Report
Making an Impact in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Summary of Four Studies to Assess the Present and Future Labor Market, Improve Technical Vocational Education and Training, Reform the Health Sector, and Build Data Collection Capacity
This executive summary describes key results from four studies carried out by the RAND Corporation for the Kurdistan Regional Government. These studies aim to improve the economic and social development of the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq.
Feb 3, 2015
Report
Report
An Assessment of the Present and Future Labor Market in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Implications for Policies to Increase Private-Sector Employment (Kurdish-language version)
The study addresses the issue of improving the private-sector labor market in the Kurdistan Region--Iraq. Doing so will involve creating mechanisms by which job-seekers can develop the right skills and employers can find the employees they need.
Nov 21, 2014
Report
Report
An Assessment of the Present and Future Labor Market in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Implications for Policies to Increase Private-Sector Employment (Arabic-language version)
The study addresses the issue of improving the private-sector labor market in the Kurdistan Region--Iraq. Doing so will involve creating mechanisms by which job-seekers can develop the right skills and employers can find the employees they need.
Nov 11, 2014
Report
Youth in Jordan: Transitions from Education to Employment
High youth unemployment in Jordan remains a serious economic and social problem, leading to delays in marriage and family formation. This study examines the perceptions of young Jordanians on issues relevant to their transitions into adult roles.
Jun 30, 2014
Report
Report
An Assessment of the Present and Future Labor Market in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Implications for Policies to Increase Private-Sector Employment
The study addresses the issue of improving the private-sector labor market in the Kurdistan Region–Iraq. Doing so will involve creating mechanisms by which job-seekers can develop the right skills and employers can find the employees they need.
Jun 27, 2014
Report
Report
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Arabic-language version
Examines the adequacy of technical and vocational education and training in Iraq's growing Kurdistan Region; identifies areas for improvement through interviews with a variety of officials and an analysis of similar systems in other nations.
May 29, 2014
Report
Report
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Kurdish-language version
Examines the adequacy of technical and vocational education and training in Iraq's growing Kurdistan Region; identifies areas for improvement through interviews with a variety of officials and an analysis of similar systems in other nations.
May 29, 2014
Infographic
Infographic
Dropping Out, Opting In: Why the National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program for High School Dropouts is a Solid Social Investment
RAND researchers studying the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program found that the benefits associated with the program more than repay society's investment in it.
May 14, 2014
Report
Report
Strategies for Private-Sector Development and Civil-Service Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Arabic-language version
This monograph provides strategies to reemploy civil-service workers in the private sector and to increase private-sector employment in the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq.
May 13, 2014
Report
Strategic Priorities for Improving Access to Quality Education in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Arabic-language version
Describes the strategic priorities and recommendations RAND arrived at by assessing the status of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's in-process reform of its K-12 education system.
May 7, 2014
Report
Report
Strategies for Private-Sector Development and Civil-Service Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Kurdish-language version
This monograph provides strategies to reemploy civil-service workers in the private sector and to increase private-sector employment in the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq.
Apr 28, 2014
Report
Improving Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq
Examines the adequacy of technical and vocational education and training in Iraq's growing Kurdistan Region; identifies areas for improvement through interviews with a variety of officials and an analysis of similar systems in other nations.
Apr 24, 2014
Report
Report
Strategic Priorities for Improving Access to Quality Education in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Kurdish-language version
Describes the strategic priorities and recommendations RAND arrived at by assessing the status of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's in-process reform of its K-12 education system.
Apr 23, 2014
Report
Strategies for Private-Sector Development and Civil-Service Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq
Strategies for Private-Sector Development and Civil-Service Reform in the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq
Apr 14, 2014
Report
Strategic Priorities for Improving Access to Quality Education in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq
Describes the strategic priorities and recommendations RAND arrived at by assessing the status of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's in-process reform of its K-12 education system.
Apr 4, 2014
Report
Readiness Reporting for an Adaptive Army
Examines the Army's readiness reporting system in light of changes experienced by Army units in the past decade, particularly the ability of units to adapt to emerging requirements by adding and training up new capabilities quickly.
Oct 10, 2013
Journal Article
Qatar
This chapter focuses on Qatar's education system, describing the laws and policies under which both public and non-public schools operate.
2013
Report
Report
Qatar's School Transportation System: Supporting Safety, Efficiency, and Service Quality (Arabic-language version)
Assesses stakeholder perspectives on Qatar's school transportation system (STS), identifies a vision and goals for the STS, and discusses strategies to achieve the vision and better align Qatar's STS with international norms. This is the Arabic-language version.
Mar 28, 2012
Report
Report
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
A cost-benefit analysis of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program, a program serving high school dropouts, indicates that every dollar invested in the program yields $2.66 in social benefits, an estimated return on investment of 166 percent.
Feb 28, 2012
Research Brief
Meeting the Challenge: The Economic Return on Investment in the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
A cost-benefit analysis of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program, a program serving high school dropouts, indicates that every dollar invested in the program yields $2.66 in social benefits, an estimated return on investment of 166 percent.
Feb 28, 2012
Report
Qatar's School Transportation System: Supporting Safety, Efficiency, and Service Quality
Assesses stakeholder perspectives on Qatar's school transportation system (STS), identifies a vision and goals for the STS, and discusses strategies to achieve the vision and better align Qatar's STS with international norms.
Feb 13, 2012
Research Brief
Research Brief
Updating Qatar's School Transportation System
Describes a vision for updating Qatar's school transportation system and identifies strategies for achieving the proposed vision.
Feb 13, 2012
Report
K-12 Education Reform in Qatar
Examines the progress that Qatar has made in implementing a comprehensive reform, begun in 2002, of its K-12 education system.
Jun 21, 2011
Research Brief
Research Brief
Hours of Opportunity: How Cities Can Use Data to Improve Services in Out-of-School Time Programs
Five cities that received a grant from The Wallace Foundation, along with three other cities that were not part of the initiative, were successful in using data from management information systems to improve out-of-school-time programs.
Oct 19, 2010
Research Brief
Research Brief
Hours of Opportunity: How Cities Can Build Systems to Improve Out-of-School-Time Programs
Five cities that received a grant from The Wallace Foundation to increase collaboration, access, quality, information sharing, and sustainability in their out-of-school-time systems used different planning approaches to meet the initiative's goals.
Oct 18, 2010
Report
Report
Hours of Opportunity, Volume 3: Profiles of Five Cities Improving After-School Programs Through a Systems Approach
The third in this three-volume series presents in-depth case studies of five cities that received funding from The Wallace Foundation to improve out-of-school-time program provision: Providence, Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Sep 27, 2010
Report
Report
Hours of Opportunity, Volume 1: Lessons from Five Cities on Building Systems to Improve After-School, Summer School, and Other Out-of-School-Time Programs
The first in this three-volume series describes the early work of cities that received a grant from The Wallace Foundation to increase collaboration, access, quality, information sharing, and sustainability in their out-of-school-time systems.
Sep 13, 2010
Report
Report
Hours of Opportunity, Volume 2: The Power of Data to Improve After-School Programs Citywide
The second in this three-volume series describes how Wallace Foundation grantees and three other cities used management information systems to collect and use data on out-of-school-time programs, including enrollment, attendance, and outcomes.
Sep 13, 2010
Journal Article
Journal Article
Promoting Quality and Variety Through the Public Financing of Privately Operated Schools in Qatar
Qatar began establishing publicly funded, privately operated "independent schools" in parallel with the existing Ministry of Education system in 2002.
2010
Research Brief
Research Brief
Building Cohesive Leadership Systems to Improve School Leadership
Documents efforts to build cohesive systems of state and district policies to improve school leadership.
Dec 22, 2009
Research Brief
Research Brief
Qatar's K-12 Education Reform Has Achieved Success in Its Early Years
Describes RAND's evaluation of the progress made in the first years of Qatar's K-12 education reform.
Aug 25, 2009
Research Brief
Research Brief
Qatar's K-12 Education Reform Has Achieved Success in Its Early Years (Arabic version)
Describes RAND's evaluation of the progress made in the first years of Qatar's K-12 education reform.
Aug 25, 2009
Report
Implementation of the K-12 Education Reform in Qatar's Schools
RAND's analysis of the early years of Qatar's system-wide K-12 education reform finds that students in new, Independent schools perform better than those in Ministry schools, but most are still not meeting the new, higher curriculum standards.
Aug 25, 2009
Research Brief
Research Brief
Improving Finance for Qatari Education Reform (Arabic version)
Qatari education reform, which included implementation of a new finance system, appears to be providing schools with adequate funding but is still struggling with issues of transparency and swift policy shifts that have been difficult to accommodate.
Mar 31, 2009
Research Brief
Research Brief
Improving Finance for Qatari Education Reform
Qatar's education reform, which included implementation of a new finance system, appears to be providing schools with adequate funding but is still struggling with issues of transparency and swift policy shifts that have been difficult to accommodate.
Mar 5, 2009
Report
Developing a School Finance System for K-12 Reform in Qatar
Reform-minded leaders of Qatar, who have embarked on a sweeping reform of their nation's education system, asked RAND to evaluate the education finance system that has been adopted and to offer suggestions for improvements.
Feb 24, 2009
Report
Report
Improving School Leadership: The Promise of Cohesive Leadership Systems
Creating more-cohesive policies and initiatives to improve instructional leadership in schools appears to be a promising approach to developing school principals who are engaged in improving instruction.
Dec 31, 2008
Report
Report
Facing Human Capital Challenges of the 21st Century: Education and Labor Market Initiatives in Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates: Executive Summary
Overview of the education and labor market initiatives under way in four Arab nations -- Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates -- to address the challenges of developing their human capital for the 21st century global economy.
Dec 22, 2008
Research Brief
Research Brief
Addressing Human Capital Challenges: Assessing the Experiences of Four Countries in the Arab Region (Arabic Version)
This research brief describes an analysis of the reform efforts of four Arab region nations (Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates) in response to human capital challenges they face in preparing their people to work in a global environment.
Nov 2, 2008
Research Brief
Research Brief
Addressing Human Capital Challenges: Assessing the Experiences of Four Countries in the Arab Region
This research brief describes an analysis of the reform efforts of four Arab region nations (Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates) in response to human capital challenges they face in preparing their people to work in a global environment.
Oct 11, 2008
Report
Facing Human Capital Challenges of the 21st Century: Education and Labor Market Initiatives in Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates
Describes the education and labor market initiatives under way in four Arab nations -- Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates -- to address the challenges of developing the human capital of their populations for the 21st century global economy.
Oct 7, 2008
Report
Report
A Survey of Qatari Secondary School Seniors: Methods and Results
Presents the results of a survey of Qatari students enrolled in their final year of secondary school about their attitudes about further education and future work plans.
Jun 4, 2008
Research Brief
Research Brief
Identifying Priorities for Post-Secondary Education in Qatar (Arabic version)
This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the extent to which Qatar's post-secondary educational offerings can meet Qatar's future needs and offers remedies for identified shortcomings.
Feb 10, 2008
Research Brief
A New System for K-12 Education in Qatar (Arabic version)
This research brief highlights aspects of Phase I (2001-04) of Qatar's K-12 reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences in this multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Oct 31, 2007
Report
Education for a New Era, Executive Summary: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar
Provides an overview of the first phase of Qatar's K-12 education reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences in this ambitious, multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Oct 29, 2007
Research Brief
Research Brief
Identifying Priorities for Post-Secondary Education in Qatar
This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the extent to which Qatar's post-secondary educational offerings can meet Qatar's future needs and offers remedies for identified shortcomings.
Oct 29, 2007
Report
Report
Post-Secondary Education in Qatar: Employer Demand, Student Choice, and Options for Policy
Describes a study conducted to assess how well Qatar's post-secondary education system is producing Qataris capable of furthering the nation's goals, as well as to determine priorities for developing post-secondary opportunities.
Oct 12, 2007
Research Brief
A New System for K-12 Education in Qatar
This research brief highlights aspects of Phase I (2001-04) of Qatar's K-12 reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences in this multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Apr 8, 2007
Report
Education for a New Era: Design and Implementation of K-12 Education Reform in Qatar
Describes the first phase of Qatar's bold K-12 education reform initiative, Education for a New Era, based on RAND's experiences as part of this ambitious, multi-participant effort to build a world-class standards- and choice-based education system.
Apr 1, 2007
Draft
Draft
An Introduction to Qatar’s Primary and Secondary Education Reform
Describes a reform designed by Qatari education officials and RAND researchers to upgrade the school system of Qatar.
May 31, 2006
Journal Article
Journal Article
When Money Matters: Campaign Contributions, Roll Call Votes, and School Choice in Florida
This study examines the impact of teachers' union contributions on votes on two school choice bills in the Florida House of Representatives during the 1998 and 1999 sessions.
2006
Report
Report
Focus on the Wonder Years: Challenges Facing the American Middle School
Do middle schools meet the needs of young teens? If not, what needs to be done differently?
May 2, 2004
Research Brief
Research Brief
Problems and Promise of the American Middle School
This research brief describes work documented in Focus on the Wonder Years: Challenges Facing the American Middle School (MG-139-EDU).
2004

Multimedia

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Preventing a Syrian Lost Generation: RAND's Work on Refugees
Jun 7, 2017