Higher Education In Dynamic Asia: Study Reports

The number of colleges and universities in developing countries in Asia is increasing, which has the potential to improve the prospects for economic development and better quality of life.

This publication, Administration and Governance of Higher Education in Asia: Patterns and Implications, provides timely analysis in this important field of higher education reform in the Asian region, with emphasis on Southeast Asia.

Increasingly in recent years, governments and stakeholders in Asia have demonstrated a resurgence of interest in investing in higher education as a means of promoting competitiveness and economic growth. This has spurred higher education leaders to seek ways to effectively utilize the available resources to raise quality and efficiency in higher education. One widely advocated strategy for accomplishing these ends is greater regional cooperation and crossborder collaboration among higher education institutions. Such collaborations have taken many forms, including student and faculty exchanges, dual and joint degree programs, twinning between pairs of universities, and the formation of university networks.

This publication provides a timely update on the latest developments in the use and potential of information and communications technologies in the delivery of higher education.

This publication provides a timely analysis of policies governing private higher education and presents operational recommendations for development partners in their support to this field in developing countries of Asia and the Pacific.

While this publication reviews key aspects of higher education costs and financing, it deliberately goes beyond the usual debates.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are critically important to the well-being of the countries in which they are situated. In most nations in Asia, higher education is rapidly expanding, a development that promises economic and social benefits. At the same time, expansion is accompanied by challenges and issues that require innovative thinking and policy decisions, dedication from the academic staff and institutional leaders who carry out the work of the HEIs, and thoughtful wrestling with vexing challenges that have no easy solutions.

HEIs in Asia are situated in a dynamic environment in which they face an array of expectations. They must meet these expectations while holding costs down and keeping quality high.

Higher education across much of Asia is a remarkable success story. It enjoys a high level of government support. Leaders understand that higher education is an important ingredient in the economic and social development of their countries. They recognize that the globalization of markets, the interdependency of international financial systems, the expanded role of technology, and high-speed communications have created an enormous need for highly skilled technical, professional, and managerial leaders. They understand that modern economies cannot be managed by only primary and secondary school graduates. Evidence of this support is quite tangible: Enrollments have grown, participation in higher education has diversified, new universities have been created, and universities are experimenting with new forms of instructional delivery.