Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...

5.1.2.4 Reforms and Innovation
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Higher education is an engine of technological and economic development so with the
changing societal needs it is imperative to make higher education responsive to changes both at
national and international levels. This can be achieved through reforms and innovation in higher
education. Being a laboratory of ideas UNESCO is playing a key role in helping member
countries to blow a wind of change.
UNESCO with the collaboration of hp organization has started many projects using
innovative technology to create a “brain gain” for regions that are particularly hit and impacted
by “brain drain” in the form of academics and scientists. Three major projects on the Brain Gain
Initiative are:
Brain Gain Initiative in Africa and the Arab States
African Pilot Project
South-East European Project
In Asia also UNESCO is active in capacity development by helping stakeholders: policy makers,
university administrators, management and researchers.
5.1.2.5 International University Cooperation
In the age of globalization and internationalization cooperation and collaboration has become
currency of day thus institutions at national and international level establish networks to benefit
from each other‟s experiences and resources in education, research and human resource
development. UNESCO is achieving and promoting cooperation among institutions of higher
education and research through UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks, which undertake
training, research, information sharing and outreach activities in many programs that include:
education, sciences, , culture, and communication and ICTs. The Networking institutions
develop a functional partnership with UNESCO in evaluating their program and activities. Today
there are 715 UNESCO Chairs and 69 UNITWIN Networks, which are active in 131 countries
(UNESCO, 2011). These networks are providing an environment for international academic
cooperation, particularly with North-South and North-South-South dimension, and for capacity
development in the member countries. These Networks and cooperation also act as think tanks