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

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only four full-members: Israel, Japan, Korea and Turkey. These member countries are 8.3% of
the Asian countries and represent only 0.7% of the Asian population. The representation of
countries and the population from other continents is as: Africa 1.8% (5% population), America
11.4% (52% population), Australia 14.2% (76% population) and Europe 48% (85% population).
OECD members by type and region
Member E.E.country*
Countries on
the continent
Africa 0 1 54
America 4 1 35
Asia 4 3 48
Europe 24 0 50
Table is prepared by author. Data source: OECD 2011
*E.E.Country=Enhanced Engagement Country
Table 15 OECD member countries in different regions
This shows that Asia has very low presence at OECD platform both in terms of number of
countries and population. If we include the total population of three Asian Enhanced Engaged
countries then 66% of the total Asian population is covered by OECD. The OECD has widened
its circle on to non-member economies also by establishing working relationships. As result
today there are more than 100 countries from all parts of the world are involved in OECD‟s work
in different sectors including education and 16 of them are from Asia (OECD, 2010).But when
we look at the presence of Asian countries in the OECD bodies then it reveals that Asia is not
properly represented in the OECD‟s boards, councils, committees, forums, networks, task forces
and working groups. According to the table 15 among the Asian countries on OECD forum only
four economies are benefiting well while the rest of the linked countries have low or no presence
in these bodies. Even countries with Enhance Engagement have not been properly placed.
5.2.10 Asia in OECD
In the intergovernmental bodies the OECD has grouped the roles of the actors under four
headings: chairs, vice-chairs, members and observers.
Korea and Japan are the only Asian countries that have position of chairs in some of the OECD
intergovernmental bodies: Japan chairs nine OECD and Korea chairs only two whereas UK
chairs twenty and USA chairs thirty three OECD bodies. Neither Japan nor Korean chairs any of
the educational body.