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<strong>countries</strong> has achieved 100% GER at primary level before <strong>the</strong> advent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 21 st century.<br />

Consequently <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>countries</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> for secondary <strong>education</strong> started grow<strong>in</strong>g very rapidly.<br />

Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustrial progress <strong>and</strong> economic development enhanced <strong>the</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> for higher<br />

<strong>education</strong> as well. As a result a process <strong>of</strong> reform, restructurization <strong>and</strong> re-organization started <strong>in</strong><br />

all parts <strong>of</strong> Asia <strong>in</strong> order to respond <strong>the</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g needs <strong>and</strong> new challenges. Still <strong>the</strong> higher<br />

<strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>countries</strong> is pass<strong>in</strong>g through <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> transition.<br />

UNESCO responded to <strong>the</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g need by design<strong>in</strong>g responsive strategies; encouraged policy<br />

reform, focused <strong>the</strong> capacity build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> launched different <strong>in</strong>itiatives to promote quality,<br />

equity, accessibility, relevance etc. Whereas <strong>the</strong> Bank re-positioned itself by refram<strong>in</strong>g lend<strong>in</strong>g<br />

policies towards higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>and</strong> it provided f<strong>in</strong>ancial assistance to member states <strong>and</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

<strong>the</strong>n Bank‟s <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> higher <strong>education</strong> is on <strong>the</strong> rise. In this context OECD, be<strong>in</strong>g a th<strong>in</strong>k<br />

tank, provided policy guidel<strong>in</strong>es, systematic analyses, <strong>and</strong> a forum to share ideas <strong>and</strong> experiences<br />

to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong>novative solutions. In addition to this, OECD also played its <strong>role</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> jo<strong>in</strong>t programs<br />

with UNESCO <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> World Bank. Though OECD does not have much presence <strong>in</strong> Asia, it is<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluenc<strong>in</strong>g this region through its <strong>in</strong>novative ideas <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiatives that have a global visibility<br />

<strong>and</strong> implication.<br />

Likewise <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> reforms <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r sectors is also push<strong>in</strong>g for reforms <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>education</strong><br />

system. To meet <strong>the</strong>se challenges, multi-level reforms have been <strong>in</strong>troduced that <strong>in</strong>cludes<br />

reforms <strong>of</strong>: <strong>education</strong>al philosophy, <strong>education</strong>al adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>and</strong> management system, school<br />

system <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g system have been <strong>in</strong>troduced. This has resulted <strong>in</strong> advanced curriculum,<br />

effective methodologies, decentralization <strong>of</strong> management, shared responsibility <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>education</strong>, enhancement <strong>of</strong> quality, promotion <strong>of</strong> vocational <strong>and</strong> technical <strong>education</strong>, more<br />

<strong>in</strong>dependence to stake holders <strong>and</strong> elevated participation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society (IBE 2006).<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> UNESCO statistics higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> all <strong>Asian</strong> <strong>countries</strong> is expend<strong>in</strong>g very<br />

rapidly so <strong>the</strong>re is need for multipronged strategy to meet <strong>the</strong> ris<strong>in</strong>g dem<strong>and</strong>. In <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>formation on <strong>the</strong> reform process has been presented on different <strong>Asian</strong> regions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> selected.<br />

5.4.1.1 East <strong>Asian</strong> <strong>countries</strong><br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />

In Ch<strong>in</strong>a, <strong>the</strong> reforms <strong>in</strong> <strong>education</strong> system are driven by economic, political, scientific <strong>and</strong><br />

technological forces. The reforms process is transform<strong>in</strong>g <strong>education</strong>al philosophy, <strong>education</strong>al

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