Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
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<strong>the</strong>se legal <strong>in</strong>struments. IIEP is build<strong>in</strong>g capacities <strong>in</strong> policy development <strong>and</strong> reforms <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>education</strong> sector <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g higher <strong>education</strong> through technical assistance, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> planners <strong>and</strong><br />
managers; assist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> improv<strong>in</strong>g adm<strong>in</strong>istrative competencies, leadership skills; promot<strong>in</strong>g<br />
effective organization; foster policy forums, <strong>in</strong>ternational co-operation <strong>and</strong> network<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
UNESCO-Bangkok <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 18 UNESCO <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>in</strong> Asia produce <strong>in</strong>tellectual <strong>and</strong><br />
research material <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> publications, reports, toolkits, guidel<strong>in</strong>es, <strong>and</strong> newsletters. This<br />
material contributes to <strong>the</strong> ongo<strong>in</strong>g process <strong>of</strong> policy development, effective plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong><br />
capacity development measures <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> higher <strong>education</strong>.<br />
The process <strong>of</strong> network<strong>in</strong>g through UNESCO-Chairs <strong>and</strong> UNITWIN program promote<br />
collaboration <strong>and</strong> cooperation among higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong>tuitions, enhances research capacities,<br />
encourages shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> resources. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore under <strong>the</strong> banner <strong>of</strong> UNESCO number <strong>of</strong><br />
conferences, sem<strong>in</strong>ars, workshops, forums, roundtables <strong>and</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g camps are arranged at sub-<br />
regional <strong>and</strong> regional levels. These all <strong>in</strong>itiatives contribute to higher <strong>education</strong> through <strong>the</strong><br />
exchange <strong>of</strong> ideas, resources <strong>and</strong> knowledge shar<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>duction <strong>of</strong> new schemes, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutional <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividuals‟ capacity build<strong>in</strong>g, human capital development <strong>and</strong> through<br />
benefit<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>in</strong>ternational experiences. Likewise <strong>the</strong> programs <strong>of</strong> Education for All (EFA),<br />
<strong>the</strong> Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), <strong>the</strong> United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD) <strong>and</strong><br />
United Nations Decade <strong>of</strong> Education for Susta<strong>in</strong>able Development (DESD) are also contribut<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> long terms.<br />
UNESCO <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> World Bank have launched a jo<strong>in</strong>t program, GIQAC, that aims to help<br />
member <strong>countries</strong> <strong>in</strong> quality assurance process <strong>in</strong> higher <strong>education</strong>. This program focus policy<br />
reforms <strong>and</strong> capacities build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> quality assurance process through technical assistance <strong>and</strong><br />
tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
UNESCO works to enable disadvantaged communities to participate, contribute <strong>and</strong> benefit from<br />
<strong>the</strong> pool <strong>of</strong> knowledge (Haddad 2005). The outcomes <strong>of</strong> UNESCO <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>in</strong> <strong>Asian</strong> region are<br />
not directly measurable though <strong>the</strong> long-term impacts <strong>of</strong> UNESCO programs <strong>and</strong> projects are<br />
extensive as well as cumulative because <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> human capacity development <strong>and</strong> reforms<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>education</strong> sector play crucial <strong>role</strong>s <strong>in</strong> shap<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> member <strong>countries</strong>,<br />
likewise it also promotes <strong>in</strong>ter-state collaboration <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>ter-<strong>in</strong>stitutional network<strong>in</strong>g that enhance