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

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development. This causal link is evident in the emerging knowledge based economies, i.e. China,
South Korea (Bubtana, 2005). Higher education is a societal need because it is a must to develop
education, to improve quality of education, to build and develop human capital, to explore and
exploit natural resources, to promote and preserve the culture and to develop the economy.
Above of all higher education is desired because it is helpful in running state machinery by
providing personnel and power of mind.
Institutions of higher education, particularly universities and research centers not only function
as seats of higher learning but also as repositories and generators of knowledge. As the frontiers
of knowledge is expanding, new fields of studies are emerging, advanced educational
technologies are spreading so the structure and role of higher education is also transforming.
Present economic development and technological advancement have its roots in universities
because these centers of learning provide the knowledge environment and research opportunities
(Yusuf, 2007). This new orientation of higher education is helpful in responding to changing
dimension of society, culture, economics, politics and science. For these reasons, all countries in
Asian region are working for development higher education with assurance quality despite
limited resources and capacities.
The World Bank lending share in public spending on education 2008
Total GDP
($US Million)
Public spending
on Education
($US Million)
The WB
Lending for
education
sector
Lending as %
of public
spending on
education
Afghanistan 15600 … 43.2 …
Bangladesh 105000 2415 115 4.7
India 1538000 46140 554 1.2
Indonesia 706000 21180 736.7 3.4
Kazakhstan 138400 3183.2 80.15 2.5
Pakistan 174800 4719.6 673 14.2
Turkey 741800 29672 1134.7 3.8
Vietnam 104600 1882.8 376.3 19.8
Yemen 25100 1305.2 76.4 5.8
Source: UNESCO & the World Bank year 2010
Table 30 The World Bank lending share in public spending on education
Bank‟ share in the development of education of any country can assessed from the projects,
assistance to develop capacity and the lending volume as compared to total public spending on