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

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effectiveness, international relations (IR) theory has been unable to explain how policies and
organization relate to each other and impact effectiveness” (Haack & Mathiason, 2010).
2.3 Higher education: an emerging sector and a field of study
Peters (2003) has identified three major factors that led to recent proliferation and expansion of
higher education, these factors are: capitalization of knowledge, decentralization of information
and use of technology in education. All these factors helped create a favorable environment for
globalization of education (Peters, 2003). Today globalization is a reality that is shaped by an
increasingly integrated world economy, new information and communications technology (ICT),
the emergence of an international knowledge network, the role of the English language, and
other forces beyond the control of academic institutions (Altbach, Reisberg, & Rumbley, 2009).
Globalization, internationalization and knowledge based economic system has changed the frame
of reference for higher education. In this modern setting an innovative system based on
international agents, new dynamics, and changed social, political and economic context has
emerged, which has resulted in intensified activities of international organization both
quantitatively and qualitatively and approaching education in a global perspective (Amaral,
2010).
Higher education and research capacity is important for all countries including for low and
middle income countries because it contribute to their economies, effective management and
sound policy-making in their governments as well as to their civil societies, and to the
preservation of their national histories, cultures, and identities (Johnstone & Marcucci, 2007).
The higher education institutions in the less developed countries (LDCs) are faced with two fold
pressure; a need to expand and a demand to enhance quality. But the problems of insufficient
resources available to higher education and inefficient utilization of existing resources are
affecting both the process of expansion and the mechanism of quality education provision. The
poor counties are finding it hard to respond properly to the changing national needs and
international demands. So it is resulting in the provision of sub-standard higher education, which
is not in the national interest as it is the wastage of time and energies (Ali, 2011).
Since the emergence of mass higher education, many economist including Jacob Mincer, Robert
W. Fogel, Milton Friedman, Ronald Harry Coase, Friedrich A. von Hayek, Gary Becker and
Walter Williams have contributed in the development of economic theories particularly human