The Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning ...

Considerations for Southeast AsiaUniversities and their faculties across Southeast Asia are faced with the monumental task ofmeeting increased higher education demand in teaching, research and professional service withdeclining resources and providing these services to an ever increasing student population. Even atcurrent rates of population growth, few transitioning or developing countries can or have the capacityto provide enough classroom space for all people at all levels of education. Southeast Asia's search fora cost effective and efficient and pedagogically sound way to provide access to education at all levelswill further increase the demand for the use of ICT and distance and e-learning models (Jegede &Shive, 2001). As a result, countries in Southeast Asia will need to resolve a number of Vision 2020challenges and consider that:• Two-thirds of the world’s population live in countries bordering the Pacific Rim.• Over 800 million people were added to the region in 2000.• Over 75% of the your population live in rural areas-this seems to be a critical education barrierand one that ICT may provide assistance.• Over 1 billion children under the age of 15 years require improved primary and secondaryservices.• 400 million children between the ages of 17 and 24 years of age require tertiary, vocationaleducation, and skill development.• Given the impact of globalization, over 500 million adults, over 24 years of age are in need ofre-education.It has been estimated that over 900 million people in the world are poor, i.e., those people who earn$1 USD a day or less. They live mostly in the Asia-Pacific region. Nearly one of three Asians is poor,although it appears that the incidence of poverty (proportion of people below the poverty line) isslightly declining. Others question this claim and argue that the term poor should cover all those whocannot cope with survival, security, and enabling needs. Shortfalls in economic welfare; gaps in accessto quality education and health care; deficiencies in the provision of physical infrastructure; andpolitical barriers that stifle personal initiative and self-development. The less affluent are unable toparticipate in governance, which is necessary for a healthy democracy and peaceful development.Moreover, despite the vast advances that are being made in the areas of science and technology,medicine, capital mobility, etc., income disparities are ever widening, both within countries and withinnations.Countries in Southeast Asia common features include large and rapidly expanding populations.Many citizens continue to live in rural and remote areas and have a significant demand for education,8