About Peril and Promise

The Task Force on Higher Education and Society was convened by the World Bank and UNESCO. It brought together education experts from 13 countries to explore the future of higher education in the developing world.

As knowledge becomes more important to the global economy, so does higher education. The quality of knowledge generated within higher education institutions, and its accessibility to the wider economy, is increasingly critical to national competitiveness.

Developing countries are falling behind. Their higher education systems are chronically under-funded, faculty under-qualified and poorly motivated, and students often badly taught. Developing countries need to teach more students, to a higher standard, and develop the research capacity that will help them connect to the knowledge economy.

"Higher Education in Developing Countries: Peril and Promise" addresses six key areas:

- Longstanding problems and new realities - looking at expanding demand, the diversification of higher education systems, and the implications of the knowledge revolution.

- Higher education and the public interest - exploring the substantial public returns on investment in higher education, with highly educated individuals essential to social and economic development.

- Systems of higher education - countries must plan their higher educations systems strategically and then draw on the energy of a range of actors to ensure effective implementation.

- Governance - the major principles of good governance are outlined, and compared to the actual situation in developing countries. A range of tools are suggested to improve standards.

- Science and technology - the costs and significance of scientific and technological education are examined. Developing countries face serious problems as the science base becomes more complex and costly, and strategies to tackle this are suggested, including industry-university partnerships and local, regional and international cooperation.

- General education - the relevance of a general or liberal education is highlighted for developing countries, who have an enduring need for people with the flexibility to adapt to rapid social and economic change.

The Task Force report is intended to catalyze debate and lead to action. So please feedback here or register to hear news of future events and initiatives.

 

Task Force Steering Committee

Mamphela Ramphele, Henry Rosovsky, David E. Bloom, Kamal Ahmad, Kenneth Prewitt

 

Members and Co-Directors Contact Information