Effects of Global Changes on Higher Education Isolation between Academic Institutions No Longer a Solution

1st Winter Summit at the Anatolian Summit (WISAS), Erzurum, TurkeyFebruary 23 26, 2012Presented by: Ahmad Tariq Kamal Rector, Khurasan Institute of Higher Education (KIHE), Jalalabad, AfghanistanDate: February 24, 2012

Unprecedented changes are transforming the lives of people in the developed countries and most developing ones. Globalization together with new information technology and the innovative processes they foment are driving a revolution in every aspect ranging from domestic affairs and living patterns to nations international engagements. The rapid flow of capital today relies on information, knowledge and communication in global markets. Knowledge is essential to globalization because globalization increases demand for education, more essentially in developing countries like Afghanistan. Global changes in general, bring with them numerous demands. Some of those demands in the arena of education are internationalization of higher education and forging academic partnerships. Effectively addressing these demands will require world communities, more specifically, academic institutions to work together and constructively shape the mind sets of younger generations by teaching them the principles of tolerance, co-existence and mutual understanding.

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on how global changes have affected the higher education sector, specifically in Afghanistan and what is that international academic institutions can do to mitigate the effects of global changes and address their demands. The prospects of a prosperous world depend on how willing international institutions are to forge partnerships and cooperate with each other. It also depends on how institutions willing to work together are making efforts to translate words into deeds and make sure the promises made are the promises kept.

Abstract:

Collaboration for SurvivalUnderstanding the Effects of Global Changes on Higher EducationEffects of Global Changes on Afghanistan Has Afghanistan BenefitedDevelopments in Higher Education in Afghanistan Since 2001Globalization and InternationalizationGlobal Efforts towards InternationalizationOpportunities, Challenges and Risks in InternationalizationRecommendationsLikely Outcomes from Close Collaboration between Academic InstitutionsThe End

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,and many of our people need it solely on these accounts.Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and thingscannot be acquired by vegetating in one cornerof the earth all one's lifetime."Mark Twain

Comprehending the changes is a difficult task because of the scope and complexity 21st century academic changes are extensive they affect larger populationsInstitutions affected by international trends alwaysWith the rise of English, importance of global context modifiedICT ensured universal instantaneous contactUniversities, knowledge, academics & students are intimately linked to global knowledge economy

International students mobility on the riseUniversities coming closer because of English and internetInternational conferences like WISAS and others breaking barriersUniversities no longer operate in a vacuum or national contextThese changes have led to: Generally, developments have revolutionized the worldMost countries have benefitedQuality of life has improvedAgriculture, mining, transportation, industry, commerce, telecommunications, IT, etc., have improvedAfghanistan didnt benefit because of wars and instabilitiesWorld was revolutionizing when Afghanistan was sufferingNew public and private universities establishedCurrently, Afghanistan has 26 public and 55 private HE institutionsAmerican University of Afghanistan, Irans Islamic Azad University and others like KIHE provide western style modern educationSchool and university enrollment and number of teachers have drastically increasedCurrently, bachelors degrees are offered in: Management, Finance, Administration, IT, Law and PoliticalScience, Medicine, Economics, Journalism, Civil Engineering, Literature, etc.Institutions have faculty from Pakistan, India, the US, Europe and other different parts of the globe The approximate number of foreign faculty in Afghanistan is 750 800Institutions are now forging academic partnerships with other international institutionsKIHE affiliated with DIU and IUC, is an ESRUC member, signed a memorandum of agreement with the Ataturk University and established its Office of International Affairs (OIA)Presence of foreign faculty and the forging of academic partnerships, an indication of Afghanistan opening its borders for international collaboration

Addressing the Demands of Globalization

Globalization: Broad economic, technological and scientific trends that affect higher educationInternationalization: Policies and programs undertaken to deal with globalizationInternationalization includes: sending students to study abroad, setting up branch campuses and engaging in inter-institutional partnerships Each local, national and regional context is unique several broad trends can be identified globallyMobility of people, programs and institutionsRising collaborative research, evolving curricula and approaches to teaching and learningThe mobility of students has increased exponentially in the last decadeUNESCO estimates 2.8 million international students in 2007An increase of 53% over 1.8 million figure in 2000By 2025, the number will rise to 7.2 million an increase of 188 percentThese developments call for further collaboration

International mobility has become a central issue in HEPlays a vital role in internationalization policies in HEAffects a wide range of other policies and practices in HEPrograms like Erasmus, Fulbright and others have been largely successful

Internationalization has reached the national agenda in a wide range of countriesQatar, Singapore and the UAE have taken dramatic steps to promote internationalizationThese countries have taken the following bold steps: 1. Recruiting foreign universities to establish local campuses 2. Expanding access to local student population 3. Financing higher education institutions Other countries, like the UK, US, Australia and Canada have adjusted visa and immigration requirements to attract foreign students These countries have been motivated by improved international profile and financial gains

Turkey too, is opening its borders now for international studentsTurkey is playing an important role in organizing conferences and festivals like (Bogazici, WISAS, etc.)These efforts are an indication of Turkeys willingness to internationalize

International students and their families contributed nearly $ 15.5 billion to the US economy in 2007 2008The worlds international students represent an $ 80 billion industrySome countries are now hosting hundreds of thousands of international students from around the worldEducational, political and cultural motivations have also become relevantCountries pursuing agendas on capacity buildingAgendas include cooperative activities in partnership with the developing worldBologna process is drawing more than 40 countries into a European Higher Education Area (EHEA)EHEA will achieve a common, Europe-wide framework of understanding around HE and lifelong learningEHEA will include intelligibility of degrees and qualifications and high level of quality, attractiveness and competitivenessSimilarly, the US Fulbright program introduced in 1946, operates in over 155 countries and provides 8,000 grants annually to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university learning and classroom teachingSo far, 302,000 individuals have participated in this program contributing to the process of mutual understanding between the US and the participating nationsAverage no. of Fulbright scholarships for Afghan students is 30 35.Some see internationalization as an opportunity for study and research no longer limited by national boundaries, others see it as an assault on national culture It is both.With 2.8 million students, countless scholars and universities moving around globally, there is a pressing need for international cooperation and agreementsAt stake are issues of competitiveness and relevance, requiring new kinds of strategic thinking and acting with regard to international dimension Healthier consequence of globalization on HE to function internationally has been the necessity for effective systems of accountability, shared benchmarks and standards for ethics and qualityStudents & scholars with foreign credentials can no longer be penalizedBenchmarks and standards are needed to evaluate unfamiliar qualificationsUniversities in developed nations should establish partnerships with institutions in developing countries like Afghanistan to offer academic programs, develop research projects and collaborate in a variety of waysAs centers of education, universities must adopt expanded missions to improve contactsEducational exchange and scholarship programs like, Fulbright, Erasmus, & Nuffic, etc. have brought people closer and should continue with more emphasis on scholarships for developing countriesEstablishment of university branch campuses in another host country should be encouragedIT and communication innovations required for capacity building across borders and must continueSystems of accountability, shared benchmarks and standards of quality and ethics should be establishedVisa restrictions a major obstacle and should be easedInternationalization should be promoted as a matter of national policyMore scientific advances created by more scientists

Developed and up-dated academic curriculums

More rapid economic development

A more skilled labor force

More educated citizens to create stable democracies

Improved international understandingThank you all!