Publication:
Putting Higher Education to Work : Skills and Research for Growth in East Asia

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Files in English
English PDF (11.32 MB)
3,518 downloads
English Text (1.24 MB)
1,047 downloads
Date
2012
ISSN
Published
2012
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
A fundamental question facing East Asia, especially its low- and middle income economies, is how to sustain or even accelerate the growth of recent decades. From 1950 to 2005, for example, the region's real income per head rose sevenfold. With aging populations, these economies will need to derive an increasing share of growth from productivity improvements rather than from physical factor accumulation to drive growth. The book argues that higher education is failing to deliver skills for growth and research for innovation because of widespread disconnects between higher education institutions and other skill and research users and providers. These disconnects undermine the very functioning of the higher education system. The main assumption of the report is that to deliver labor market skills to higher education graduates, these institutions: (a) must have characteristics that are aligned with what employers and employees need; and (b) must be well connected among themselves and other skills providers. Similarly, to deliver research that can enhance innovation and productivity, higher education institutions need to have a strong role in research provision and have strong links with firms and other research providers.
Link to Data Set
Citation
World Bank. 2012. Putting Higher Education to Work : Skills and Research for Growth in East Asia. World Bank East Asia and Pacific Regional Report. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2364 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Associated URLs
Associated content
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    Tertiary Education in Indonesia : Directions for Policy
    (Washington, DC, 2014-06) World Bank
    Indonesia has made notable progress in raising attainment levels in primary and secondary school. More than 1 million additional students graduated high school in 2012 when compared with 1999, and graduation rates are expected to increase further. Major efforts are being made throughout the system to improve learning outcomes and ensure graduates have more knowledge and better skills. This progress at primary and secondary school creates more demand for tertiary education (TE). Most students (88 percent in a recent survey) profess a desire to continue studying after high school. Indonesia's TE system, however, is not well prepared to help create relevant, high-quality opportunities for this growing pool of high school graduates. Wages for those with TE are high and have remained so even as more and more workers enter the labor market with at least some TE. TE is a good investment in Indonesia, even when one attends a TE institution (TEI) of perceived low quality. Empirical analyses of labor markets do not support the anecdotes about large numbers of unemployed and underpaid workers with TE. This fact is a main general conclusion that should shape the direction of TE policy in Indonesia.
  • Publication
    Higher Education Financing in the New EU Member States : Leveling the Playing Field
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2007) Canning, Mary; Godfrey, Martin; Holzer-Zelazewska, Dorota
    The study reviews the experience in the EU8 countries of the emergence of private higher education institutions and introduction of fees for student who do not gain regular admission. This has resulted in a dual-track system that is affecting the equity of access to higher education. The authors have addressed this with a variety of financing mechanisms in the EU8 countries and seek to develop some useful policy options to "level the playing field" for countries contemplating further reforms, which would include the introduction of variable fees, needs-based grants and loans to increase private financial flows into higher education while facilitating equal access across the board. The study begins with and introduction. Chapter 2 provides an overview of current higher education systems in the EU8 in a comparative perspective. Chapter 3 suggests some directions for further reform initiatives. Chapter 4 concludes.
  • Publication
    Strengthening Technical Tertiary Education in the Province of Buenos Aires
    (Washington, DC, 2011-06) World Bank
    The World Bank prepared this report on technical higher education in the Province of Buenos Aires (PBA) as part of its on-going dialogue with PBA authorities. The World Bank has a long history of engagement with Argentina in different areas of the education sector and is in-creasing its relationship with provincial governments. This report was prepared by World Bank staff. It is a companion volume to a Spanish-language report developed by the Province of Buenos Aires Commission of Science and Research (Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas, CIC). This report contains a more synoptic account of issues treated at greater length in the CIC-authored report, as well as original analysis and recommendations. The two reports should be read together and considered complements. Both reports help build on the findings of the recently published World Bank report ―Argentina Economic Memorandum for the Province of Buenos Aires: Key Public Policy Issues.‖ A key goal of this analytical work was to improve the empirical base of policymaking for technical tertiary education, especially by linking it to con-sideration of labor market demand. These reports take the diagnosis of the Economic Memo-randum as the starting point for more in-depth analysis of issues in technical tertiary education.
  • Publication
    Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Reform Policy Options
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-12) World Bank
    In October 2010, the Government of Madhya Pradesh hosted, with World Bank technical advice, a Conference on higher education reform in the State. The Governor, the Chief Minister and the Minister of Higher Education all addressed the Conference and about 150 people attended the event. Subsequently, four regional Conclaves were organized, in which a total of more than 400 people participated, representing the leadership, administrators, faculty and students at universities and colleges across the State. This represents an impressive outreach to the sector stakeholders. This report is written on the cusp of the publication of the Government of India s 12th Five Year Plan. The indications are that the Government of India intends to push ahead with some significant reforms in the higher education sector. Of particular significance for this report is the emphasis, for the first time, on the need to support the improvement of State universities and colleges. The objective of this report is to provide policy makers in Madhya Pradesh with a menu of options for improving the equity, governance and financing of the higher education system in the State. Though the primary audience is policy makers, this report could serve as part of the continued dialogue with the higher education sector on the direction for reform.
  • Publication
    Are Skills Constraining Growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
    (World Bank, 2009-12-01) World Bank
    The shortage of skills sought by key export-oriented and import competing industries in Bosnia and Herzegovina (henceforth, 'BH') is substantial and if left unaddressed, threatens to constrain future economic growth of the country. Prior to the onset of the global economic crisis, BH enjoyed strong rates of economic growth based to a significant degree on the growth of exports. On average, exports grew at an impressive 34 percent per year between 1995 and 2008. Our analysis however confirms that the growth of exporting, as well as import-competing industries is increasingly becoming constrained by the shortage of skills in the labor force. In this report we seek to identify these shortages and their likely causes and recommend reforms and policies which can prevent the plummeting of economic growth due to lack of adequate skills. Firm-level evidence confirms that the shortage of qualified workers is becoming a serious obstacle to growth of BH exporting companies. This report investigates what types of skills firms are looking for and are not finding in the marketplace. The policy recommendation section of this study seeks to provide ideas and direction for the BH government to address these labor market challenges.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Publication
    Remarks to the Annual Meetings 2020 Development Committee
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-16) Malpass, David
    David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, announced that the Board approved a fast track approach to emergency health support programs that now covers 111 countries. Most projects are well advanced, with average disbursement upward of 40 percent. The goal is to take broad, fast action early. The operational framework presented back in June has positioned the Bank to help countries address immediate health threats and social and economic impacts and maintain our focus on long-term development. The Bank is making good progress toward the 15-month target of 160 billion dollars in surge financing. Much of it is for the poorest countries and will take the form of grants or low-rate, long-maturity loans. IFC, through the Global Health Platform, will be providing financing to vaccine manufacturers to foster expanded production of COVID-19 vaccines in both part 1 and 2 countries, providing production is reserved for emerging markets. The Development Committee holds a unique place in the international architecture. It is the only global forum in which the Governments of developed countries and the Governments of developing countries, creditor countries and borrower countries, come together to discuss development and the ‘net transfer of resources to developing countries.’ The current International Financial Architecture system is skewed in favor of the rich and creditor countries. It is important that all voices are heard, so Malpass urged the Ministers of developing countries to use their voice and speak their minds today. Malpass urged consideration of how we can build a new approach to debt restructuring that allows for a fair relationship and balance between creditors and debtors. This will be critical in restoring growth in developing countries; and helping reverse the inequality.
  • Publication
    Classroom Assessment to Support Foundational Literacy
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-03-21) Luna-Bazaldua, Diego; Levin, Victoria; Liberman, Julia; Gala, Priyal Mukesh
    This document focuses primarily on how classroom assessment activities can measure students’ literacy skills as they progress along a learning trajectory towards reading fluently and with comprehension by the end of primary school grades. The document addresses considerations regarding the design and implementation of early grade reading classroom assessment, provides examples of assessment activities from a variety of countries and contexts, and discusses the importance of incorporating classroom assessment practices into teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers. The structure of the document is as follows. The first section presents definitions and addresses basic questions on classroom assessment. Section 2 covers the intersection between assessment and early grade reading by discussing how learning assessment can measure early grade reading skills following the reading learning trajectory. Section 3 compares some of the most common early grade literacy assessment tools with respect to the early grade reading skills and developmental phases. Section 4 of the document addresses teacher training considerations in developing, scoring, and using early grade reading assessment. Additional issues in assessing reading skills in the classroom and using assessment results to improve teaching and learning are reviewed in section 5. Throughout the document, country cases are presented to demonstrate how assessment activities can be implemented in the classroom in different contexts.
  • Publication
    Doing Business 2014 : Understanding Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises
    (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2013-10-28) World Bank; International Finance Corporation
    Eleventh in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 185 economies, Doing Business 2014 measures regulations affecting 11 areas of everyday business activity: Starting a business, Dealing with construction permits, Getting electricity, Registering property, Getting credit, Protecting investors, Paying taxes, Trading across borders, Enforcing contracts, Closing a business, Employing workers. The report updates all indicators as of June 1, 2013, ranks economies on their overall “ease of doing business”, and analyzes reforms to business regulation – identifying which economies are strengthening their business environment the most. The Doing Business reports illustrate how reforms in business regulations are being used to analyze economic outcomes for domestic entrepreneurs and for the wider economy. Doing Business is a flagship product by the World Bank and IFC that garners worldwide attention on regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. More than 60 economies use the Doing Business indicators to shape reform agendas and monitor improvements on the ground. In addition, the Doing Business data has generated over 870 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals since its inception.
  • Publication
    World Development Report 2006
    (Washington, DC, 2005) World Bank
    This year’s Word Development Report (WDR), the twenty-eighth, looks at the role of equity in the development process. It defines equity in terms of two basic principles. The first is equal opportunities: that a person’s chances in life should be determined by his or her talents and efforts, rather than by pre-determined circumstances such as race, gender, social or family background. The second principle is the avoidance of extreme deprivation in outcomes, particularly in health, education and consumption levels. This principle thus includes the objective of poverty reduction. The report’s main message is that, in the long run, the pursuit of equity and the pursuit of economic prosperity are complementary. In addition to detailed chapters exploring these and related issues, the Report contains selected data from the World Development Indicators 2005‹an appendix of economic and social data for over 200 countries. This Report offers practical insights for policymakers, executives, scholars, and all those with an interest in economic development.
  • Publication
    World Development Report 2011
    (World Bank, 2011) World Bank
    The 2011 World development report looks across disciplines and experiences drawn from around the world to offer some ideas and practical recommendations on how to move beyond conflict and fragility and secure development. The key messages are important for all countries-low, middle, and high income-as well as for regional and global institutions: first, institutional legitimacy is the key to stability. When state institutions do not adequately protect citizens, guard against corruption, or provide access to justice; when markets do not provide job opportunities; or when communities have lost social cohesion-the likelihood of violent conflict increases. Second, investing in citizen security, justice, and jobs is essential to reducing violence. But there are major structural gaps in our collective capabilities to support these areas. Third, confronting this challenge effectively means that institutions need to change. International agencies and partners from other countries must adapt procedures so they can respond with agility and speed, a longer-term perspective, and greater staying power. Fourth, need to adopt a layered approach. Some problems can be addressed at the country level, but others need to be addressed at a regional level, such as developing markets that integrate insecure areas and pooling resources for building capacity Fifth, in adopting these approaches, need to be aware that the global landscape is changing. Regional institutions and middle income countries are playing a larger role. This means should pay more attention to south-south and south-north exchanges, and to the recent transition experiences of middle income countries.