This document discusses globalization and higher education trends in Asia and America. It notes that Asian countries have greatly increased investments in universities, leading to growing international demand for Asian education. This is in contrast to challenges facing American higher education, including rising costs outpacing inflation, less college-prepared students, and questions around curriculum relevancy. However, the document suggests that America could adopt principles from high-performing Asian countries, such as affordable public university subsidies, curricular reform emphasizing skills, and preparation programs to better equip students. Increased global cooperation and mobility of students and ideas are also presented as important for innovation.

1. GLOBALIZATION AND
HIGHER EDUCATION:
LESSONS FROM ASIA
Rosemary Hilliard
Assistant Director, Financial Aid
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

2. Northeastern University College of Professional
Studies
Dr. Leslie Hitch
EDU6450 80966
15 May 2014
Created for…

3. (Friedman, 2011)
“Every[one] has to bring something
extra to this world because
average…is now officially over.”

4. Why is America falling behind?
 “The cost of university per student has risen by
almost five times the rate of inflation since 1983.”
(The Economist, 2012)
 “The booming [post-WWII] economy allowed
[states] to spend unprecedented sums of money
to expand higher education.”(Sanchez, 2014)
 Ranked 14th in the world for college completion
rates. (Simon, 2013)
 Educational stagnation at HS level has led to less-
prepared students entering college. (Summers, 2014)
 Relevancy of traditional university curricula. (Friedman, 2011)

5. (Lane and Kisner, 2013)
“Asia is fast becoming a key player in
global higher education. Asian
nations’ growing demand for
education and the increased
investment they have made in their
universities presents opportunities
and challenges to the world.”

6. Why are Asian schools
succeeding?
 “Government subsidies make college
education affordable at many Asian
universities.” (Breitenstein, 2013)
 “Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
and Japan composed the top five in math
among fourth-and eighth graders.” (Breitenstein, 2013)
 Push for cross-border coordination of
educational programs throughout the region.
(Lane and Kisner, 2013)

7. Challenges facing Asian HE
 Increasing populations stress existing
educational systems. (Asian Development Bank, 2011)
 Over-enrollment  increased under-
employment post-graduation. (Carlson, 2012)
 Cultural valuation of education may increase
“burnout rate” amongst youth. (Breitenstein, 2013)

8. “…the key to innovation and economic
growth will lie in the freest possible
movement of people and ideas.” (Wildavsky, 2010)
American Education…2.0

9. East, meet West.
 Increased federal and state support for institutions
of higher education.
 Implementation of “knowledge-based economic”
principles that favor “expertise…[over] elbow
grease.” (So, 2014)
 Push for curricular reform and greater relevancy in
degree/certificate programs, particularly at the
undergraduate level.
 Focus on college preparedness programs to
better equip entering students with skills needed
to succeed.

10. (Bottery, 2006)
“Globalization…is intimately
connected with the way we view our
place and meaning on this planet,
and can thus provide unique avenues
to self-exploration and self-
development.”

11. References
 Asian Development Bank. (2011). Higher education across asia: An overview of issues and strategies. Manila: Asian Development Bank.
 Bottery, M. (2006). Education and globalization: Redefining the role of the education professional. Educational Review, 58(1), p.95-113.
 Breitenstein, D. (2013). Asian students carry high expectations for success. USA Today. Retrieved from
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/04/asian-students-carry-high-expectations-for-success/2615483/.
 Carlson, B. (2012). In china, education comes at a price. Globalpost. Retrieved from http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-
pacific/china/120717/economy-college-education-youth-unemployment.
 Friedman, T. (2011). The leadership agenda: That used to be us. IBM Think Forum. [Video File]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/URKfXe_7oOE.
 Lane, J.; Kisner, K. (2013). The asia pivot in higher education. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from
http://chronicle.com/blogs/worldwise/the-asia-pivot- in-higher-education/33211.
 Lawrence, L. (2012). Bachelor’s degree: Has it lost its edge and its value? The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from
http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/2012/0617/Bachelor-s-degree-Has-it-lost-its-edge-and-its-value.
 Mahapatra, L. (2013). International students: Higher education is really inexpensive in germany, but not in the us. International Business Times.
Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.com/international-students-higher-education-really-inexpensive-germany-not-us-charts-1383641.
 Sanchec, C. (2014). How the cost of college went from affordable to sky-high. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2014/03/18/290868013/how-
the-cost-of-college-went-from-affordable-to-sky-high.
 Simon, S. (2013). U.S. spends big on education, but results lag many nations. Reuters. Retrieved from
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/25/us-usa- education-oecd-idUSBRE95O0CN20130625.
 So, R. (2014). Higher education key to knowledge-based economy. China Daily. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2014-
04/24/content_17458883.htm.
 Summers, J. (2014). Nation’s report card shows stagnant scores for reading, math. NPR. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/06/310181788/nations-report-card-shows-stagnant-scores-for-reading-math.
 The Economist. (2012). Higher education: Not what it used to be. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21567373-american-
universities- represent-declining-value-money-their-students-not-what-it.
 Van Der Werf, M.; Sabatier, G. (2009). The college of 2020: Students. Washington D.C.: Chronicle Research Services.
 Wildavsky, B. (2010). University globalization is here to stay. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from
http://chronicle.com/article/University-Globalization- Is/124148/.