Towards Universal Access to Higher Education: International Trends

TARGET GROUP: HIGHER EDUCATION

OBJECTIVES

·        To generate opportunities to underprivileged groups in the society contributing to a more educated workforce for the economic development of nations and consequently the rise in the aspirations of the middle class to access tertiary education, the growth of private institutions, and the expansion of distance education institutions.

SUMMARY

The concept of universal access to higher education is closely linked to the debate on the right to education, which is considered a human right and has been evolving over the past two decades, has been embraced by many international, regional and national instruments, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development being the most prominent one. In addition to the humanistic approach to the concept, one cannot forget the impact that access to HEIs has on the development of countries. There are important development externalities impacted by higher education, be they social (besides being part of the social aspirations of the middle class, higher education supports social engagement, contributes to societal needs and progress particularly through research and knowledge generation, and supports citizenship education); economic (higher education contributes to economic progress of countries by forming a more educated work force and responding to the needs of the world of work); or political (higher education helps to keep democratic societies alive). Therefore, assuring universal access to higher education is not only important from a humanistic perspective, but a must for countries that want to fully enjoy socially and economically developed societies.

REFERENCE

https://globaleducationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DOC-11-Towards-universal-access-to-higher-education-international-trends.pdf