New challenges for tertiary education in the twenty-first century

Abstract

Developing countries face significant new challenges in the global environment, affecting not only the shape and mode of operation but also the purpose of their tertiary education system. Among the most critical dimensions of change are the convergent impacts of globalization, the increasing importance of knowledge as a driver of growth, and the information and communication revolution. Both opportunities and threats are arising out of these new challenges. The role of tertiary education in the construction of knowledge economies and democratic societies is now more influential than ever. Tertiary education is central to the creation of the intellectual capacity and critical thinking on which innovation depend. Another favorable development is the transformation of curricular and pedagogical practices by the opportunities offered by the new information and communication technologies. Against this background, the chapter focuses on the new challenges faced by tertiary education systems in developing countries.