The Interfolio Blog

The Unesco World Conference on Higher Education that recently concluded in Paris set out to find ways to improve higher education and protect it as a public good.  Particular attention was given to ways in which higher ed can be preserved and provided to the public in ways that truly benefit the whole of society: equal access, international standards of quality, and education that is professionally and socially relevant. Also, the conference emphasized the importance of preparing graduates to work in a globalized world with equal opportunity.

Though all countries are working toward these goals, special attention was given to the ways in which higher education is becoming mass produced, so to speak. In many developing countries, there hasn't been a response to the extensive demand of higher ed, which has resulted in the disjointed growth of human resources and expansion of infrastructure. Many countries are relying more heavily on part-time hires, requiring fewer and fewer qualifications in their instructors.  Considering the importance of higher education to economic, social and political development, failure to establish conditions that allow higher education to flourish will ensure that these countries fall farther and farther behind.

Sound familiar?

The United States can certainly identify with the growing demand for higher education. Meeting the educational needs of so many students in the way of professors, resources, and guidance in general, is a significant challenge of our time. It is unlikely that this issue will be resolved quickly. However, as mentioned in one of our recent Interfolio blog posts, our current administration has started to deal with these changes by providing financial support to public institutions in higher education, specifically community colleges, and has also taken a particular interest in fostering the growth of free online courses and increased regulation of quality in online coursework. These steps are just the beginning of what is likely to be a lengthy process, but one thing is certain: higher ed has become a major focus both domestically and abroad, and while we solve education problems at home, the global community is also looking to integrate and globalize learning to provide opportunities beyond our traditional institutions.