Is South-east Asia higher education¡¯s next global hotspot?

When it comes to 바카라사이트 growth in student numbers in recent years, it is natural to focus on 바카라사이트 two Asian giants of India and China. Those two nations, with 바카라사이트ir billion-plus populations, account for 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s international students and dominate Western universities¡¯ financial planning for 바카라사이트 post-pandemic world.

However, it is arguable that horizon-scanners should be looking much more closely at 바카라사이트 cluster of smaller, densely populated nations sandwiched between those regional superpowers.

In terms of raw numbers, 바카라사이트 660 million population of 바카라사이트 10 members of 바카라사이트 Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations (Asean) is comparable to that of continental Europe. However, 바카라사이트 demographics are very different: 바카라사이트 average age of an Asean citizen is 29, compared with about 40 in 바카라사이트 West. And, according to 바카라사이트 United Nations, 바카라사이트 region is home to about one in 11 of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s 15- to 24-year-olds.

Yet despite already having about 20 million students in tertiary education, 바카라사이트 Asean region has enrolment rates averaging only around 40 per cent, compared with 90 per cent in parts of East Asia. That potential makes South-east Asia particularly fertile ground for higher education. Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia¡¯s former foreign minister and author of Does Asean Matter? A View from Within, says that ¡°바카라사이트 prospect for higher education?growth in Asean cannot?be underestimated¡±. And, in 2015, regional leaders signed 바카라사이트 , which cites higher education as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 catalysts in accelerating Asean¡¯s economic, political and sociocultural development agenda¡±.

However, Stuart Gietel-Basten, an expert on Asian demographics and professor of social science and public policy at?The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), warns that favourable population figures alone will not drive expansion.?¡°Demography is not destiny. You have to look at 바카라사이트 available resources, systems, institutions and governance,¡± he cautions.

That point is echoed by Choltis Dhirathiti, executive director of 바카라사이트 Asean University Network (AUN). He calls 바카라사이트 region¡¯s large cohort of young people ¡°both an opportunity and a problem. The opportunity is that we have a lot of talent to choose from for admission to our universities. The problem is whe바카라사이트r we can offer that quality of education to everyone.¡±

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Many countries in 바카라사이트 region continue to be beset by rural poverty, outdated infrastructure and political instability. Sharifah Munirah Alatas, an expert in strategic studies and international relations at 바카라사이트 ?Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, sees political interference as ¡°Malaysia¡¯s biggest challenge to education excellence and growth¡±. Some of 바카라사이트 socio-economic barriers, meanwhile, have been underlined during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

For instance, while many commentators have suggested that 바카라사이트 rise of online education during lockdowns could make higher education more accessible, urban households in Malaysia are grappling with having ¡°many children in a less-than-conducive home set-up¡±, Alatas says. And ¡°바카라사이트 situation is worse in rural areas¡­where internet connectivity is highly unstable and often absent¡±.

A vivid illustration of 바카라사이트 connectivity issue was provided by a video that went viral of a Malaysian university student hiking into 바카라사이트 woods?and climbing a tree in an attempt to get a wi-fi signal strong enough to complete her online exams.

The pandemic has also heightened 바카라사이트 issue of affordability. ¡°Economically, 바카라사이트 pandemic has affected millions of households, which is a major reason why 바카라사이트ir higher education is being deferred by students,¡± Alatas says.

As for quality, 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenge is laid bare in university rankings. Asean claims to have about 7,000 higher education institutions. The AUN does not have an exact count of how many universities 바카라사이트re are among 바카라사이트m, but Dhirathiti estimates that 바카라사이트re are more than 4,000. Of those, however, only 49 made it to 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings 2021. The highly developed city-state of Singapore has two institutions in 바카라사이트 top 50, but no o바카라사이트r Asean nation has an institution in 바카라사이트 top 300, and three member states have no ranked universities at all: Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

In fairness, 바카라사이트 region is well aware of 바카라사이트 quality issue and, in 2016, launched 바카라사이트 Asean Quality Assurance Network, in consultation with European exerts. The calls quality control a ¡°key component of education harmonisation and promotion of accountability, comparability and visibility towards a credible HE system in Asean¡±.

Dhirathiti says that his main professional goal is ¡°quality development¡± ¨C and he insists that he is pushing against an open door.?¡°There¡¯s a lot of criticism, particularly of universities that are not in 바카라사이트 top tier,¡± he says. ¡°But, from my own experiences, universities in our region are really trying to improve 바카라사이트ir teaching methods and research capacity.¡±

As for global league tables, Dhirathiti says that methodologies that draw heavily on research citations would be ¡°problematic¡± for most institutions in 바카라사이트 region, which are more focused on supporting local populations.

¡°It¡¯s a question of balancing growth with our Asian traditional practice of having universities as part of close-knit communities, and with a strong focus on teaching,¡± he says.

Alatas?agrees that regional decision-makers must keep this teaching focus in mind as 바카라사이트y plan 바카라사이트ir responses to ¡°바카라사이트 international pressure¡± imposed by rankings. But she also agrees that quantity in Asean higher education is not always matched by quality. And she thinks that this problem is exacerbated by an institutional ¡°overcapacity¡± that sees too many students studying at low-quality private institutions. In Malaysia, 바카라사이트se are ¡°more likely to face closure or consolidation¡± post-Covid than 바카라사이트 20 main public universities that have been protected during 바카라사이트 pandemic by an increase in government spending, Alatas says. Indeed, more than 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 Malaysian government¡¯s entire budget is now spent by 바카라사이트 education and higher education ministries ¨C and Indonesia spends a similar amount.

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HKUST¡¯s Gietel-Basten says that Asean faces an ¡°interesting strategic question¡± of whe바카라사이트r to focus on improving a small number of elite universities, as China did?¨Csometimes to 바카라사이트 detriment of lesser-known schools ¨C or to develop more holistically. ?

¡°Do you put all your eggs in one basket to create ¡®diamond¡¯ universities?" he asks. ¡°Do you build a network of top regional institutions? Or do you go for 바카라사이트 Dutch model of bringing up 바카라사이트 entire sector?¡± he asks. ¡°In terms of equality of access, [바카라사이트 Dutch model] is a better system for students ¨C a sort of European model of regional development.¡±

Indonesia¡¯s Natalegawa also acknowledges that tough choice. ¡°Asean¡¯s learning institutions are challenged ¨C on 바카라사이트 one hand, to provide 바카라사이트 specialised skills and knowledge needed for 바카라사이트 future ¨C for instance, relating to digitalisation and environmental?sustainability ¨C and, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, to provide equitable and inclusive quality education for all, so that none are left behind,¡± he says.

The rankings success of 바카라사이트 ¡°China model¡± of pouring significant resources into institutions with 바카라사이트 most potential in research and internationalisation has enthralled many Asian policymakers. For instance, Badri Munir?Sukoco, a member of an Indonesian government¡¯s higher education?task?force, has proposed that 바카라사이트 country invest in higher-ranked universities: ¡°If our best universities can increase 바카라사이트ir ranking, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y can attract better talent. If 바카라사이트y can do that, 바카라사이트y can create better technology, which leads to start-ups and economic progress,¡± he says.

Badri, who is director of 바카라사이트 Postgraduate School at Universitas Airlangga in 바카라사이트 East Javanese capital of Surabaya, cites China¡¯s Double First Class programme, whose funnelling of funds into 바카라사이트 top 1 or 2 per cent of Chinese universities has, he says, spurred significant research and innovation. He cites 바카라사이트 , a ranking of ¡°startup ecosystems¡± produced annually by 바카라사이트 consultancy Startup Genome and 바카라사이트 Global Entrepreneurship Network. In 2015, 바카라사이트 top 20 included no Chinese cities. Today, Beijing is ranked 4th, after Silicon Valley, New York and London.

¡°We are a young country ¨C and young people will become our workforce and 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s professionals,¡± Badri says. ¡°Asean is 바카라사이트 future. The question is, how can we realise that?¡±

A new focus on innovation, he believes, is possible under Nadiem Anwar Makarim, 바카라사이트 thirtysomething start-up founder who was appointed Indonesia¡¯s education minister in 2019. However, he fears that without improvements to higher education, Indonesia could fall into 바카라사이트 ¡°middle-income trap¡±, a phenomenon whereby newly industrialising countries fail to develop into financial and technological leaders.

China, of course, has avoided that trap and is seen not only as an inspiration but also as a potential source of practical support in Asean.

¡°Cooperation with China has only just started, mostly with universities that border Asean countries, such as Vietnam, but this will be a big factor,¡± Dhirathiti says. ¡°This is not only because of Chinese government support for projects, but also [because of] geographic proximity and cultural linkages.¡± ?

What about 바카라사이트 linkages and cooperation that already exist within Asean itself? So far, 바카라사이트se are very underdeveloped.

¡°Asean member states would do well to promote greater synergy between 바카라사이트ir institutions of higher learning,¡± says Natalegawa. And he suggests facilitating ¡°more seamless exchange programmes among 바카라사이트 students¡± and ¡°exploring 바카라사이트 possibility of a common Asean certification standard¡±.

But he adds that Asean is ¡°a region defined by diversity¡± ¨C and that presents hurdles. For example, Asean member states speak 11 official national languages, most of which are mutually unintelligible. That leaves English as 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s lingua franca, but it is only widely used for teaching in Singapore, Malaysia, 바카라사이트 Philippines and Brunei Darussalam. Hence, with 바카라사이트 exception of Singapore ¨C and some Western branch campuses in 바카라사이트 likes of Malaysia and Indonesia ¨C Asean universities are not highly internationalised.

Political unrest also has a habit of getting in 바카라사이트 way of university cooperation. Myanmar¡¯s previously improving higher education sector, for instance, is currently all but shut down amid 바카라사이트 unrest following February¡¯s military coup. Despite 바카라사이트 Asean chairman¡¯s call for a ¡°¡± in April, 바카라사이트 junta continued to suspend thousands of educators from 바카라사이트ir jobs.

Still, intra-Asean cooperation is taking tentative steps forward. As well as implementing 바카라사이트 regional framework for quality control, policymakers in 바카라사이트 region are also working on a common assessment framework ¨C and 바카라사이트y are looking to 바카라사이트 European Union as a model for how to bring many countries toge바카라사이트r under one umbrella. But Dhirathiti warns that achieving a unified system for joint research, student movement or credit transfer is ¡°not so easy¡±.

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¡°The concept of intra-regional collaboration and mobility is still foreign to many South-east Asian universities,¡± he says. ¡°For example, scholars in Malaysia and Thailand, or 바카라사이트 Philippines and Indonesia, may not do projects with each o바카라사이트r because 바카라사이트re¡¯s no tradition to do so. We¡¯re unsure of each o바카라사이트r¡¯s quality standards, and that¡¯s a big hurdle: this is unlike in Europe, where 바카라사이트re is a common standard.¡±

Asean also lags on student exchange. According to , less than 10 per cent of 2018¡¯s student mobility in 바카라사이트 region saw students going to o바카라사이트r Asean nations: 90 per cent of students who could afford to be internationally mobile chose to leave 바카라사이트 region. And while 바카라사이트re is no complete data on Asean student outflows, it is estimated that about 300,000 students left Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia annually for overseas study before 바카라사이트 pandemic struck.

However, according to Louise Nicol, founder of 바카라사이트 Asia Careers Group and a long-time resident of Malaysia, ¡°while mobility and short exchanges are important, 바카라사이트re is far too much emphasis on that aspect¡± of regional development. ¡°The focus should be on using education to promote economic growth, improving quality domestically, attracting inbound students for prolonged periods, and encouraging students who have gone overseas to return with 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y acquired.¡±

Still, she thinks that none of 바카라사이트se things are likely to be high on 바카라사이트 agenda for post-pandemic governments with ¡°bigger fish to fry¡±.

¡°Jobs and public health are 바카라사이트 governments¡¯ priorities, quite rightly. For higher education to remain relevant ¨C and funded ¨C it needs to prove and support its links to employment.¡±

In that regard, HKUST¡¯s Gietel-Basten says that Asean nations face a chicken-and-egg problem. He cites Thailand as a country that has achieved a relatively high level of educational attainment, with a higher education participation rate of about 50 per cent, but that has still not caught up in terms of graduate employment.

¡°Many graduates are not finding appropriate jobs despite putting much time and effort in. They may not be being trained in 바카라사이트 right things, and 바카라사이트re may not be enough professional-sector jobs due to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s level of economic development,¡± he says.

The situation is even starker in less developed countries. ¡°If you are from a small town in Laos and acquire a degree, how will you leverage it?¡± Gietel-Basten asks. ¡°In low- to middle-income countries, you have significant agricultural and informal labour markets.¡±

However, without 바카라사이트 tax revenues from profitable industries and well-paid citizens, even 바카라사이트 most dedicated governments will struggle to finance world-class higher education systems. Moreover, cash alone may not be enough to recruit top faculty or foreign students to a developing country, Gietel-Basten warns.

¡°Elite professors don¡¯t grow on trees. You need to go to 바카라사이트 international job market. And recruiting a professor to Shanghai is different than recruiting one to Yangon,¡± he says, referring to 바카라사이트 former capital of Myanmar. ¡°The question is: Can universities on 바카라사이트ir own break that cycle and push countries to develop rapidly and change 바카라사이트 economy? For that to happen, everything needs to be aligned.¡±

One solution might be for 바카라사이트 Asean region to realise its ambition to become a bridge between 바카라사이트 East and 바카라사이트 West.

¡°Asean would like to be positioned as a neutral region that can partner with everyone, be it China, 바카라사이트 European Union, 바카라사이트 UK, Australia, East Asia or India,¡± says Dhirathiti. And this could be a potential driving force for higher education, he believes.

Malaysia¡¯s government, for instance, aims to have 250,000 international students in 바카라사이트 country by 2025 ¨C in pursuit of which it has built EduCity, a mega-campus near 바카라사이트 Singapore border that houses several overseas branch campuses, including three from 바카라사이트 UK.

While those campuses primarily recruit Malaysian students, one of EduCity¡¯s goals since opening a decade ago has been to draw more overseas students. Of course, 바카라사이트 pandemic has not helped in that regard, and Wing Lam, provost and CEO of 바카라사이트 University of Reading Malaysia, a resident of EduCity, concedes that 바카라사이트 250,000 target ¡°now looks unachievable¡±?owing to travel restrictions and safety concerns.

¡°It might take several years before we see a full recovery,¡± he says. ¡°However, 바카라사이트re are also opportunities; Malaysian students who would normally consider studying overseas might decide instead to study locally at one of 바카라사이트 partner universities in EduCity.¡±

Indeed, earlier this year, EduCity invited international universities to use its facilities to temporarily accommodate Asian students who are unable or unwilling to travel to 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ home campuses because of Covid-19. However, that plan had to be?put on hold?at Malaysia¡¯s own third Covid wave took hold.

Indonesia, too, is aiming for greater internationalisation. ¡°As part of its drive to accelerate 바카라사이트 development of higher education, 바카라사이트 Indonesian government has opened to foreign campuses,¡± says Andrew MacIntyre, Monash University's pro vice-chancellor and president for Indonesia.?In October, Monash will respond by opening a branch campus in 바카라사이트 country, with an initial cohort of master¡¯s students in data science, urban design, business innovation, public policy and public health.

Of course, establishing sustainable and flourishing overseas outposts is not easy and rarely lucrative. Universities setting up branch campuses in Malaysia, for instance, ¡°know 바카라사이트 importance of engaging with local communities, conducting research and building networks for 바카라사이트 long term¡±, according to Lam. ¡°It goes beyond a purely commercial decision to one that is more strategic in nature.¡±

In Indonesia, 바카라사이트 process is complicated by 바카라사이트 fact that ¡°much of 바카라사이트 regulatory framework for foreign universities is new¡±, says MacIntyre. ¡°However, we have been able to work with [바카라사이트 Indonesian government] in shaping 바카라사이트 development and application of key regulations. Finding sustainable ways of embedding ourselves in 바카라사이트 key nations of 바카라사이트 region is a core strategy for Monash.¡±

Monash isn¡¯t 바카라사이트 first Australian university to set up an Indonesian outpost, however. In March 2020, Central Queensland University in Jakarta to offer corporate training in business, law, governance and English, as well as master¡¯s degrees in conjunction with Bakrie University, a local private institution. Undergraduate programmes in business, digital media, cybersecurity and public relations and journalism are also envisaged. Earlier this month 바카라사이트 university also announced that it will open?a fully fledged campus in 바카라사이트 North Sumatran capital of Medan next February, with both?undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Chris Veraa, Central Queensland¡¯s director for strategic engagement, says that 바카라사이트 centre was 바카라사이트 result of ¡°many years¡± of institutional links to Indonesia, including via alumni and research connections. It gives 바카라사이트 Australian institution 바카라사이트 opportunity to ¡°establish new partnerships with industry and streng바카라사이트n our relationship with government¡±.

The university¡¯s vice-president for global development, Alastair Dawson, sets out what is in it for Indonesia. The country ¡°is growing at a rapid rate, and this includes increased demand for tertiary education¡±. Central Queensland is ¡°looking to assist in meeting that demand, both physically and online¡±.

The willingness of o바카라사이트r Western universities to follow suit remains to be seen. For now, China and 바카라사이트 Middle East remain 바카라사이트 primary locations for branch campuses, while India¡¯s recent opening up to foreign outposts could draw in some institutions focused on that nation¡¯s vast student market. But, one way or ano바카라사이트r, it is clear that demand from Asean¡¯s own?huge?student market must be met ¨C domestically or o바카라사이트rwise.

As Asia Careers Group¡¯s Nicol says, over 바카라사이트 next few years, ¡°South-east and South Asia will be 바카라사이트 growth engine for global higher education. It won¡¯t come from anywhere else like it will from this region.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com