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Trends in International HigherEducation and Regionalism:
Issues and Challenges
for Malaysia
Professor Dr. Morshidi Sirat
Director
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN),Penang, MALAYSIA

National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)

Introduction and Context• Increasing interest on IHE• In relation to Asia: “Asia is Hot”, “AsianCentury”• About comparative analysis of IHE issues ofcommon concerns
 HE that transcends national borders (flows ofhuman resources) (most visible form of IHE)
 HE framework that prepares graduates forinterconnected world
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)

Emerging Issues• Rise of regionalism; inter-regionalism(Europe/Asia) connected with HE (forwhat purpose?)• Shift from old to new regionalism• Economic regionalism a precursor toregionalism in HE (for example, EU)

National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)

Implications for Countries in Asia
• Different reactions and responses to
IHE and arguments for regionalist
approach to development of HE• What does EU has that we do not havein Asia?
• Regionalism in Asia: Limitations andpossibilities of using HE?

National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)

Objectives of Presentation• Outline salient trends in IHE• Highlight tendency towards regionalism• Assess opportunities and challenges toregionalism in HE• Discuss Malaysia’s (re) positioning inrelation to opportunities and challenges• Way Forward

National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)Premise• Idea of regional cooperation and integration
is not new in Asia (Mahathir’s EAEC is justone of the many)• In view of increasing regionalism in theworld in HE), what about using HE as avehicle for constructing regionalism in Asia
(Asian Higher Education Area?)• There are opportunities for sharing
resources, a common framework etc.
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)Global Trends in HE• Demographics
 Increase in global demands: 97 million (2000)
to 263 million (2025)

 China and India (over half of the global
demand by 2025)
 Increase in transnational students: 1.7 million(2000) to more than 8 million (2025)

National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)Global Trends in HE• Alternative delivery systems• Increasing regionalism and interregionalism• Increasingly competitive environment• Quality assurance• Consumer awareness• Lifelong learning/Open learning
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)Trends in IHE• Increase student mobility; IHE is expanding(estimates varies)• Nature of student mobility is changing awayfrom conventional to commoditized models(market-driven HE system)• Relative composition of sending andreceiving countries has changed some what

• Ascent of Asia and shift to Asia (dominantconsumer/producer)
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)

Reasons for Expansion (supply-side)• Among industrialized countries: to provide theirstudents with global consciousness,experience with other countries in order tocompete globally (for example the EU)• Among universities in mainly English-Speaking
destination countries: result of gov’t
intervention and policy, regulating domestic
tuition fees, deregulation of international tuition
fees
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)

Reasons for Expansion (demand-side)• Excess demand within fast-growing
developing countries (massification,national wealth, income)• Capacity constraints in these countries(gov’t policies)• Status of foreign degree (highly soughtafter)
National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN)