The private sector's role in development and partnerships with the private sector are critical topics. This is a worthy focus for subsequent conferences. Good supportive government policies are necessary for development, and bad policies waste valuable resources. Higher education has played and should play an important role as a set of resources to support development and implementation of good policies. The importance of mutual respect and collegiality when working with governmental, political and academic officials in a country was reiterated by multiple panelists.
Sustainability is critical.
Long-term partnerships can support sustainable results. Undergraduate as well as graduate students are important agents of development, and programs should include them as well. Examples include university programs for health care professional and teachers. Education for the 21st Century is higher education's greatest challenge, worldwide. Helping nations and their peoples grow into the information age, a new global economic order and healthy democracies are among the key issues.