EDUCATION

Should Universities contribute to the Development of a Country?



Should Universities contribute to the Development of a Country?

Introduction

The importance of university education as a driver for economic growth and social well-being has been widely recognized, particularly in the knowledge economy. Its centrality to international development is also universally accepted. Indeed, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include universal education as a basic human right because it is transforming and empowering, and a means for accessing immense economic, social, political and other benefits. In the past decade, universities have been immersed in sweeping transformation processes in order to face the new challenges of more distributed nature of research, innovation and knowledge production. As key actors in innovation systems and the production and dissemination of knowledge, universities are said to be at the heart of any country's policy agenda. Universities have a crucial role in meeting the needs of the knowledge society and achieving equity and social justice in the world. In this context, universities are increasingly questioned concerning their fitness for addressing the challenges of fast moving social, technological and business developments (King 2007, pp. 377-391).

Discussion

University education and training, often called 'professional development' or 'capacity building' lies at the heart of most international development initiatives, whether supported through official development assistance (ODA), or by Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), such as church groups. The goal of assuring sustainability of development results requires building the capacities of local actors and organizations to manage development without ongoing technical assistance. Thus, education, broadly defined, is central to international development assistance, and represents a substantial financial and technical input into the process, in every sector from agriculture to community development. Surprisingly, relatively little attention is paid to understanding the salient factors that planners, educators, trainers and technical experts need to consider when engaging in educating for development, despite an estimated annual investment of over $ 100 billion annually in international development.

Developments contributed by universities

Universities contribute to and increase innovation; develop research priorities; transfer knowledge with economic and social value; create innovations for companies and spin offs; access of small businesses to research; technological innovation and sustainability; how to become a knowledge society; help the region dramatically improve the technological level of the industry; help change the economic paradigm of the country from a low wages one to an added value one based on knowledge; explain the value of research for the benefit of society; centre of research and innovation; link economy - innovation (Habermas 1987, pp. 3-22). Universities also contribute to welfare; increase the competitiveness of our economy and by such a way to help the solution of the most fundamental problems (unemployment, inferior pensions, inadequate health care etc.); sustainable economic growth; support the development of different industries; support to sustainable economy and society; increase economic prosperity; increase public understanding about the role of universities for future welfare and economic development; contribute to economic growth and development of the region; contribute to entrepreneurship; be able to respond to the changing market ...