Read Anywhere and on Any Device!

Subscribe to Read | $0.00

Join today and start reading your favorite books for Free!

Create Free Account

Accelerating Catch-Up: Tertiary Education for Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

World Bank Group

4/5 ( ratings)

Economic growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa have more than doubled in the past decade. This growth mainly stems from the rising prices of commodities and other natural resources. In order to sustain this growth surge in the medium to longer term, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa need to adopt a knowledge intensive development strategy. Existing research has established a relationship running from physical capital accumulation and total factor productivity to growth. Recent increases to the "skills premium" within labor markets indicate that rates of return to education are rising, particularly at the upper educational levels. This has major implications for the growth strategies of many African countries as they seek to open their economies and become export-oriented in a highly contested global market. A more knowledge-intensive approach to development that leverages the growth and employment of activities which add more value and have greater export potential, is emerging as an attractive option for many African countries. Yet Africa's present stock of human capital is comparatively small, and the links between universities and businesses are sparse. The ability to manage the expansion of tertiary enrollments in ways that enhance educational quality, promote the development of technological capabilities, and provide financial sustainability is a prerequisite for nations seeking to join the knowledge economy. Private educational providers--universities, technical institutes, non-resident community colleges, and various forms of distance education--could offer financially viable avenues for enrollment expansion, while public institutions consolidate their recent gains by boosting quality, reinvigorating research, and solidifying graduate programs. In the long run, conventional ways of providing tertiary education may need to be transformed into different delivery models, if larger, financially stable, and increasingly competitive tertiary education systems are to emerge on the African continent.

Language: English

Pages: 180

Format: Paperback

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Release: October 07, 2008

ISBN: 0821377388

ISBN 13: 9780821377383

Accelerating Catch-Up: Tertiary Education for Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

World Bank Group

4/5 ( ratings)

Economic growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa have more than doubled in the past decade. This growth mainly stems from the rising prices of commodities and other natural resources. In order to sustain this growth surge in the medium to longer term, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa need to adopt a knowledge intensive development strategy. Existing research has established a relationship running from physical capital accumulation and total factor productivity to growth. Recent increases to the "skills premium" within labor markets indicate that rates of return to education are rising, particularly at the upper educational levels. This has major implications for the growth strategies of many African countries as they seek to open their economies and become export-oriented in a highly contested global market. A more knowledge-intensive approach to development that leverages the growth and employment of activities which add more value and have greater export potential, is emerging as an attractive option for many African countries. Yet Africa's present stock of human capital is comparatively small, and the links between universities and businesses are sparse. The ability to manage the expansion of tertiary enrollments in ways that enhance educational quality, promote the development of technological capabilities, and provide financial sustainability is a prerequisite for nations seeking to join the knowledge economy. Private educational providers--universities, technical institutes, non-resident community colleges, and various forms of distance education--could offer financially viable avenues for enrollment expansion, while public institutions consolidate their recent gains by boosting quality, reinvigorating research, and solidifying graduate programs. In the long run, conventional ways of providing tertiary education may need to be transformed into different delivery models, if larger, financially stable, and increasingly competitive tertiary education systems are to emerge on the African continent.

Language: English

Pages: 180

Format: Paperback

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Release: October 07, 2008

ISBN: 0821377388

ISBN 13: 9780821377383

More books from World Bank Group

World Development Report 2015: Mind, Society and Behavior

World Development Report 2019: The Changing Nature of Work

3.5/5 ( ratings)

The World Bank Annual Report 2014

3.9/5 ( ratings)

World Development Report: Conflict, Security, and Development

Natural Hazards, Unnatural Disasters: The Economics of Effective Prevention

Atlas of Global Development: A Visual Guide to the World's Greatest Challenges

3.3/5 ( ratings)

A Guide to the World Bank

3.7/5 ( ratings)

Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries

4.2/5 ( ratings)

World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography

4.2/5 ( ratings)

Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis: Disaster Risk Management Series No. 5

4.3/5 ( ratings)

A Global View of Business Insolvency Systems

4.6/5 ( ratings)

Risk and Opportunity: Managing Risk for Development (World Development Report 2014)

3.3/5 ( ratings)

Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict

World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development

4.5/5 ( ratings)

World Development Report: Trading for Development in the Age of Global Value Chains

4.5/5 ( ratings)

Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2018: From World Development Indicators

Inclusive Green Growth: The Pathway to Sustainable Development

Priorities in Health: Disease Control Priorities Companion Volume

Two Dragon Heads: Contrasting Development Paths for Beijing and Shanghai

Myanmar in Transition: Opportunities and Challenges

Rate this book!

Write a review?