New Challenges for Higher Education in the XXI Century

The Higher Education Research Group (HERG)

cordially invites you to a

Lecture by

JAMIL SALMI

Global Tertiary Education Expert

Emerging economies face significant new challenges in the global environment, affecting not only the shape and mode of operation but also the purpose of their higher education system. Among the most critical dimensions of change are the convergent impacts of economic globalization, the increasing importance of knowledge as a main driver of growth, and the information and communication revolution.

These new challenges have created both opportunities and threats. On the positive side, the role of higher education in the construction of knowledge economies and democratic societies is now more influential than ever. At the same time, most developing and transition countries continue to wrestle with difficulties produced by inadequate responses to long-standing challenges faced by their higher education system. 

In this context, the presentation will focus on the transformation of higher education institutions, curricula and pedagogical practices and the role of higher education in building up the capacity of emerging nations to participate in the global knowledge economy.

JAMIL SALMI is a global tertiary education expert providing policy advice and consulting services to governments, universities, professional associations, multilateral banks and bilateral cooperation agencies.  Until January 2012, he was the World Bank’s tertiary education coordinator.  He wrote the first World Bank policy paper on higher education reform in 1994 and was the principal author of the Bank’s 2002 Tertiary Education Strategy entitled “Constructing Knowledge Societies:  New Challenges for Tertiary Education”.  In the past twenty years, Dr. Salmi has provided advice on tertiary education development, financing reforms and strategic planning to governments and university leaders in more than 80 countries all over the world.