The diversification of post-secondary education

Abstract

IIEP initiated a study, in 2010, to analyse issues related to the provision, expansion, financing, and management of institutions offering post-secondary study programmes, including universities. Based on the case studies carried out in Azerbaijan, Chile, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and Nigeria, this paper attempts to provide some insights into the nature of post-secondary education (PSE) in different parts of the world. It begins with a discussion, in Section 2, of the changing perception of the role of higher education, from a theoretical and academic-based endeavour to one of practical and vocational preparation. Sections 3, 4, and 5 attempt to defi ne PSE and diversification, and discuss the reasons for expansion and diversifi ation of the system. Sections 6, 7, and 8 consider different forms of diversification in terms of institutions, study programmes and clientele. Section 9 examines issues related to the financing of PSE, followed by its management in Section 10, and a discussion on employment of PSE graduates in Section 11. Section 12 rounds off the chapter with some concluding observations.