We can make higher education equitable and affordable for all

Abstract

Higher education is a cornerstone for sustainable development. It creates new knowledge, teaches specific skills and promotes core values like freedom, tolerance and dignity. Under the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, Target 4.3 states that, by 2030, countries should provide equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and higher education, including university. Achieving this target will facilitate the achievement not only of SDG4 but also of all other SDGs. The higher education sector is very diverse. In addition to wide-ranging traditional degree and advanced degree programmes, there are short courses with a career, vocational or technical focus. While the traditional faceto-face mode of delivery is still dominant, there is now an increasing number of distance and blended programmes. Within countries, higher education institutions vary widely in terms of size, cost, course offerings, procedures, traditions, governance and quality. These differences are amplified by different national policies on admissions criteria and funding.