The Crisis of Higher Education in the Era of Neoliberal Globalization

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 127-137
Author(s):  
Harry Targ

Abstract This article explores some of the literature on the political economy of higher education. It suggests growing contradictions between the need for available funds and competition for students, research dollars, and new educational “products,” such as online education. It refers to that literature that raises contradictions between the global “market” for students and tuition fees. And it also raises issues of the quality of education, particularly as non-job-oriented programs are dismantled. Purdue University, a land-grant public university, is suggested as one example of these contradictions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-117
Author(s):  
Adnan ElAmine

This paper uses a model of governance in higher education, called the political model, that explains the role of universities as agencies of control and socialization, with a resulting repercussion on the quality of education. It compares this model with common models such as the academic, Napoleonic, market-oriented and managerial. It undertakes a review of ten published cases studies, each dealing with the oldest public universities in ten Arab countries, using a historical approach, from their inception until 2016. Among the ten public universities, nine fall into the category of the political model, while the tenth represents the Napoleonic model. The discussion opens the field for further research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nizar Mohammad Alsharari

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the internationalization market of higher education (HE) globally and HE field. It examines the internationalization status of HE in Jordan as influenced by institutional perspectives as an example from developing countries. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a quantitative research design that includes a statistical and SWOT analysis of HE in Jordan. Data were collected from different courses: documents and archival records, websites analysis, surveys, interviews with professors and administrators, and an SWOT analysis as well as TOWS matrix. The latter has been constructed as a picture of internationalized education in the Jordan that can be used as a basis for decision making and strategies for higher education institutions (HEIs). Findings The study findings reveal that it is important for Jordan to endorse itself as an “education hub” in the Middle East and to educate its community to the level of skills required by globalization. The challenges of internationalizing HE are revealed by the SWOT analysis and TOWS matrix that highlight a wide range of opportunities and strengths that encourages the Jordan HE system to accelerate internationalization. The opportunities include overall improvement in the quality of education, the diffusion of technology and creating a globally competent workforce. The internationalization status in Jordan HE is still in its embryonic stage. The HE should take serious steps toward the internationalization including admission of international students, foreign postgraduate students, international accreditation, global ranking, online education and smart education. These steps will help the universities leaders to improve their universities position internationally and financially. Research limitations/implications The findings reveal implications for HE policy and strategy in the development of internationalized HE in the Jordan. The study shows how SWOT analysis and TOWS matrix can provide a solid platform against which particular case studies can be measured in terms of opportunities for and challenges of development. It also provides institutional perspectives with practical implications, focusing on some of the critical issues in this developing field for HE policy and strategy alike. A major threat to the Jordan progress in developing its HE sector identified in this study is external accreditation being seen as a signal of high quality, when more realistic standards are perhaps more relevant to the local population. Originality/value The paper is one of the very few studies in the area of the internationalization of HE in the Jordan that can contribute to the sustainability of the international dimension of HEIs. The opportunities and threats recognized in this paper can inform strategy for more balanced development of the Jordan’s internationalized HE, and for raising the quality of education overall.


2020 ◽  
Vol 185 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 167-177
Author(s):  
Olga Kolomiets ◽  
◽  
Tatijana Litvinova ◽  

Introduction. the essence of the situation in education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the world is quite complex: due to the large number of restrictions in some countries, education is conducted completely remotely or hybrid. In the period of 2020, medical university students were forced to practice in hospitals in the context of the pandemic, helping local medical staff, which helped to fill the shortage of specialists. The quality of education will inexorably fall due to low involvement in remote education as well as many distractions which have already proven many researchers. Universities were not ready for mass digitalization due to government restrictions and social distancing, so the quality of material transfer cannot match the classical education. The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of the pandemic COVID-19 on the medical education market and its stakeholders. Results. Universities were not ready for the transition to online (distance) education, as evidenced by the decline in the quality of education, based on surveys of the faculty of some universities. As a result, on the one hand, you can get higher education online while in your country, on the other hand, the quality of education falls without an adequately commensurate practical part (for example, medical education cannot be of high quality when it is taught online). Over time, only the year 2025 is expected to surge technologies to improve online education and the full transfer of many universities to provide distance learning; it is a good chance to get an education to those who previously could not obtain it, including for economic reasons. Conclusion. The global COVID-19 pandemic has become a catalyst for global processes of digital transformation in all spheres of life. In such circumstances, the role of digital technologies in education has become extremely important. Among the many technological advantages, their ability to protect human lives and at the same time ensure the implementation of the educational process remained almost unnoticed. Current situation has accelerated the mass transition to the use of digital technologies, including digitalization of education, its technologization and standardization.


2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
John E Sener

Online higher education has attained scale and is poised to take the next step in its growth. Although significant obstacles to a full scale adoption of online education remain, we will see full scale adoption of online higher education within the next five to ten years. Practically all higher education students will experience online education in some form during their collegiate career, and college students will be able to take an online or blended degree programs and certificates in almost any subject. Full scale online education will occur as the result of compounded growth, increased familiarity and acceptance, various models of scalability, and possible ‘wildcards’ which may accelerate growth. Online education will also attain full scale by becoming fully integrated into mainstream education. This transformation is necessary for online learning to reach its potential to improve the quality of education.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
A. V. Dozhdikov

This article critically examines the result obtained by researchers at the Higher School of Economics in relation to the results of the experiment to assess the quality of online learning. It is noted that the thesis about the possibility of “complete replacement of traditional forms of education with online education without loss of quality” is distorted in the media, and the conclusions are based on insufficient data. To clarify the conditions of the transition and implementation of online technologies, it is proposed to hold a large-scale experiment with a randomly selection mechanisms for participants of training courses, instructors, disciplines (modules). The article focuses on the fact that while the impact of online education on the psychology and physiology of students has not been sufficiently studied, there is a risk of deteriorating health, as well as a drop in the quality of education. It is proposed to develop temporary standards limiting the maximum time of work online for different categories of students and teachers.The risks of «financial bubbles» in the online education market due to the rush demand after the COVID-19 pandemic for government agencies and private businesses has been identified. The conclusion is made about the priority development of short-term online courses related to the development of rather narrow and applied competencies in demand by the modern information society, about the possible success of online technologies in case of obtaining a “second higher” education and improving qualifications. High-quality online systems in the field of higher education require serious investments in research and development in the field of psychology and pedagogy of education, the use of medical control tools. In the medium term, the benefits of this research, conducted by medical scientists, educators and psychologists, will be used by organizations on the “second wave” of interest to online learning. From an organizational point of view, the correct “rotation” of the contingent of students, when part of the time they study full-time, and part of the time they learn online with computers / tablets and high-quality Internet access, will not lead to a deterioration in the quality of education, but will significantly reduce the spread of the pandemic.


2020 ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Yu. M. Tsygalov

The forced work of Russian universities remotely in the context of the pandemic (COVID-19) has generated a lot of discussion about the benefits of the new form of education. The first results were summed up and reports were presented, the materials of which showed that the main goal of online education — the prevention of the spread of infection, - has been achieved. Against this background, proposals and publications have appeared substantiating the effectiveness of the massive introduction of distance learning in Russia, including in higher education. However, the assessment of such training by the population and students in publications and in social networks was predominantly negative and showed that the number of emerging problems exceeds the possible benefits of the new educational technology. Based on the analysis of the materials of publications and personal experience of teaching online, the potential benefits and problems of distance learning in higher education in Russia are considered. It is proposed to consider the effects separately for the suppliers of new technology (government, universities) and consumers (students, teachers, society). It is substantiated that the massive introduction of online education allows not only to reduce the negative consequences of epidemics, but also to reduce budgetary funding for universities, optimize the age composition of teachers, and reduce the cost of maintaining educational buildings. However, there will be a leveling / averaging of the quality of education, and responsibility for the quality of training will shift from the state/universities to students. The critical shortcomings of online education are the low degree of readiness of the digital infrastructure, the lack of a mechanism for identifying and monitoring the work of students, information security problems, and the lack of trust in such training of the population. The massive use of online education creates a number of risks for the country, the most critical of which is the destruction of the higher education system and a drop in the effectiveness of personnel training. The consequences of this risk realization are not compensated by any possible budget savings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
A.L. Arefiev ◽  
◽  

In recent years, higher educational institutions of the Baltic countries have become more and more popular among Russian youth wishing to get higher education (or take a certain course of professional training) abroad. The article, covering the period before the onset of the coronavirus epidemic, highlights the education of Russian students in universities in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. It is noted that a significant part of the students from the Russian Federation come from the Russian regions bordering on the Baltic states. The appendix presents the opinions of Russian students about the learning process and the quality of education received in Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian universities.


2021 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
A. V. Loginov ◽  
O. V. Panisheva

Distance learning is currently one of the most topical problems at the intersection of technical and pedagogical disciplines. The widespread introduction of distance learning in secondary and higher education has revealed a significant layer of problems that should be addressed by information technologies specialists, teachers, scientists, psychologists in cooperation with officials. The article discusses the main problems that arose during the transition to distance learning, the solution of which will raise the quality of education to a new level, including after the end of the new type of coronavirus pandemic. The authors highlight the organizational, technical and social problems in the process of organizing distance learning, the totality of which can be considered as a challenge to the education system.


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