Positioning higher education for the knowledge based economy

2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth St. George
Author(s):  
Dejana Zlatanović ◽  
Verica Babić ◽  
Jelena Nikolić

In a knowledge-based economy, higher education institutions (HEIs) are a key factor in fostering innovation and play a central role in sustainable economic growth and development. Growing complexity of HEIs and their environments requires systemic, i.e. cybernetic approach to innovation. The chapter highlights the importance of introducing a cybernetic framework for innovativeness of higher education institutions by their examination in conceptual framework of organizational cybernetics (OC). The purpose is to demonstrate how viable system model (VSM) as a key methodological tool of OC can help understanding the viability and innovativeness of HEIs. In addition, higher education institutions are investigated in a conceptual framework of VSM through the case of the public higher education institution (HEI) in Serbia. The main contribution of the chapter is related to practical implications of presented framework including the strengths and weaknesses of a VSM application.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari Laine

In a knowledge-driven economy there is a growing need for deeper and more productive interaction between higher education and industry. The full exploitation of knowledge requires strategies, incentives, appropriate systems and strong interaction between the transfer processes and the main processes in higher education. In a knowledge-based economy, knowledge is more likely to be created if there is collaboration on the potential applications. In such a knowledge creation process, the creation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge are carried out in quick succession or even simultaneously. Also, basic research and applied research can no longer be separated. Knowledge creation is, in many cases, achieved through long-term partnerships based on trust, commitment and mutual benefit. This paper explores ways of supporting and creating entrepreneurial activity in higher education. It studies the case of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences in Finland.


2019 ◽  
Vol IV (III) ◽  
pp. 223-233
Author(s):  
Hayat Khan ◽  
N.B. Jumani ◽  
Nawab Gul

The emergence of the global economy has changed the demands of citizenship and employment in the new millennium. The world is shifting from an industrial economy to knowledge based economy. Keeping in view these challenges, 21st century society and work sphere require individuals equipped with 21st century skills. Therefore the present study was designed to examine the implementation of 21st century skills in universities of Pakistan. The aim of the study was to examine the existing programs and practices at the universities and their relation with 21st century skills. Learning and innovation skills, also called 4Cs skills, were taken as 21st century skills in the present study. These skills consist of (i) critical thinking and problem solving, (ii) communication, (iii) collaboration, and (iv) creativity. Findings of the study revealed that these skills were not fully developed in majority of the students in universities.


Management ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-290
Author(s):  
Martyna Wronka

Summary The development of a knowledge-based economy necessitates the search for new methods and tools for enhancing organizational learning processes. In this context, many scholars point to the importance of mentoring as a tool to support individual and organizational learning. The paper is an attempt to answer the question: how mentoring helps to stimulate the process of organizational learning? Therefore, this paper discusses the concept of learning organization, concept of mentoring along with associated concepts, on the basis of which experience result from the process of implementing mentoring at university are pointed out. This objective will be achieved through presentation of the results of the literature study followed by case study on the implementation and realization of mentoring programme at one of the polish universities


Author(s):  
Roxana SARBU

Interdisciplinary academic research is one way to improve education quality via research as this implies scientific development, incorporating high technology into academic processes as well as formulating innovation-driven processes and services. Having these objectives in mind, the current project seeks to act along two major directions: on the one hand, improving the quality of academic research, on the other hand boosting its efficiency and noteworthiness on a world scale. The first vista aims to strengthen academic research capacities, which must be achieved by having education processes meet knowledge-based economy exigencies. From the perspective of this research under discussion, this paper explores the effects of European integration on the quality of Romanian economic higher education in its positioning on the European educational market and the attempts to define its specific profile in the central and eastern-European area. The authors raise questions regarding the roles universities want to play in the future, regarding the awareness towards the needs of the institutions, the needs of the teaching and research staff and, mainly, the needs of the students. On a particularly aggressive market, it becomes necessary that Romanian academic research and higher education on the Academy of Economic Studies should reflect on the first lessons which the new status of the country's European Union membership gives to the Romanian prestigious universities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Mugimu

If Africa is to remain relevant and competitive in today’s knowledge-based economy, it has to rely on higher education institutions (HEIs) as centers of excellence for knowledge production. HEIs nurture and sustain the production of highly-skilled individuals to support Africa’s growing economies. Among all possible ways, this could be achievable through strategic curricula innovation driven by emerging mobile technologies. Consequently, Africa’s HEIs need to embrace the ‘New Normal’ by optimizing online teaching and learning in their pursuit to expand information and communications technology (ICT) literacy as a means to increase students’ opportunities in higher education (HE). However, Africa’s ability to embrace the ‘New Normal’ has been marred by inadequate ICT infrastructures, low connectivity, unreliable power supply, and national budget constraints that may undermine Africa’s HEIs’ potential to augment knowledge production and innovation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Imam Salem

A knowledge-based economy is one of the vital components of modern economies. Growth in most of the economies of the world, and most developed economies in particular, are increasingly based on knowledge. In a knowledge-based economy, economic development is dependent on investments in education, learning and training, among others. Universities are today becoming aware of the essential role that higher education plays in the construction of knowledge-based economies. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has adopted the drive toward a knowledge-based economy through focusing on the higher education sector. Saudi Universities are playing a pivotal role toward the Kingdom's transition into a knowledge-based economy and hence achieving economic growth and development. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the important role that universities play in building a knowledge-based economy through innovation, research commercialization, and technology transfer as economic development policies. The role of universities in building a knowledge-based economy in Saudi Arabia is also investigated. The paper confirms that Saudi universities are considered as a very important entity in the aim for the Saudi economy to achieve sustainable growth and development.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Ronaipe Machado

This paper discusses the relationships between the current situation of professors of higher education institutions in Brazil and the changes that have come about in the Brazilian educational system as it has been affected and guided by neoliberal ideology principles through influence of International Organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF. Concepts like globalization, global governance and neocolonialism in the field of educational policy making achieve strong relevance as one intends to understand and explain the roots that are in the origins of the situation which academic professorate faces in countries like Brazil as well as in many others across the world. As part of this broader world and global context, Brazilian professors have to face similar, and sometimes even tougher challenges, as educational policies regulated by a new educational act have been implemented in the country throughout the last fifteen years. Under the influence of neoliberal ideas, massification and diversification in the higher education system have led to what many scholars call a state of fragmentation of the academic profession, which is characterized by increasing bureaucratization, heavy accountability requirements, inadequate remuneration and insufficient intellectual preparation to meet academic demands. Accountability and university bureaucratization have reduced teachers’ autonomy. The development with the greatest impact on the academic profession is the growing amount of professors with unstable and part-time appointments. As an apparent symptom of the decline of the status of the professoriate, they are paid a low salary to teach a few courses. In such a context, the value of academics is declining and new generations have been unwilling to embrace the academic career. Having well-trained, fairly paid and academically engaged faculty members is as crucial as ever, since countries count on good professors to prepare and form young people to be actively involved in the knowledge-based economy and in the information society.


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