Education

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 14 nov 2013

At present there is interconnectedness and collaboration between the academics at the global level but there are disparities in higher education around the world. To understand the social and institutional practices that assisted in evolution of the academic connections it is important to explore the history of British education and its influence across the globe that dates back to the time of the British Empire. With large number of colonies of the empire most early universities were started by settlers for their own specific purpose. As the colonies further grew these institutions became more structured and started building academic partnerships with British institutions and other colonial institutions. This process also established personal academic networks and recommendation system for academic hiring and collaboration between academia. Later political developments in Europe and weakening of the empire created new dynamics in these connections. In 1960s nationalization led to a phase of consolidation in the British education. But in 1990s came another shift towards marketization of educational structures and new governance model that once again revitalized the global connectedness of the British education. The article by Tamson Pietsch of Brunel University in UK explains in detail the evolution of British education's personal and institutional connections and networks, the practices that constitute 'internationalization' and the transformed role of Association of Commonwealth Universities. Read on...

University World News: Empire and higher education internationalisation
Author: Tamson Pietsch

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 09 nov 2013

Technology is used in education to facilitate and enhance learning and to equip students with 21st century skills. It is also used to expand education to reach remote, disadvantaged and underprivileged areas of the world. The experiment and efforts are underway in Kenyan schools where e-readers and tablets are being used to provide children with engaging digital content. The project named 'eLimu' was initiated by two Kenyan women, Nivi Mukherjee and Marie Githinji, and utilizes local content and curriculum with a focus on Kenyan youth. The education system in Africa is mired with multiple problems and UNESCO estimates 38% illiteracy ratings among adults and only an average 8-9 years spent in school. To overcome these issues a bigger strategy is required to educate and empower the African population and improve regional economies. Other technological efforts and projects in African education are - Worldreader; Read and Prosper; eKitabu. Read on...

Al Jazeera: A technology revolution in Kenya's schools
Author: Philippa H. Stewart

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 07 nov 2013

There is a direct relationship between education system and industry. What is taught in classrooms is often translated and reflected into the workplace environment. Over the years education has been designed to provide students the skills and competencies based on what the world of work required. Industrial-age mindset had a strong imprint on education design process. This might not be totally relevant in the present times. The education system must evolve together with the current work environment. The recent Gallup survey of 18-35 year olds in US found a direct relationship between the 21st century skills imparted in schools and the quality of work (twice as likely as their peers). This higher quality of work further translates into higher level of work satisfaction. Education systems across the world should understand and evaluate the latest skills required to survive in the present work environment and plan and implement policies that align and adapt to these changes. Then only there would be a high quality, productive, efficient and satisfied workforce. Read on...

BD Live: Workplace skills are learnt in classrooms
Author: Arthur Goldstuck

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 07 nov 2013

There are diverse opinions regarding the whys and hows of entrepreneurship education. But one thing that can be considered by those who value entrepreneruship is to provide a creative ecosystem that cultivates entrepreneurial mindset and facilitates new venture development. This could also be possible outside the walls of the classroom with participation from both academia and industry. According to enrepreneurial researcher, Norris Krueger, there are three ingredients to train and develop entrepreneurial thinking - supportive network, outstanding mentors and personal reflection. Global entrepreneurial events, forums, conferences etc that bring entrepreneurs, industry experts and academics together can be a good tool to initiate entrepreneurial thinking among students and would be entrepreneurs. Hands-on learning can be considered as an essential element of entrepreneurship education and business schools should provide support services for planning, creation and development of new ventures. Read on...

Businessweek: To Teach Entrepreneurship, Get Out of the Classroom
Author: Matt Symonds

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 31 oct 2013

PASET (Partnership in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology) is created by World Bank to facilitate and promote collaboration, covering the whole spectrum of education (higher education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), research and innovation in applied sciences), between Sub-Saharan African countries, emerging nations (China, Korea, India and Brazil) and Japan. Recently a workshop was held in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, to formulate the nature of engagements between the partnering countries. Most emerging economies have already made investments in Africa and they are also assisting in the development and betterment of the local human resources. The workshop was intended to identify and formalize the engagement roadmap based on the expertise of the partner nations. The engagements proposed by African countries include following areas - faculty development; agricultural training and research; university-industry linkages; use of ICT; TVET instructors; infrastructural development. While the partner's side include expertise in the following specific fields - development in agriculture and training of TVET instructors from China; use of ICT education by Korea; institutional and industry collaboration by India; postgraduate training and research by Brazil. This World Bank facilitated partnership is expected to create unique mutually beneficial relationships between African and partner countries for better future. Read on...

University World News: PASET - A World Bank initiative for skills development
Author: Goolam Mohamedbhai

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 12 oct 2013

Students have natural entrepreneurial instincts and traits. While pursuing education they explore and participate in mini entrepreneurial activities. University education and environment can create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that hones and further these traits and skills and provide them with tools and opportunities to self-direct their education and experiment with their ideas. Educational institutions can become entrepreneurship facilitators by providing early stage services to entrepreneurial ideas of students and ensure that these ideas are prototyped and tested for commercial viability and business potential before letting student entrepreneurs fully venture into the market. Read on...

The Globe and Mail: Why students are natural entrepreneurs
Author: Zachary Strong

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 18 sep 2013

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) have the potential to revolutionize higher education but there are issues and challenges that have to be considered. According to Professor Martin Weller of The Open University in UK, the business model for MOOCs is presently vague, to keep the courses free is difficult and to replicate the human support provided in traditional higher education is quite challenging. Moreover recent data about MOOCs show that completion rates are very low, having an average of 10% and people who are successful in learning are those who already have a substantial learning experience. On the positive side MOOCs can play an important role in fulfilling the higher education demands of developing countries with the rapidly expanding higher learning population. Professor Weller recommends a hybrid model for MOOCs in which they are complimentary to traditional higher education. The length of traditional degree could be shortened by combining MOOC courses. Moreover MOOCs can also become a marketing tool to encourage students to pursue higher education. Read on...

The Conversation: MOOCs and the battle to open up higher education
Author: Martin Weller

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 13 jul 2013

'Development Education' and 'Global Citizenship' are becoming the important elements of the interconnected world of today. Internet and associated technologies have brought the global knowledge and concepts at the fingertips. Global and local are seamlessly intertwined into each other and one is capable of influencing the other with the speed that was unimaginable before. Considering these aspects of the environment it is essential for the education systems of the nations to adapt to these global realities and impart knowledge and skills to students to survive and succeed in the future and make positive contribution both locally and globally. To achieve global peace and prosperity, understanding and commitment to social justice and equality is important. Curriculum should be designed to sensitize students with these elements and make them better global citizens. Read on...

Jakarta Post: Development education and global citizenship
Author: Jennie S. Bev

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 jul 2013

US and UK recently announced an educational collaboration and cooperation program 'UK-US Global Innovation Initiative' that intends to encourage student and faculty mobility and strengthen higher education partnerships between the two countries and other global partners. The program will focus on imparting skills to British and American students to succeed and effectively contribute in the global economy. Read on...

Relocate Magazine: UK and US higher education sectors unite to encourage global innovation and mobility
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 05 jul 2013

Professor Daphne Koller of Stanford University explains how online education can transform the way education is accessed in parts of the world that lack physical educational infrastructure. According to UNESCO, in Sub Saharan Africa only 6% students are enrolled in higher education while in North America and Western Europe it is 72%. Most developing countries have higher education enrollment between 20% to 40%. This disparity in enrollment can be reduced by providing online education that can be accessed by a computer and an internet connection. MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses) are already providing anytime & anywhere collaborative learning environment to people from diverse backgrounds. According to Ms. Koller, language barrier is one of the biggest challenge that online education faces as most of the instruction is in english and to tap the large non-english speaking market the courses have to be translated into the local languages. Read on...

CNN: How online education can create a 'global classroom'
Author: Steven Perlberg

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