Higher education, democracy, and development: Implications for Newly Industrialized Countries

Abstract

ABSTP~Cr: Universities are central institutions in modern societies, providing education, research, and communication of scientific information needed by technologically based societies. The focus of this essay is on the role of universities in the emerging economies of the Newly Industrializing Countries (NIC) of the Pacific Rim, although this discussion has relevance for all countries seeking to enter the ranks of the industrialized nations. Universities in the NICs are especially important because they are the windows through which modern science enters society. Academic institutions have also served to provide an important critical voice to emerging democracies because their faculties often contribute to public debates and discussions. The roles of faculty and students in the development of the NICs is also examined in this essay.

Social Media Use and Student Politics in Ugandan Universities

“…In terms of Altbach, student politics is about the public expression of new ideas, about shaping public debate on a topic (for example, the nuclear arms race and the Vietnam War in the 1960s, disinvestment from apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, or women's rights and global warming in the 1990s and 2000s). As a result, it is often accomplished through publications, public speaking, campaigning, the use of social media, and finally, demonstrations (Altbach, 1992). Debates on contentious matters have always been open to student participation in Uganda universities.…”

Evolution of Universities and Government Policy: the case of South Korea

“…In the case of East Asian catch-up countries, it is very difficult to find evidence that university research itself directly contributed to their economic catch-up (Altbach, 1989). Mazzoleni and Nelson (2007) also maintain that the important contribution to catch-up has been the result of the application of knowledge or skills of technical labour in the field of engineering and applied research rather than directly from basic academic research.…”

“…As academic research capacity increases, public R&D funds are invested in the 'strategic' research areas. For example, in the case of Singapore, the government identified several areas such as biotechnology, electrical engineering, computer science and financial management to be supported for its survival, and invested heavily on research in these areas as well as on the training of human resources (Altbach, 1989).…”

Are scientific capacities and industrial funding critical for universities' knowledgetransfer activities? - A case study of South Korea

“…Firstly, among the newly industrialising countries in Asia, Korean academic society would seem to have the academic system most significantly based both on indigenous language (i.e. Korean) and on English (Altbach 1989). Accordingly, in measuring scientific capacity, we cannot exclude the number of domestic publications.…”