Putting Higher Education to Work: Skills and Research for Growth in East Asia (World Bank East Asia and Pacific Regional Report)

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Impressive gains have been made in expanding access to higher education in East Asia over the past few decades, and the significance of higher education is expected to increase as developing economies face the challenge of sustaining growth in a competitive environment. Still, much work needs to be done if higher education is to realize its full potential to produce the skills and research needed for innovation and growth. “Disconnects” between higher education institutions and the skills and research users and providers they interact with—firms, research institutes, earlier education institutions, and other skill providers—have undermined the functioning of the subsector. In order for higher education institutions to be more responsive to the labor market, they should be better aligned with what employers and employees need and better connected among themselves and other skills providers. They also require stronger linkages with firms and other research providers to deliver research that can enhance innovation and productivity. Enacting policy reforms in the areas of financing, public sector management, and stewardship of the entire system will help the region achieve better skills and research outcomes and, ultimately, growth. Putting Higher Education to Work: Skills and Research for Growth in East Asia takes an in-depth and comprehensive look at higher education in East Asia—how it has changed, how it will continue to evolve, and how it can be improved. Using innovative firm surveys and the latest available evidence from the region, the authors identify functional skills needed for competitiveness and productivity, and look at how higher education systems can produce the type of skills and kind of commercially applicable research that will drive growth. Though focusedon the developing countries in East Asia, the book’s methodologies, messages, and careful guidance will be of interest and value to researchers and policy makers in all regions where higher education and training are important issues. This book is the first title in the East Asia and Pacific Regional Report Series, a series that presents analyses of issues relevant to the region, drawing on the global knowledge and experience of the World Bank and its partners. This series aims to inform public discussion, policy formulation, and development practitioners’ actions, and thereby turn challenges into opportunities.