2011年-世界发展银行全球_Higher_Education_in_the_Maldives___An_Evolving_Seascape_70页_40mb

Summary of "Higher Education in the Maldives: An Evolving Seascape" (May 2011)

Core Content

This report provides an analysis of the higher education sector in the Maldives, highlighting its current structure, challenges, and future development options. It outlines the government's reform agenda and the need for improved governance, quality assurance, and expansion of higher education to meet national and international standards.

Main Points

1. Economic Context

• The Maldives is a middle-income country with a GDP per capita of USD 2,786 in 2009, the highest in South Asia.
• The economy is heavily dependent on tourism (21% of GDP), transportation and communication (18%), and government administration (17%), making it vulnerable to global economic and social fluctuations.
• The government aims to accelerate human development and economic prosperity within a modern liberal democracy framework.

2. Higher Education Sector

• The Maldives has both public and private higher education institutions (HEIs).
• The Maldives College of Higher Education (MCHE) was restructured into the Maldives National University (MNU) in February 2011.
• The Maldives Polytechnic is the other public HEI.
• There are seven major private HEIs: Clique College, Cyrix College, Focus Education Centre, IBS, Mandhu College, MAPS Institute, and Villa College.
• Most private HEIs offer pre-degree level programs (certificates and diplomas), while MNU and some other colleges offer degree and postgraduate programs, often accredited by overseas universities.

3. Enrollment and Education Access

• The gross enrollment rate (GER) in higher education is about 6%, which is low compared to other South Asian countries.
• The low GER is attributed to limited access to higher education and poor completion rates of higher secondary education.
• Countries with similar per capita income levels have higher GERs, such as Cape Verde (12%), St Lucia (15%), and Mauritius (26%).

4. Governance and Quality of Higher Education

• Governance in higher education involves state and private sector roles, institutional autonomy, accountability mechanisms, and performance-based funding.
• The Maldives lacks a comprehensive governance framework, including a systematic funding formula, performance indicators, and a robust Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS).
• The government needs to establish a clear structure for the MNU, defining its role in degree and postgraduate programs, and ensure that non-degree programs are managed by the Polytechnic and private sector.
• The Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council (MQA) must be strengthened to accredit new institutions and ensure quality in programs.

5. Quality Assurance Measures

• To meet international standards, the Maldives should:
  • Encourage internationalization of institutions through staff and student exchanges.
  • Promote international partnerships and external examiners.
  • Provide scholarships and funding for overseas PhDs to enhance teaching standards.
  • Benchmark entry standards and pass rates for GCE O/L and A/L exams.

6. Expansion and Diversification

• The higher education sector needs to expand and diversify to meet growing demand and changing labor market needs.
• The government is exploring various policy options to support private-public partnerships, including:
  • Land subsidies for private HEIs in Male'.
  • Financial support for rented premises.
  • Capital grants for building construction.
  • Scholarships, loans, and vouchers for students.
  • Joint ventures between private HEIs and local/foreign institutions in sectors like medicine and tourism.
  • Allowing private academics to compete for government research grants.

7. Development of the National University and Polytechnic

• The MNU needs to expand its programs, including e-learning, to reach all provinces and atolls.
• It should introduce new degree programs aligned with the country's economic needs and liberal democratic ideals.
• The Polytechnic should focus on developing sub-degree programs in relevant fields like hospitality, tourism, construction, and fisheries.
• Both institutions should enhance their links with the labor market through active Program Advisory Committees (PACs) and the use of ICT platforms.

Key Information

• The Maldives faces a significant shortage of degree-level programs, leading many students to study abroad.
• The country relies heavily on expatriate workers for professional and managerial positions.
• The tripartite system of higher education is used to classify institutions into three tiers based on academic level, selectivity, and resources.
• The government's reform program, "The Other Maldives," outlines five pillars: good governance, human capital development, climate change adaptation, public sector reform, and macroeconomic reform.

Conclusion

The Maldives must strengthen its higher education governance, improve quality assurance, and expand its educational offerings to meet domestic and international standards. This will require a combination of policy measures, investment in both public and private institutions, and greater alignment with global educational trends and practices.