Massive expansion of universities in Asia raises tough questions on social mobility

Document Type

Other

Source Publication

The Conversation

Publication Date

3-8-2016

Keywords

Higher education, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, India education, China education, Asian higher education

Abstract

Universities in East and South-East Asia have experienced significant expansion in the last few decades. Enrolment in higher education in Asia has increased by over 50% in the last 10 years and by a higher percentage in countries such as China. In recent years, universities in mainland China have produced over seven million graduates a year, up from one million in 2000.

This rapid expansion of higher education has brought its own problems, leading to issues over academic standards and quality of universities in mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. My own new research has also highlighted strong empirical evidence suggesting that the “massification” of higher education – the extension of university education to the masses and not just an elite – has resulted in graduate unemployment and underemployment in East Asia.

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2016, The Conversation Media Group Ltd

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Mok, K.-h. J. (2016, March 8). Massive expansion of universities in Asia raises tough questions on social mobility. The Conversation. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/massive-expansion-of-universities-in-asia-raises-tough-questions-on-social-mobility-54680

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