Policy Paper for Change and Development in Higher Education

UNESCO has had a standing commitment to fostering the development of higher education and research since its foundation almost 50 years ago. As we approach the end of this century and prepare to enter a new millennium, we are witnessing an unprecedented development of higher education and increased awareness of its vital role for economic and social development. Yet higher education is in a state of crisis in practically all countries of the world. Although enrolments are on the increase, the capacity for public support is declining. The gap between the developing and the developed countries with regard to higher learning and research, already enormous, is becoming wider. The current trends and new challenges facing higher education imply the need to rethink its role and mission, identify new approaches and set new priorities for future development. This has been the leitmotif of the debates on higher education initiated by UNES-CO during its third Medium-Term Plan (1990-1995) at regional and international level. It is with the same conviction that the UNESCO Member States adopted a resolution at the t w e n t y-seventh session of the General Conference in 1993, inviting me to 'pursue the elaboration of a comprehensive policy for the Organization covering the whole field of higher education'. This policy paper is a response to that decision. It gives a synthesis of what UNESCO sees as the main trends in higher education and also attempts to formulate a perspective for the Organization concerning key policy issues in this field. It raises a number of pertinent issues to which our attention has been drawn by Member States and by the academic community. In view of the above, it formulates a basic rationale on which the process of change and development of higher education could be based and implemented. However, the paper is in no way intended to impose models or make rigid prescriptions; at best, it may serve as an 'intellectual compass' for the Member States and for those in charge of higher education in designing their own policies, by taking into account the inherent diversity and specific needs and conditions prevailing at regional, national and international level. The paper is also meant to be of use to UNESCO itself in charting out the main direction of its higher education programme. This document should be considered as an important part of UNESCO's contribution to the ongoing debate on all …