Innovative Strategies in Higher Education for Accelerated HRD in South Asia

Innovative Strategies in Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Accelerated HRD in South Asia

(Get the full-text PDF of these publications from our website: http://www.adb.org/publications/innovative-strategies-higher-education-accelerated-hrd-south-asiahttp://www.adb.org/publications/innovative-strategies-tech-voc-education-training-human-resource-development-south-asia)

South Asia Regional Department Book Launch, 11 July 2014Asian Development Bank HQ in Manila

Presentation outline

• Purpose of the reports• South Asian context• Key findings• Key recommendations

Purpose of the Reports• Explore innovative ways of delivery, and rethink the role of

governments and new financing modalities such as public-private partnerships to inform SARD operations in human development

• Coverage: Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Maldives• Funded by Australian Aid• Team involved:

Reports Higher Education TVETRegional William Saint Richard Johanson

Bangladesh Md. Mannan Md. Mohiuzzaman

Nepal Hridaya Bajracharya Devi Dahal

Sri Lanka Sunil Chandrasiri Sunil Chandrasiri

National Coordinator: Nicholas Tenazas and Rhona Caoli-RodriguezTask Leader: Brajesh Panth

South Asian Context

• Rural areas predominate –81% in Nepal, 72% in Bangladesh, 86% in Sri Lanka – but with urbanization now accelerating• Large informal sector:

90% of labor force in Nepal, 80% in Bangladesh, and 60% in Sri Lanka• Low global competitiveness, except Sri Lanka• Young population slated to be a major source of

global labor force (demographic dividends)

Economic Structure and Share of Employment

1990 2000 2010 1990 2000 2010 1990 2000 2010Bangladesh Nepal Sri Lanka

0102030405060708090

3339 41

16 14 16

3440 43

48

37

53

3945

50 4753

58

Services

1990 2000 2010 1990 2000 2010 1990 2000 2010Bangladesh Nepal Sri Lanka

0102030405060708090

13 10 113

10 1019 24 2522 25 29

1217 15

29 30 29

Industry

1990 2000 2010 1990 2000 2010 1990 2000 2010Bangladesh Nepal Sri Lanka

0102030405060708090

54 51 48

8176 74

47

36 333026

19

48

38 35

2418

13

Agriculture % of employment% of output

% to

tal

Rising Remittances

Key Findings: TVET• Major skills mismatches, tracer studies rare• Labor force expanding: still low education and

training, but rising• Large numbers of NGO/private providers• Strongly centralized administration with

fragmentation of public provision• Training capacity only a fraction, with low funding• Policies developed recently and apex bodies

formed or in the process of consolidation

Key Findings: Higher Education• Quality assurance agencies are uncommon

but serious recognition to address this• Specialized universities are few• Enrollment and competition rising sharply• Limited or no use of funding formulas• Public-private partnerships gaining attention• Limited use of technology

Key Findings: Common• Equity: Inequitable access in higher

education and barriers to entry in TVET• Quality: Weak quality assurance

mechanisms• Relevance: Detached from real world

(more theoretical)• Governance: Centralized administration

with limited autonomy• Funding: High reliance on public funding

Key Recommendations• Equity: Flexibility in access, pathways for mobility

(lifelong learning), differentiated system, targeting• Quality: Institutionalize quality assurance (improve

assessment and certification, quality trainers/teachers, accreditation, mutual recognition)• Relevance: Link to economic strategies, sector

priorities, skills-gap analysis, PPPs• Governance: Rationalize management & provisions,

greater autonomy, rethink the role of government• Funding: Use performance-based, diversify funding,

leverage public funds, incentivize private sector

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