Managing change in higher education

(This is part 2 and the conclusion. In part 1 I covered the subjects of [1] Issues and concerns on managing change and [2] Mass higher education.)

‘BRAIN DRAIN’ and ‘BRAIN CIRCULATION’

Many low and middle-income countries face a substantial outflow of graduates either at the beginning of the course of study or after graduation . . . . who eventually get employed in other, often economically more advanced countries. “Brain drain” is the most frequently employed term in this context to underscore the loss of investment and talent through outflow. (UNESCO 2009)

“Brain circulation” in contrast is often used to point out that countries facing an outflow of talent (also an outflow of scholars) often experience a “return” in terms of remittances (i.e. part of the outgoing persons’ income sent back to the home country).

Although as frequently pointed out in several fora, there seems to be an inflationary use of the term “brain circulation” in order to play down the net losses many low and middle-income countries suffer from international mobility of highly qualified labor.

3. The academic profession, The changing environment
The academic profession is under stress as never before. The need to respond to the demands of massification has caused the many qualifications for academics in many countries to decline. It is a fact that up to half of the world’s university have only a bachelor degree. The number of part-time academics has also increased. There is moonlighting from private to public and vice versa. There is brain migration because of the variation in salaries among teacher is quite significant.

The academic labor market has increasingly globalized with many thousands of academics crossing borders for appointment at all levels. The pattern of brain drain showed that the pendulum of authority in higher education has serving from the academics to managers and bureaucrats with significant impact on the university.

The research environment

The three (3) missions of modern university— teaching/Instruction Research and Community Out-reach/Extension Services or Public Service live in constant tension with each other at different levels. The difficulty of setting priorities and allocating resources.

Research universities are at the pinnacle of the academic system and directly involved in the global knowledge network. They require major expenditures to build and are expensive to sustain . . . the facilities . . . . . must be maintained to the highest standard.

A survey on the budget , HEIs allocate for these R&D program revealed that in most cases rely about 1 percent of the total operating budget. In the proposed CHED policies and standards for the grant of university status, 3 percent of the total operating cost must be allocated for research.

The use of ICT

The traditional university will be rendered obsolete with the advent of IT, distance education and other technology-induced innovation. While the demise of the traditional university will not take place anytime soon, major change is taking place and ICT is one of the key parts of the academic transformation of the 21st century.

Looking forward: Demographics and the impact of economics

Demographics will continue as a driving force for development and reform in the coming decades. The patterns and geographical scope will vary but the basic thrust will remain. Some of key elements are:

1. Student participation will continue to expand, as well as higher education systems;
2. Women will form slight majority in student population in developed countries and later even to developing countries;
3. The mix of student population will become more varied, with greater number of international students, older student part-time and other types;
4. The social base in higher education will continue to broaden along with uncertainty about how this will affect inequalities of educational opportunities;
5. The academic profession will become more internationally oriented and mobile, but will still be structured in accordance with national circumstances’
6. The activities and roles of the academic profession will be more diversified and specialized and subject to varied employment contracts; and
7. For many developing countries, the need for ever expanding numbers of university teachers will mean that over all qualifications, now rather low, may not improve much and current relevance on part time staff may continue.

My dear educators and fellow students, we live today in the midst of a profound economic crisis and natural calamities that will have repercussions in society at large and within higher education. As a developing country , the Philippines is likely to be affected and so with the public and private HEIs. As there will be constraints on the budget of every family and the government will be unable to provide the resources needed for their continued improvement. No one knows how deep the crisis will become or how long it will last. Expects our doubtful of a quick recovery, thus higher education is entering a period of crisis unprecedented since World War II. The multiple and diverse responsibilities of higher education are ultimately key to the well being of modern society. Understanding the broader role in a globalized world is the first step to dealing constructively with the changes and challenges that will inevitably loom on the horizon. The enormous challenge ahead is the uneven distribution of human capital and funds that will allow some families to take full advantage of new opportunities while many poor families risk drifting far behinds.

More than any other time, hand in hand, we need to work together to promote sustained global development in higher education. Rest assured that CHED will support you in your endeavor to promote quality education. The future hinges on education. Applied knowledge changes the destiny of a person and the nation as well. We must use the gifts and talents given by God to promote progress and quality in higher education that in return may bring blessings to our country and its people. Thank you!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! –Felizardo Y. Francisco, Manila Times

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