Stakeholder Approach for Quality Higher Education

Introduction

There is a general presumption that higher education is not necessary for economic growth and development. On the other hand, it is literacy and primary education that is important. Increased national and international concerns for Education for All, also led to overall neglect of higher education in many developing countries. The problem of resource scarcity added further to the problem. But given the inter‐dependence of one layer of education on the other, higher education becomes critically important for developing and sustaining a good quality primary and secondary education. It is also a critical factor necessary for economic growth and development and also for its sustenance. It is important to note that while literacy and elementary education are important and necessary for development, they are not adequate for economic development. Without realizing the importance of higher education in development, many governments tend to ignore higher education and thereby the casualty is quality. This may result in outcomes that would prove to be costly to the society not only in the long run but also in the short to medium terms. On the other hand higher education is a crucial input for access to better opportunities in life. Higher education system suffers from a yawning gap in funds, outdated regulatory mechanisms, poor quality, and low efficiency. Liberalization of the sector to attract private domestic and overseas investments on a large scale is the key to access, affordability, and equity. This gives rise to the different stakeholders who may be group or individual with different interests.