DIGITAL LIBRARY
CHALLENGES FOR UNIVERSITIES IN A GLOBAL WORLD
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Multidiscipinarias (MEXICO)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2011 Proceedings
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 5688-5694
ISBN: 978-84-615-3324-4
ISSN: 2340-1095
Conference name: 4th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 14-16 November, 2011
Location: Madrid, Spain
Abstract:
Globalization in higher education takes place largely with the emergence of new markets and market relationships for institutions of higher education and their "products". The adoption of market practices or routines that try to imitate this practice (markets, or markets pseudomercados fictional) has become one of the most prominent features of contemporary higher education (Ordorika, et al, 2007). With globalization, international competition and stratification of higher education have become more noticeable, and competition for academic and social prestige are more important for the purposes of the institutions. Activities have increased cross-border institutional and academic mobility. Global communications and mobility have created the conditions for the emergence of a global market in higher education. Therefore, competition among elite universities is now global and has moved closer to capitalist economic forms.

Globalization means different things to different people. Indeed, the word globalization is used in two different ways, which can create confusion. It is used in a positive sense to describe a process of integration into the global economy. It is used in a normative sense to prescribe a development strategy based on rapid integration of the global economy. There is little doubt that the process of globalization is exerting a significant influence on the world of higher education. That, in turn, has significant implications for individuals and countries, and have them for higher education and development.

In developing countries, globalization of higher education has two effects on the quality of education. There is an amazing proliferation of substandard institutions that charge high fees and provide poor quality education. In addition there is little or no responsibility for the students because, in most developing countries, there are no consumer protection laws or regulations for this market. An adverse selection as service providers in higher education is a real problem. Of course there are some institutions that deal with this issue as to provide cross-border higher education, but less.

The globalization of higher education is also changing the nature of higher education in the developing world. His connections and relevance to society may be unclear, because higher education is about content and approaches identified in industrial societies. Moreover, there is a clear and present danger that an internationalized system of higher education can stifle rather than develop national capacities in higher education systems in the developing world, especially in less developed countries.
Keywords:
Globalization, Higher Education, Curricula.