Abstract:

According to Global Higher Education, an education hub is a “designated region intended to attract foreign investment, retain local students, build a regional reputation by providing access to high-quality education and training for both international and domestic student, and create a knowledge-based economy.” In line with this definition, in 2010, the Mauritian Government set a number of objectives to position Mauritius as a knowledge hub, including the following: recruiting 100,000 students by 2020, increasing gross tertiary enrolment rate (GTER) from 43% to 70% by 2015, and attracting world’s best ranked universities. A strategic plan was prepared and numerous measures were taken by the Mauritian Government to attain these goals.

Several years later, the latest statistics available from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) reveal that the GTER for the year 2015 is 48.97%, i.e. it is still below 50%. Moreover, there were 1,524 international students by 2015, representing only around 1.5% of the targeted number. Further, the presence of world’s best ranked universities in Mauritius is almost inexistent. Whilst other countries like Malaysia and Singapore are in the cruising mode as knowledge hubs, Mauritius is nowhere near, as can be gauged from official statistics. Yet Mauritius has all the best conditions to become a knowledge hub in the region. Where are we faltering? Indeed, Mauritius can succeed as one provided that it overcomes the hurdles on its way and face the challenges.

This research project seeks to address the overt and covert issues. Inter alia, this research will seek to answer the core questions:
- Why Mauritius is yet in its infancy in becoming a knowledge hub in the region when it should have been flying high?
- What is affecting the performance of the Mauritian Higher Education Sector?
- What are the hurdles, weaknesses, missed opportunities and challenges?
- What should go into Mauritius becoming a successful higher education destination?

To get answers to these questions, this research project will review and analyse a number of topical issues, such as the relationship between the State and the Tertiary Education Institutions, the regulatory framework, quality assurance, Accountability in tertiary education sector, Governance and the management of the Mauritian higher education sector. These topical issues are of great relevance to the country’s needs.

Both quantitative and qualitative research will be conducted. In other words, exploratory research will also be used to gain an understanding of underlying factors. It will provide insights into specific issues and will help to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research. As such, interviews of stakeholders and participation/observations in institutions will take place. The qualitative and quantitative data obtained will be carefully analysed before reaching to any conclusion.

This research is being conducted in view of its practical orientation and its relevance to the objective of Mauritius to become a knowledge hub. Its findings, interpretations and recommendations will help in shedding light on the existing problems in the tertiary education sector and will also help the Mauritian Government in taking remedial actions. The outcome of this research also will be beneficial to all stakeholders of the Mauritian higher education sector.

Keywords:

Higher Education, knowledge hub, challenges, regulatory framework, quality assurance, accountability, governance.