GLOBAL INEQUALITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES
Keywords:
higher education, globalization, STEM fields, cost of studying, labor marketAbstract
The process of globalization has erased borders for science and education, opening up more opportunities each year for studying abroad. Researcher mobility, participation in joint projects, and accessibility to research outcomes have generated numerous professional and ethical challenges. The aim of this paper is to use an analysis of relevant literature to critically highlight the reflections of globalization on the development of tertiary education, its accessibility, and the deepening of inequalities among countries. Improving the quality of higher education and establishing a transparent and inclusive system for building academic careers have been decades-long challenges that keep less developed countries on the periphery of the advanced educational space. The continuous process of creating conditions for inclusive, equitable, and high-quality higher education implies equipping students with new and applicable knowledge, skills, and values, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with an emphasis on learning outcomes and modernized study plans and programs. Numerous studies have confirmed that such an approach has a positive impact on economic growth, primarily through effects visible in increased employment rates, poverty reduction, and the rise of gross domestic product per capita.
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