Anthony Welch - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Anthony Welch

Higher Education Policy, 2022

The COVID pandemic has had dramatic effects on higher education worldwide, but the impact has bee... more The COVID pandemic has had dramatic effects on higher education worldwide, but the impact has been very uneven. The gap between rich and poor has widened further, aid to education has been cut, and abrupt changes introduced to pedagogy, international student and staff mobility, research laboratories, and institutional bottom lines. Anglophone systems with a high dependence on international students (Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand) have been particularly affected. In Australia, the fact that the COVID crisis occurred in the context of rivalrous US-China relations influenced how the pandemic was understood and its effects, including in higher education. But the specific context was also influential, including lingering tensions between Australia's geography and history. A further complication was that higher education had become overly dependent on international student fee income, with higher education becoming Australia's largest service-sector export. It is argued that the longstanding underfunding of the higher education system, the abrupt closing of international borders, and the impact to the rising US-China Culture War have combined to produce major effects on the higher education system, the results of which will continue for some time.

Measuring Up in Higher Education, 2021

There is little doubt that ranking regimes have transformed the world of contemporary higher educ... more There is little doubt that ranking regimes have transformed the world of contemporary higher education, and reshaped higher education institutions. The proliferation of such regimes is one index of an increasing obsession with their use as an instrument of policy, and force for institutional reform. While the impressively parochial, and quixotically-named US News and World Report hasranked US institutions for 30 years or so, later and more global ranking regimes such as the influential Shanghai Jiaotong's Academic Ranking of World Universities, The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and QS were only instituted around 2003 and 2004. 1 Further proliferation of indices followed-the 1 In recognition of the need for a more global perspective, and response to an increasing trend for US students to spend time studying abroad, US News began publishing its Best Global Universities ranking in 2014.

Financing Higher Education and Economic Development in East Asia, 2011

Key dilemmas underpin the development and expansion of higher education in SouthEast Asia. On the... more Key dilemmas underpin the development and expansion of higher education in SouthEast Asia. On the one hand are the tensions between the desire to expand the quantity of higher education while at the same time improving quality. On the other is the issue of enhancing access while improving equity. While all of the five states treated in this chapter (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) share the goal of extending access to higher education as part of their wider social and economic development goals, none is in a position to provide public higher education to all who aspire to it, especially at a price they can afford. (The last is particularly significant: as is seen below, it is already the case, for example, that fees for high-demand courses in some public higher education institutions in Indonesia outstrip those in the private sector; Welch 2007a:680.) Hence, across the region, private higher education is growing swiftly. This expansion is clearly widening access, although often at fee levels that, being much higher than those that commonly apply at public higher education institutions (HEIs), further exclude the poor. At the same time, the growth of private higher education is also sharpening quality issues, as well as problems in governance systems within the sector that are, in cases such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, already stretched to capacity. This chapter examines the rise of private-sector HEIs in SouthEast Asia, and some of the issues associated with the changing balance and blurring borders of public and private higher education: finance, state capacity, governance, and transparency. The context for SouthEast Asian society and higher education is also rehearsed, including the relatively peripheral place occupied by the five SouthEast Asian higher education systems, within the global knowledge system. What is argued is that, while the spread of private higher education is undoubtedly opening up access, the high fee levels demanded effectively preclude enrolment by the poor, who are now also being squeezed by rising fee levels at public HEIs. Selected examples are given of differential funding and fee regimes, from the public and private sectors.

viii COUNTING THE COST economic imperative. Furthermore, if higher education is developed not mer... more viii COUNTING THE COST economic imperative. Furthermore, if higher education is developed not merely for producing highly skilled labor, but also for innovation, how ought such benefits to be distributed? What are the costs of inequity? Faced with such challenges, the publication concludes with a set of operational recommendations to effect change. The publication draws on study material prepared by Anthony R. Welch. Stephen Banta provided editorial advice. Dorothy Geronimo coordinated the typesetting and publication process. Imelda Marquez provided administrative support. Many thanks to all for their contributions. Jouko Sarvi Practice Leader (Education Sector) Regional and Sustainable Development Department Asian Development Bank 2 COUNTING THE COST Bank (ADB) (2010a) and other agencies, now matched by policy statements by national leaders in parts of Asia (Hu 2010), is further recognition of the importance of linking equity to efficiency: …increases in the absolute gaps between the rich and poor, and very visible changes in the consumption patterns and lifestyles of the rich, are leading to a perceptible increase in social and political tensions, undermining social cohesiveness. … Persistent and growing inequalities in access to social services such as education and health, exacerbated by income inequalities, are … a significant concern for developing Asia (Ali and Zhuang 2007:4-5). The failure to make progress on inclusive growth is not merely inequitable and inefficient, but risks one of three outcomes: • the stalling of reforms, resulting in lower growth and higher inequalities; • rising absolute gaps in income and consumption between the poorest and richest quintiles, which could trigger social and political tensions; or • in extreme forms, armed conflict (Ali and Zhuang 2007:9). Given also that education, and higher education in particular, is a potent means to lift people from poverty (Luo and Zhu 2008) it is thus critical to link finance to equity in higher education.

The International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, 2016

Australia’s attitude towards ASEAN has waxed and waned over recent decades, including in higher e... more Australia’s attitude towards ASEAN has waxed and waned over recent decades, including in higher education. In part a reflection of tensions between its geography and history, it highlighted the question of the extent to which Australia saw itself as an Asian country (an uncertainty shared by number of its ASEAN neighbours). Reviewing changes in several key indices (Asian languages strategy, International student policy, Education as Aid), the prospects for a regional knowledge network comprising Australia, ASEAN and China are assessed, with the conclusion that the whole would be greater than the sum of the parts, but that for the prospect to be realised, greater consistency in Australian government policy towards the region is needed.

International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 2021

This synthesis of a multi-year cross-national collaboration first reviews the changes facing educ... more This synthesis of a multi-year cross-national collaboration first reviews the changes facing educational researchers due to pressures to create "world class" universities. The paper then reports key findings from a comparative case study of publication patterns in South Africa,

Revista Española de Educación Comparada, 2011

Australia's record as one of the higher performing nations on therecent PISA tests occasioned... more Australia's record as one of the higher performing nations on therecent PISA tests occasioned more interest internationally than domestically. Not with standing this success however, it is argued that its overall national success on the PISA tests is something of a myth, masking wide differences between the overall majority, and certain disadvantaged minorities. Disaggregating the performance data reveals the actual situation with respect to indigenous Australians, certain ethnic minorities and the effects of social class, which in each case is complemented with analysis of test performance differentials from PISA and NAPLAN. This examination reveals the reality that Australia is less successful than several other countries in extending high levels of school performance to key minorities. Given this failure, the myth of Australian high performance needs to be re-examined: much more needs to be done to boost the educational success of disadvantaged minorities. Los resultados de A...

Frontiers of Education in China, 2018

The four decades since reform and opening up have seen dramatic changes in China's higher educati... more The four decades since reform and opening up have seen dramatic changes in China's higher education system. Focusing on international dimensions, the analysis supports the view that reform and opening up was not merely an economic and political reform, but an opening of the mind to the outside world, after the disaster of the Cultural Revolution. But it is important to be reminded that China's relations with the outside world have a much longer history, with the spread of Confucian ideas to East and Southeast Asia, and the importation of Buddhism from ancient India; both during the Tang dynasty. The article points to key ongoing debates in China about the extent to which it can incorporate ideas from outside, while still retaining a Chinese essence. The rise of China as a knowledge hub and destination for international students is also charted, and the prospects for further development are assessed.

Immigrant Student Achievement and the Performance Disadvantage

Immigrant Student Achievement and Education Policy, 2018

Education is a human right, and among the indicators of human development, education is indisputa... more Education is a human right, and among the indicators of human development, education is indisputably one of the most important ones for its impact both on individuals’ lives as well as on communities and countries at large. Despite its evident importance, it cannot be taken for granted that everyone has access to (high quality) education. Equality and equity in access to education is a priority policy issue not only in developing countries but also in developed countries. In this era of knowledge based economy, the extent to which countries are able to provide high quality education (however it may be defined) to all members of their society is a significant predictor of economic growth and socioeconomic development. Within this context, identifying the disadvantaged groups within the student population and finding ways to mitigate the negative effects of these disadvantages while at the same time targeting the students with special support needs are crucial policy objectives. The objective of this book is to focus on the case of a growing and diverse group, namely students with a migration background. We seek to examine the extent to which immigrant students are integrated to education systems in their new settlement countries, whether their relative achievement in schools require special attention in comparison with their native peers, and how the receiving countries with diverse immigrant populations deal with challenges related to immigrant student achievement in their education policy.

International Higher Education, 2018

The priority attached to innovation in China means that its universities are seen as a major pill... more The priority attached to innovation in China means that its universities are seen as a major pillar of innovation. But with respect to the new Universities of Applied Technology (UATs), their original mission of strengthening industry collaboration is subverted by the persistence of perverse incentives, whichmake them emulate research universities rather than fulfil their original purpose.

International Higher Education, 2014

Number 77: Fall 2014 engagement as per the institutional missions. Such a system will also make i... more Number 77: Fall 2014 engagement as per the institutional missions. Such a system will also make it possible for both the administrators and university staff to identify organizational goals that are worthy of financial reward-thereby reinforcing institutional values. In addition, merit pay moderates institutional budgetary constraints by limiting the amount of funds dedicated toward across-the-board salary increases. Market Pay Equity Since Kenya's universities source additional revenues from the marketplace, it is only realistic that salaries reflect the realities of the marketplace. Under Collective Bargaining Agreements, all professors and lecturers in the same rank command similar salaries irrespective of disciplinary affiliation. Professors and lecturers of medicine cost more to train, recruit, retain, and generate more research grants to the university than their counterparts in the humanities and social sciences. So why should their base pay be comparable? By infusing market-based disciplinary differentiation in the base pay for university academics, Kenyan universities will ensure that faculty retention is feasible in disciplines with high-market demand.

International Higher Education, 2015

International higher education has become a major income producer for Australia for more than two... more International higher education has become a major income producer for Australia for more than two decades. The prime goal of internationalization was moneymaking, which resulted in creating problems in ethics, quality, and academic integrity. The recent policy change in reducing international students has affected institutions that had been too dependent upon high proportions of international enrollments. All of this is a predictable outcome of commercialism shaping international education.

International Education Journal Comparative Perspectives, Feb 26, 2013

The current Vietnamese higher education system is a site of contradiction, between the demands of... more The current Vietnamese higher education system is a site of contradiction, between the demands of socialism and the trend towards a market economy. While moves to extend market principles in Viet Nam continue, the role of its higher education system and its Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in promoting socialism has been retained. Significant cultural differences remain between a more entrepreneurial South, and a more conservative and cultural North. Various social, political and historical constraints have persisted to slow or prevent reforms in the higher education sector. The mix of public and private universities raises problems such as lack of resources, over-enrolment, entry standards, and especially the quality of education. Even so, and within the framework of socialism, it is likely that private sector growth will outstrip growth in the public sector in the future in an attempt to meet growing educational demand.

European Review, 2015

The paper examines the implications of the extensive and increasingly significant Chinese knowled... more The paper examines the implications of the extensive and increasingly significant Chinese knowledge diaspora for the Europe of Knowledge. Based on extensive fieldwork, the paper examines the size, significance and key issues surrounding the growth of the Chinese Knowledge Diaspora. A portrait is developed of a highly-skilled group (bi-lingual and bi-cultural) who have the capacity to contribute to teaching and research both in China and their host nations, and who are often willing and eager to act as a bridge between both sides. Reference is also made to China’s numerous Overseas Talent Recruitment Schemes, which often target such individuals, and to the significance of this group to China’s dramatic, and ongoing, scientific rise. Key issues are discussed, as well as some limitations and the prospects for the future. Based on available information, data on PRC students and academics in Europe are presented and an assessment made of both the potential, and of the relatively limited ...

This paper documents the emerging relationship between Australian higher education and the Pacifi... more This paper documents the emerging relationship between Australian higher education and the Pacific Rim countries. It offers a chronology of this mutual affiliation and discusses the purposes of Australia fostering its Asian connection within the framework of recent trends to privatize higher education. These purposes include but are not limited to furthering economic ties and multicultural exchanges. In addition, it describes the advantages and disadvantages of fitting changing Australian multicultural domestic and foreign economic and educational policies and practices to joint economic development and intercultural exchange endeavors. (JAM)

Revista Espanola De Educacion Comparada, 2011

Australia's record as one of the higher performing nations on the recent PISA tests occasioned mo... more Australia's record as one of the higher performing nations on the recent PISA tests occasioned more interest internationally than domestically. Notwithstanding this success however, it is argued that its overall national success on the PISA tests is something of a myth, masking wide differences between the overall majority, and certain disadvantaged minorities. Disaggregating the performance data reveals the actual situation with respect to indigenous Australians, certain ethnic minorities and the effects of social class, which in each case is complemented with analysis of test performance differentials from PISA and NAPLAN. This examination reveals the reality that Australia is less successful than several other countries in extending high levels of school performance to key minorities. Given this failure, the myth of Australian high performance needs to be reexamined: much more needs to be done to boost the educational success of disadvantaged minorities.

Emerging International Dimensions in East Asian Higher Education, 2014

China's dramatic economic rise has tended to overshadow other wider perspectives on the developin... more China's dramatic economic rise has tended to overshadow other wider perspectives on the developing China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) relationship, including in higher education. The article examines contemporary relations between China and ASEAN, set against the longer term development of cultural and trade relations. It is argued that, notwithstanding current territorial disputes, and a history of discrimination against ethnic Chinese in several parts of ASEAN, prospects for a deepening of relations in higher education remain strong. Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam are selected as three instances of the developing relationship in higher education and some of the links traced, with the former assessed as best placed to take advantage of its China relations in higher education. The developing sense of regionalism is seen as likely to further enhance China-ASEAN relations in higher education.

Research in Comparative and International Education, 2012

While Southeast Asia as a region is generally poorly represented in scholarship on higher educati... more While Southeast Asia as a region is generally poorly represented in scholarship on higher education, this is even more the case when considering Islamic higher education in the region. While patterns of mobility within the Islamic world are ancient, with mediaeval scholarly centres such as Baghdad, Cairo and Alexandria attracting scholars and students from many parts, scholarly mobility in Southeast Asia also has its own history. The earlier part of this article concentrates on the flowering of Islamic scholarly centres, with a particular focus on mobility. Subsequently, contemporary Islamic higher education in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries such as Malaysia, and Indonesia, is analyzed, focusing particularly on international mobility patterns, particularly of students. This includes both regionalism (students from Southeast Asia travelling to other countries within the region to pursue Islamic higher education), and efforts by countries such as Malaysia to recruit signifi...

The Internationalization of East Asian Higher Education