A Comparative Study in Higher Education Goals of Certain Countries

Abstract

The aim of this study is to recognize and make a comparison of the higher education goals of seven countries of China, Germany, Iran, Japan, Russia, U.K., and U.S.A. The countries under study were selected in a way that had a different geographical distribution and higher education system. This is an applied research in terms of nature, qualitative with a comparative method using documentary approach for collection of data. Researchers searched through reputable global databases such as UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Higher Education of the target countries. Findings reveal that the most significant common goals of higher education of these seven countries are the increase of international exchange, outsourcing more of higher education activities to the private section, paying attention to availability of higher education for everyone, adapting and synchronizing higher education with job market. However, there are different ways to achieve these goals in the policy-making process of these countries. In advanced countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan, the realization of a superior scientific and welfare ecosystem has been considered important, with China's and Russia's developing education systems increasingly considering privatization and internationalization. While in Germany the start of new renovations is evident, in Iran the identification and repair of backwardness is emphasized by higher education policymakers.