DIGITAL GLOBALISATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE IMPACT ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN SOUTH ASIA

Abstract

Globalisation is “the integration of economies, industries, markets, cultures and policy-making around the world.” Globalisation of knowledge, in turn, is the free flow of ideas around the world determined by factors such as communication costs and the degree to which societies are integrated (Borcuch, Pilat-Borcuch & Świerczynska-Kaczor, 2012). The impact of this globalisation of knowledge poses opportunities, challenges and critical ethical questions for Higher Education institutions and their role within societies. British Council Pakistan proposes a study to investigate the state and influence of the digital globalisation of knowledge and its relation to Higher Education in South Asia, and Europe, seeking to present two distinct case studies rather than suggesting directly comparable findings. Where there are common or ‘globalised’ trends observed in both regions, these will be noted and discussed. The research aimed to investigate the state and influence of the digital globalisation of knowledge and its relation to Higher Education in South Asia. The following themes were looked into: - Trends, flows of information and use of data (frequency, modes or means, governance) - Networks, communities of practice and instances of collaboration or competition - Known influence of digital globalisation on research, education and student experience - Questions of intellectual property, use of data and ethics - Known impact (opportunities and challenges) on quality of higher education The study also looks at the level and nature of digital flows of ideas and knowledge exchanged between each country with respect to its impact and interaction with higher education systems, institutions and communities. It will aim to capture the influence (positive and negative) of the respective flows. For the purposes of this study, four countries in South Asia (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Nepal), were focused with the aim to inform future interventions to enhance the positive influences of digital globalisation of knowledge in relation to Higher Education. The study also looks at the cross section population in Higher Education , Women and Girls and Youth .