Strategies for the emerging global higher education market in East Asia: a comparative study of Singapore, Malaysia and Japan

Abstract

In this paper, the author tries to set up the framework for understanding the qualitative change of the nature of national policies for higher education through the increasing aspects as ‘industry’ in universities and other higher education sector. Based on this framework, the author analyses, comparatively, the national policies for higher education ‘industry’ in three East Asian countries: Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. Thorough the examination of the policy treatments of higher education ‘industry’ in those three countries, the author tries to argue the importance of balance between flexibility and consistency of the image and definition of higher education which is certainly getting a key position in knowledge economy.