Going Global 1 - International education and world poverty - what are the links?

Education is essential to build the prosperity of nations and their citizens. The UN Millennium Development Goals set clear directions for the eradication of poverty highlighting eight key areas for immediate action. Education and training are identified as necessary components for the achievement of these goals - but can we identify any contribution towards their achievement from international education and training?
The accelerating demand for international education over recent years has been driven in particular by individuals investing their own funds to acquire skills and qualifications that will provide an economic return through future employment. International student mobility has been at the forefront of this with probably over one million students from developing countries now following higher education outside their own country. In the past such students would have received significant support through development assistance arrangements -- from bilateral and multilateral agencies as well as by direct investment from their countries. In the main these serviced the basic needs agendas.
Whilst there is a definite need for skilled professionals at all levels and in all sectors in the economy, for example to deliver basic needs such as health care, to provide water or to attract inward investment and thereby facilitate economic growth, can demand-driven acquisition of education and training support all these varied developmental needs? What interventions are needed to support more appropriate approaches? Featuring Professor Christopher Colclough. Professorial Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex and Professor Geoff Whitty, Director, Institute of Education, University of London; Chair, Education and Training Advisory Committee, British Council

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