56. EDUCATION AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY Comparisons to China’s 21 st Century Educational Expansion

57. Karen Symms Gallagher Dean, Rossier School of Education University of Southern California Presentation to the Shanghai Forum of Educational Services Development June 27. 2008

58. Expenditures in Education are an Investment in the Future Stimulates and feeds economic development Strengthens a country’s geopolitical position Preserves and continues cultural traditions Builds an informed citizenry

59. History of American Higher Education Prior to the 1950s, US was a manufacturing and industrial economy. Higher education not as critical Federal funding began flowing to universities in the 1940s for defense-related research Following WWII, GI Bill funded veterans’ college education and enrollment swelled 1950 – 2.5% of Americans had degree 1960 – that number had quadrupled

60. American Higher Education after 1960 Emergence of the Knowledge Economy Growth of number of colleges and universities due to investment at regional and local levels Huge “Baby boom” generation fed need

61. Impact on American Economy Government Investment in research Major research institutions feed area’s business development: –Stanford/Silicone Valley –Dell Computers/University of Texas Currently 4200 Colleges and Universities – 1800 are private

62. Continued.. New era of partnerships between Universities and private sector –1974 Harvard/Monsanto partnership

63. Current status of Higher Ed Our K-12 schools, (Basic Ed), no longer a key feeder for higher ed. due to declining quality Regional and local investment in public education diminishing Need international students to feed American universities

64. Comparisons with China Similarities: –Major growth in Chinese going on to higher education similar to post-WWII period in America –Increasing cost of education falling on individual students –Access issues; how to support students from poor families (eg: from rural areas) –Need to match higher education with labor market –How to improve quality and balance gap of HEIs in different regions.

65. Comparisons with China Differences: –China Centrally Controlled, with Growing Provincial Input –America Self-Credentialed, with State and Local Control –U.S. HEIs have long history –Chinese HEIs also have a long history, but disrupted several times in the 50s more Soviet influence Cultural Revolution in the late 60s reorganizing with Western influences in the 80s and 90s

66. China Should be Applauded for its Efforts to Strengthen Higher Ed Stimulates and feeds economic development Strengthens a country’s geopolitical position Preserves and continues cultural traditions Builds an informed citizenry