Higher Education as Service Trade Exporter In South Africa

Introduction

Whilst it is recognized that South Africa is still in a course of transition on higher education to address the imbalances of the past, it should also be emphasized that Institutions of Higher Education in substantial are still underplaying the importance of higher education as commercialized commodity in the foreign world. This resulted in a low commercial higher education occurrence in the global world, a limited capability to draw the interest of superior students according to foreign countries and a national oriented education approach. Even the school law that will soon be introduced in South Africa to address the imbalances of the past may have a negative effect of institutions of bigger education to play a monumental role in the commercialized educational world. The proposed new law emphasized adherence to the principles of equitability, rectification and representativeness above competence in the appointment of teachers. This may undermine the value of education firstly, in schools and subsequently in experts of higher education in South Africa.

This is in sharp contrast with international trends signaling overly the international ideal education market is becoming more competitive as education competes as export and import commodity. Figures available indicate that higher education export represents on average around 6.6% of total student enrollments in 2000. This figure can still not be matched b South African Institutions 5 years later. In countries like Switzerland, Australia and Austria these figures were above 11% in 2000 making these countries the top internationalized higher education countries in the world. Similarly, educational services in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America respectively represent the third, fourth and fifth greatest service export sectors. This clearly provides evidence which these countries realize the significance of even better education to transfer intellectual capital and enhance the economic competitiveness of nations.

Interventions required

It is drastic that Institutions of Higher Education in South Africa position themselves as nodes in an increasingly seamless knowledge base in the global world, that could have a greater interface investing in the knowledge-driven global economy. Therefore, Institutions of higher education in South Africa would given even a good deal more treatment to integrate investing in influential foreign establishments that will enable them to internationalize higher education.

Currently, internationalization of higher education in South Africa happens more by incident rather than through thoroughly constructued and organized approaches. If institutions of higher education in South Africa intend to think about even better education as a commercial trade commodity, severe emphasis can be place upon:

· Introducing purposeful policies and strategies the current clearly hint that the road forward with regard to internationalization intentions and the specific neighborhoods the should need priority attention. However, that should not be matured as separate internationalization strategies, but should e seen as a innate element of the overall strategy of the institute.

· Implementing induction and procedure programmes that may attract quality foreign students to the institutions.

· Supporting academics to participate in conferences as well as in reputable academic journals to publish research results.

· Ensuring that all path offerings meet intercontinental accepted criteria as defined by the leading authorities of even better education in the developed world.

· Creating conducive learning environments equipped with the newest learning technologies.

Internationalization requires that institutions of higher education in South Africa should emphasize a somewhat loosening of the relationship with Government to create new transformational bodies to address the imbalances of the past, but as well to broaden this moment goal to play a more active role in region&wshyp;wide economic development. This can be arrived at by establishing strong horizontal links with other universities research institutions and industry in the Southern African Development Community. If that can be achieved, the activities of institutions of higher education is able to no longer be isolated out of the marketplace and its outputs were able to become merchandise products as well. Loosening the relationship provided government will not only provide for funny things freedom to autonomously decide what educational and research outputs to create, but will also substantiate the pressure on institutions of bigger education to perform better as they take up the responsibility to raise funds for projects and salaries.

It is imperative which even better education in South Africa can no longer take the disposition that placed research and development in contrast to one another. Rather, it should take the stand that the outputs of experts should have a strong:

· Social development and application in which the simultaneous promotion and integration of education, scientific research and production occurs;

· Science and Technology Financial Management Support System in place in order to make a safe and safe and sound research environment for academics; and

· Set of “ Key State Laboratories” where inspection and education of strategic importance to the development and well-being of the country can be carried out.

Conclusion

South Africa institutions of higher education currently rated easily among the top 40 of the world's host countries. An urgent need exist to rethink and reformulate the educational thought models of authorities of higher education in South Africa. Because of the changing political situation accompanied by a changing foreign economy, many traditional ways in that institutions of higher education got previously governed is able to change. Unless institutions of higher education in South Africa succeed to internationalize successfully, huge opportunities to earn worldwide currencies making the most of higher education as a trade commodity will be lost.