Reforms in higher education and the use of information technology : Issues in higher education, Economic growth, and information technology

Abstract

This paper is driven by the proposition that higher education contributes directly to economic productivity which determines the standard of living of a country. It argues that in an increasingly knowledge-based economy, higher education will be the anchor of a broad based poverty alleviation strategy. It also argues that African countries, if they are to engage actively in this new economy, must address a number of issues in their higher education sector before they can realize the full possibilities that higher education presents. They must investigate the options that can increase the contribution of higher education to economic growth and poverty reduction.