Higher education in the era of globalisation

The article will analyse the impact of globalisation on higher education. Some have argued that globalisation will
provide equal opportunities. While others claim that globalisation would mean the McDonaldisation of the university and
also worldwide inequality. The current pressure on higher education mainly due to neoliberal globalisation has increased
the role for private sector in higher education. The paper examines the realities of globalisation in higher education to
highlight some of the ways in which globalisation affects the higher education in developing countries, particularly India
and China.
It is argued here that the business needs are changing both at national and international levels. And there is
increased demand from corporate sector to change the courses to meet their interests. Higher education is facing cuts in
funds and declining investments thanks to the neoliberal policies. The recent attempt to include higher education within the
framework of WTO through the General Agreements on Trade in Services (GATS) seeks to establish “open markets” for
knowledge products of all kinds. Finally, the current neo-liberal globalisation supported by IMF, World Bank and WTO is
very different than previous experiences as it provides increased role of transnational corporations (TNCs) and foreign
academic institutions in the developing countries.