Establishing junior-level colleges in developing nations: a site selection process using data from Uganda

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Doctor of philosophy
Title Establishing junior-level colleges in developing nations: a site selection process using data from Uganda
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
URL http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc115098/m2/1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf
Abstract
This paper presents a new resource to help make an informed decision on potential
locations to establish junior-level colleges in least developed countries (LDC). This model uses
existing variables from trusted databases, blended into new factors, and displayed in ways that
make those data useful. The data used to demonstrate how this instrument functions are from
Uganda in East Africa. However this model can be applied to other LDCs using the same or
similar databases. There are many problems with higher education in developing countries
from lack of autonomy to lack of funding, from entrenched ideologies to lack of quality
assurance, however this research focuses on access through resources that could promote
greater differentiation in higher education. This can be achieved in a variety of ways that
include promoting greater privatization of higher education, reducing quality, funding the
expansion of current institutions; or as presented in this paper, by encouraging the growth in
the 2-year school sector through the development of a variety of variations. These include
junior-level schools tightly coupled with existing institutions, community colleges tightly aligned
with industry with transferable credits to 4-year institutions, or a unique model formulated
along the lines of the American work college as it emerged from the European-born manual
labor movement and associated schools of the 19th century. While this paper provides tools to
help make informed decisions by merging existing data from databases with survey data from
local experts, it does not intent to suggest specific policies. Policies must be rooted in the
strategic plans of the nation through the perspective of local needs and assets.

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