Community Colleges for International Development

Throughout the developing world, there is a debilitating lack of connection between tertiary education and economic growth. As a result, many tertiary institutions fail to address the particular human capital needs of the productive sector, thereby constraining economic growth, productivity and innovation. Existing employment opportunities go unmet; additional employment opportunities are not created; vast numbers of people in a rapidly growing population end up unemployed and disillusioned. There is a desperate need for educational approaches that integrate the institutions of education and the institutions of economic growth, that link educational programs to the needs of the market and the community in a manner that enriches both. In this article, the authors discuss several ways to promote and expand the appropriate application of the community college model to the critical economic growth needs in developing countries. The authors also highlight some factors that might motivate increased international involvements by U.S. community colleges.