The connexions between education and national development in East Asian countries: With special reference to the structural analysis of higher education expansion and economic growth in the Republic of Kore

The research for this thesis involved analytical examination of the connexions between educational growth and national development. Using the cases of other East Asian countries as providing similar contexts, it sought to identify the specific choices which South Korea faces. The specific objective of this study was to analyze the higher education expansion and economic growth in South Korea during the 1970s-1980s.;The purpose of this study is to identify and discuss the properties of national policies and institutional practices in relation to higher education in Korea emphasizing the importance of higher education to the nation's economic and political agendas. It is assumed, therefore, that the underlying policy issues discussed in this study are long term in nature, and provide a starting point for further research.;The thesis is both descriptive and analytical. It employed the comparative documentary analysis of historical method and the quantitative analysis of economics method. Statistics from a variety of public sources are combined. Literatures are reviewed from a development policy perspective.;The findings of the study suggest that as evidenced by phenomenal expansion in quantity in her higher education system, Korea's approach to higher education in relation to her national economic development could prove to be a formidable force. Investment in higher education in Korea, meanwhile, has until recently been minimal compared with that of developed and industrialized countries. In other words, it must be pointed out that a large expansion in Korean higher education in a given period was not accompanied by a striking increase in either government expenditure generally or in government expenditure on education.;Assuming that the importance of establishing efficient higher education system in national development strategies for the 21st century competition is recognized, it should be the time to require a new approach to national and institutional standards to give high recognition to the long-term value of investment in research and development (R&D), education and training in Korean higher education.