Open and Distance Learning for Sustainable Development

With a total land area of almost 4.5 million square kilometres or 3.3% of the total world land
area, SEA has a combined population of 565 million or 8.6% of the world’s population. In
terms of output, the combined gross domestic product (GDP), at current prices of the
Southeast Asian countries in 2006 is almost USD1.1 trillion or 2.2% of the world’s total
(Table 1). Except for Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, which are categorised as developed
economies (based on their respective GDPs per capita), the rest of the countries in the region
are considered developing nations. Notwithstanding that, one of the distinguishing
characteristics of this region is its fast growing economies. In 2006, the growth rate in GDP at
constant prices ranged from 5.1% (Brunei Darussalam) to 10.8% (Cambodia), giving an
average regional growth rate of 6.0% (Table 1).
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Table 1: Gross Domestic Product by Country
Country
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2006
USD in million Growth Rate (%)
Brunei Darussalam 11,551.0 5.1
Cambodia 7,256.5 10.8
Indonesia 364,400.1 5.5
Laos 3,521.8 8.3
Malaysia 156,924.2 5.9
Myanmar 11,950.3 7.0
The Philippines 118,083.0 5.3
Singapore 132,273.4 7.9
Thailand 206,645.1 5.0
Vietnam 60,965.2 8.2
Combined value in SEA
(USD in million)
1,073,570.5
(2.2% of world total)
Average value in SEA (%) 6.0
Combined value in World
(USD in million)
Sources:
48,244,879.0
Selected basic ASEAN indicators, as of 25 February 2008;
Selected key ASEAN macroeconomic indicators, as of 25 February 2008; and
World Development Indicators database, World Bank, as of 1 July 2007.
As indicated earlier, one of the pillars of socio-economic development of any region is its
human capital development. Closely related with this is the development of higher education
and its perceived role in the overall development of a nation. Higher education as we know it
is critical in providing the necessary human intellectual input to transform a nation or region
into a knowledge-based and innovation-led society. In this regard, the Southeast Asian region
is no exception. In 2006, the region spent 3.5% of its combined GDP on education (Table 2).
Despite the diversity in higher education systems across the region, almost all Southeast
Asian countries face similar constraints and challenges. Higher education in these countries
generally continues to be under-funded despite escalating demand for access as the result of
expanding youth population and rising expectations. The quality of university education and
graduate unemployment have also become important issues in a number of countries. A
decade after the 1997 Asian economic crisis, the higher education sector in SEA is still
experiencing reforms in the areas of state funding, private sector involvement, academic
leadership, governance and curriculum development. We can only hope that these