Good Practice in Cost Sharing and Financing in Higher Education

Higher education will have increasing importance in channeling human resources to support social development and economic growth but faces resource constraints and competing priorities in the developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Sudden and large shifts of government financing to higher education in DMCs may derail adequate funds for basic and secondary education. It is thus critical that new paradigms be found for financing higher education. With its well-developed framework for planning, project preparation, and analysis, and its excellent track record in education, ADB is well positioned to provide leadership in this important area. This good practice guide focuses on policy options, strategies, and practical tools for identifying and obtaining information to feed into country-specific dialogue concerning funding shortfalls and innovative methods of higher education finance, including partnerships with the private sector.