Title A comparative analysis of education, employability and economic growth across three global Small Island States Authors Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs School of Education Faculty of Arts, Law and Education The University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji Abstract A major issue facing the world today is that higher education is no longer a preferred and unchallenged option for high school graduate students and therefore universities are facing numerous risks. This paper explores the issues associated with low enrollments and high drop out rates through a deeper understanding of underpinning causes and factors such as employability, broadband access, tertiary education systems and HE-edunomics. In this research study we intend to conduct a preliminary meta-analysis of available socio-ecomonic data (including HE analytics) focused on three comparative countries (Small Island States) of Fiji, Mauritius and Jamaica. These countries are considered through a socio-economic comparison based on their geographic location, major industry, ethnic and cultural similarities, economic benchmarks, education etc. A comparative analysis reveals socio-economic trends across the three Small Island State countries and their connected interdependence and how this relates to higher education for future in-country educational policy, planning and practice. This study provides a rationale for “Sustainable Educational and Economic Development” (SEED) applied to the three Small Island States study and how this will inform the post 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.

1.
A
Compara)ve
Analysis
of
Educa)on,
Employability
and
Economic
Growth
Across
three
Small
Island
States
1
Madhumita
BhaAacharya
&
Steven
Coombs
School
of
Educa)on
Faculty
of
Arts,
Law
and
Educa)on

2. Educational
and
Economic
Opportunities
and
Challenges
into
the
Future
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14
A “smaller world”, more connected by technology and transport
A mounting information and new media tidal wave that needs
info-literacy as an educational and economic goal.
Global economic swings that affect everyone’s jobs and
incomes – greater vulnerability for small island states
Strains on basic resources:- water, food, and energy
The acute need for global cooperation and partnerships to
resolve environmental challenges and sustainability issues
Increasing concerns about privacy, security, and terrorism
The economic necessity to innovate to be globally competitive,
i.e. Knowledge Economy and the role of HEIs

3. Relationship of Higher Educaiton
and Economic Growth
• We cannot underestimate the power of
continuing education after high school, says
Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of The
Lumina Foundation.
• Higher Education for some people is not only an
educational issue, but an economic one and a
globally competitive one at that.
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

4. Sustainable Educational and
Economic Development (SEED©)
Economically
Responsive
Education
Self-
Employability
Employment
Creation
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

5. Social &
Community
Educational
Economic
Three Innovations of
Sustainable Development
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

6. Rationale of SEED linked to the Three
Islands Comparative Research Study
• To compare and contrast socio-educational and
economic trends across three similar Small Islands
States (SIS) to see what we can learn
• Contrasting the social, educational and economic data
we can identify baseline patterns for sustainable growth.
• Further research can identify linkages with social,
educational and economic policy and practice with useful
recommendations
• Further SIS research can widen the study to other similar
cases across the three main global theatres/regions

7. Mauritius
Fiji
Jamaica
Three Theatres of Small Island States: Indian Ocean, Pacific, & Caribbean
UNESCO Regional Universities USP, Univ. of West Indies
Geographical locations
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

8. Unemployment – three country
comparison: Fiji, Mauritius, Jamaica
7.6%
8.1%
14%
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

9. Comparative Analysis of Education Data - 2012
Category Fiji Mauritius Jamaica
Literacy Rate 93.7% 88.8% 88%
Secondary School Leaving Age 19 18 17
Educational Index 0.81 0.66 0.75
World Ranking (Out of 215) 100# 135# 137#
Tertiary Enrolments 2003 15.77% 16.56% 21.64%
Tertiary Enrolments 2005 16.15% 20.19% 21.34%
Tertiary Enrolments 2012 N/A 30.82% 40.32%
Why is it then that increases in HE enrolment rates does
not necessarily translate into improved economic
development? Complex set of issues.
Key Sources: World Bank socio-economic data 2012, webometrics (HE data),
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

10. Comparative Analysis - 2012
Category Fiji Mauritius Jamaica
Population .897 m (1) 1.32 m (1.47) 2.91 m (3.24)
Industrial Production Growth 4% 2.5% -2.4%
GDP per Capita USD 4.9K 15K 8.9K
Unemployment Rate 7.6% 8.1% 14%
Internet 12.83% 22.09% 54.72%
Secure Server (e-commerce) 36/m 132/m 51/m
Exports Value USD 0.90 b 2.67 b 1.75 b
Urban Population Growth 1.54% 0.46% 0.36%
Rural Population Growth -0.05% 0.39% 0.04%
Population Below Poverty line 31% 8% 16.5%
Geographical Area 7056 miles2 787 miles2 4444 miles2
Domestic Credit to Private Sector 78.42% 100.72% 28.85%
Domestic Credit provided by Banks 117.09% 113.63% 51.52%
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

11. Comparative Analysis - 2012
Category Fiji Mauritius Jamaica
Population .897 m (1) 1.32 m (1.47) 2.91 m (3.24)
Industrial Production Growth 4% 2.5% -2.4%
GDP per Capita USD 4.9K 15K 8.9K
Unemployment Rate 7.6% 8.1% 14%
Internet 12.83% 22.09% 54.72%
Secure Server (e-commerce) 36/m 132/m 51/m
Exports Value USD 0.90 b 2.67 b 1.75 b
Urban Population Growth 1.54% 0.46% 0.36%
Rural Population Growth -0.05% 0.39% 0.04%
Population Below Poverty line 31% 8% 16.5%
Geographical Area 7056 miles2 787 miles2 4444 miles2
Domestic Credit to Private Sector 78.42% 100.72% 28.85%
Domestic Credit provided by Banks 117.09% 113.63% 51.52%
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

12. Recommendations for Fiji Growth,
Investment and Development
• Investment in KE and secure broadband services
• Investment in value-add businesses in the service and
manufacturing sectors
• Increase in exports in manufacturing and services
• Increase in self employment and entrepreneurial activities
• Dynamic and responsive educational system – innovations
in knowledge and methods
• New approach towards fast leveraging of IP and patents
• Increase HE participation and retention rates
• Move towards SIS internal and external partnerships –
cross agency, government, industry development projects
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

13. New thoughts –
reconceptualisation of edunomics
• Paradigm shift in the role and definition of edunomics
to underpin the emerging SEED approach as part of
the post-2015 SDG agenda (see Ref’s)
• Financial management for education model of
edunomics needs to shift towards an economic and
educational investment system for leveraging
sustainable development, i.e. the SEED approach
• Q & A – further discussion
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

14. References & Sources
• http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/focussdgs.html
• http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2014%20MDG
%20report/MDG%202014%20English%20web.pdf
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh2thxojJHU
• http://country-facts.findthebest.com/compare/
90-107-184/Fiji-vs-Mauritius-vs-Jamaica
Fiji Update – conference Madhumita Bhattacharya & Steven Coombs, SoE, FALE 12,15, Aug,14

15. Our email contacts:
madhumita.bhattacharya@usp.ac.fj
mmitab@gmail.com
steven.coombs@usp.ac.fj
s.coombs@bathspa.ac.uk