This document discusses higher education as a national asset for the UK in a global world. It notes key economic challenges like recovering from recession and improving growth. Globally, more 25-34 year olds will have tertiary degrees by 2020, especially in China and India. International students are increasingly mobile with Asia being a major source and destinations including the UK and US. Higher education provides private and public benefits and lower unemployment rates. The UK needs to increase the proportion of students attaining tertiary education to match OECD levels to support future prosperity.

1. Higher Education: a national asset in a global world
Deborah Roseveare
Head of Skills Beyond School Division
Directorate for Education and Skills
OECD
27 February 2013

2. 1. A global world
2. Higher education in a global world as a national asset for the UK
3. Higher education as a national asset for UK prosperity in a global
world

3. 1. A global world
2. Higher education in a global world as a national asset for the UK
3. Higher education as a national asset for UK prosperity in a global
world

4. Economic backdrop in a global world: current challenges
“Recovering from the recession, improving longer-term growth potential and
reducing inequality are key challenges for the UK economy. “
OECD Economic Surveys, United Kingdom, 2013

5. Economic backdrop in a global world: long-term prospects
2050
United States
Japan
Other G7
Other OECD
China
India
Other non-OECD
Source: OECD Economic Outlook 91, 2012

6. OECD demographic projections 2000 1 130 million
2050 1 334 million
men women
85+
80 - 84
75 - 79
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5-9
0-4
,10 ,8 ,6 ,4 ,2 ,0 ,0 ,2 ,4 ,6 ,8 ,10
Source: OECD

7. 1. A global world
2. Higher education in a global world as a national asset for the UK
3. Higher education as a national asset for UK prosperity in a global
world

8. Share of 25-34 year-olds with a tertiary degree
OECD and G20 countries, 2010
Other, 12 % United States, 14 %
Turkey, 2 %
Brazil, 3 %
Canada, 2 %
Spain, 2 %
129 million
Indonesia, 4 % 25-34 year- China, 18 %
olds with
United Kingdom, 3 % tertiary
education
Germany, 2 %
France, 3 %
Mexico, 3 %
Russian Federation, 11 %
Korea, 4 %
India, 11 %
Japan, 7 %
Source: OECD Projections

9. Share of 25-34 year-olds with a tertiary degree
OECD and G20 countries, 2020
Other, 12 % United States, 11 %
Turkey, 2 %
Brazil, 3 %
Canada, 2 %
Spain, 1 %
204 million
Indonesia, 6 % 25-34 year-
China, 29 %
olds with
tertiary
United Kingdom, 4 %
education
Germany, 2 %
France, 2 %
Mexico, 3 %
Korea, 3 %
Russian Federation, 7 %
India, 12 %
Japan, 4 %
Source: OECD Projections

10. 25-34 year olds with tertiary education in 2020
millions
160
China
140
120
India
100 United States
80 Russian Federation
60
Indonesia
40
Japan
20
United Kingdom
-
2000 2010 2020
Source: OECD projections

11. International students by destination
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
2000
1,500
2010
1,000
500
0
United Kingdom United States Total OECD Total non-OECD
destinations destinations
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

12. Origin of international students
United Kingdom destination All destinations
Asia Asia
Europe Europe
Africa Africa
North America North America
Latin America and Latin America and
the Caribbean the Caribbean
Oceania Oceania
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

13. International students as a share of all students in countrya
Tertiary-type A programmes Advanced research programmes
25 60
50
20
40
15
30
10
20
5
10
0 0
Australia United Austria Switzerland France New Switzerland France United New Australia United
Kingdom Zealand Kingdom Zealand States
a. Foreign students for France
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

14. 1. A global world
2. Higher education in a global world as a national asset for the UK
3. Higher education as a national asset for UK prosperity in a global
world

15. Net private and public benefits to higher education, 2008
Men Women
USD USD
private public private public
000s 000s
180 180
160 160
140 140
120 120
100 100
80 80
60 60
40 40
20 20
0 0
United Kingdom OECD average United Kingdom OECD average
converted using PPPs for GDP
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

16. Unemployment rates, 25-34 year olds
Below upper secondary
United Kingdom Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary
Tertiary education
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

17. Unemployment rates, 25-34 year olds
Below upper secondary
OECD Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary
Tertiary education
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

18. Share of 25-34 years with tertiary education
Tertiary-type B education Tertiary-type A and advanced research programmes
70
60
United Kingdom
OECD average
50
40
30
20
10
0
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

19. Educational attainment of 25-34 year-old non-student population
(2009)
United Kingdom OECD
Low Medium High Low Medium High
70% 70%
60% 60%
50% 50%
40% 40%
30% 30%
20% 20%
10% 10%
0% 0%
Low Medium High Low Medium High
Parents'educational attainment Parents'educational attainment
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

20. Educational mobility of 25-34 year-old non-students (2009)
Upward mobility Downward mobility
70%
60%
50% United Kingdom
OECD average
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Upward/downward mobility means attaining an education level higher/lower than parents
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

21. Educational background of tertiary students
(2009)
United Kingdom OECD
Proportion of 20-34 year old students in higher education by parents' Proportion of 20-34 year old students in higher education by parents'
educational attainment educational attainment
Parents' educational attainment in the total parent population (students Parents' educational attainment in the total parent population (students and
and non-students) non-students)
60% 60%
50% 50%
40% 40%
30% 30%
20% 20%
10% 10%
0% 0%
Low Medium High Low Medium High
Parents’ educational attainment Parents’ educational attainment
Source: OECD Education at a Glance

22. Thank you!
To learn more about the OECD Higher Education Programme
please visit our website: www.oecd.org/edu/imhe
If you would like to join the OECD Higher Education Programme1
please contact us at imhe@oecd.org
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