Southeast Asia, Higher Education in

Southeast Asia consists of 11 countries: (1) Brunei, (2) Cambodia, (3) Indonesia, (4) Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), (5) Malaysia, (6) Myanmar, (7) Philippines, (8) Singapore, (9) Thailand, (10) Timor-Leste, and (11) Vietnam. These 11 countries vary dramatically in many ways including religious traditions, colonial histories, and income levels. Despite the diversity, there are commonalities with regard to issues and challenges that Southeast Asian countries face. This entry describes the developmental history of higher education in Southeast Asia that influenced the current higher education system. The entry highlights the rapid expansion of higher education in Southeast Asia in the first two decades of the 21st century that has resulted in many issues and challenges. The entry concludes with a discussion of some of the ...