🎓IMSPARK: Higher Education for All in the Pacific🎓

🎓Imagine... Higher Education for All in the Pacific🎓

💡 Imagined Endstate: 

The Pacific region has successfully increased the access and affordability of higher education for its residents, especially for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups. The region has fostered a culture of lifelong learning, innovation, and excellence, where everyone has the opportunity to pursue their academic and career goals.

🔗Link:

Ref Here

📚Source: 

Halliday, T., & Inafuku, R. (2024). Estimating the returns to higher education using administrative data: A case study of the University of Hawai‘i System. University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.

💥 What’s the Big Deal: 

The report by Halliday and Inafuku (2024) reveals that a college education from the University of Hawai‘i (UH) offers a significant investment return for its graduates. 🌏The authors find that lifetime earnings for bachelor’s degree holders are 27% higher than for those who exited the program without a degree. 💼 The report also shows that community college degrees and certificates can boost earnings and serve as stepping stones to four-year degrees.

Higher education is a key driver of economic and social development for the Pacific region, especially in the face of global challenges such as climate change, health crises, and technological disruption. 🏫By expanding the access and affordability of higher education, the Pacific region can empower its residents to acquire the skills, knowledge, and credentials they need to succeed in the 21st century. 🚀Higher education can also enhance the region’s competitiveness, diversity, and resilience, and contribute to its well-being and prosperity.