Are you a busy policymaker, researcher, or higher education stakeholder seeking rapid insights into international and regional higher education trends from the HE Policy Observatory’s wealth of data? The UNESCO-IESALC Policy Insights Series is tailored to your requirements. UNESCO-IESALC policy insights are concise digests distilling essential information and data from the HE Policy Observatory, presenting key findings on specific indicators or questions while offering succinct analyses of variations in higher education systems across countries and global regions.

Each UNESCO-IESALC Policy Insights addresses a specific topic or question reflected in the HE Policy Observatory. Each Insight includes: 

  • A short description of the topic or question addressed, and why it matters

  • A global analysis exploring how higher education systems in different countries, world regions or income groups compare

  • Suggestions for further data exploration and, when relevant, potential implications for higher education policy

Publications


Policy Insight 1: Which countries guarantee free public higher education by law?
IESALC – November 2023
UNESCO

Policy Insight 2: Which government level is responsible for higher education policies?
IESALC – January 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 3: Do governments use national plans to steer higher education?
IESALC – February 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 4: National examinations to access higher education
IESALC – February 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 5: Do countries use external quality assurance in higher education?
IESALC – February 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 6: Are quality assurance agencies for higher education autonomous by law?
IESALC – March 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 7: Do governments provide higher education scholarship programs?
IESALC – May 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 8: Which countries have a legislation to regulate higher education?
IESALC – May 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 9: Which countries recognize the autonomy of higher education institutions?
IESALC – May 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 10: Which countries recognize the right to higher education by law?
IESALC – May 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 11: Which governmental unit holds direct responsibility over higher education?
IESALC – July 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 12: Do countries establish the purpose of higher education in their national legislation?
IESALC – August 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 13: Which are the priority population groups for higher education scholarships?
IESALC – August 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 14: Which countries established a national agency for student financial aid?
IESALC – August 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 15: Which countries establish access quotas for higher education at the national level?
IESALC – September 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 16: Do countries aim to enhance internationalization in higher education teaching and research?
IESALC – September 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 17: Do countries recognize foreign higher education qualifications?
IESALC – October 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 18: Do countries aim to increase access to higher education?
IESALC – October 2024
UNESCO

Policy Insight 19: Do countries aim to foster inclusion in higher education?
IESALC – October 2024
UNESCO