Publications
Articles by AUW
Spotlight on Women and Education
Studies concerning the importance of women's education in the developing world
- Basic education and gender equality: United Nations Girls Education Initiative (UNGEI)
This series of papers is aimed at promoting better education in South Asia, and grew out of a collaboration between the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI). The papers are focused on girls' education, but it is hoped that the focus will expand to general education issues in South Asia, with an emphasis on social inclusion. [Visit website]
- Education Strategy: Improving lives through learning, US Agency for International Development (2005)
This report from USAID presents an overview of the agency's education strategy, which includes a dual emphasis on teaching the basic skills for development, and supporting higher education objectives which enable people and nations to thrive in a changing social and economic environment. Their approach is based on extensive research, analysis and over fifty years of experience in more than 75 countries worldwide. Recognizing the significance of education's role in development, the report points out, “Beyond its impact on individual development, education plays a crucial and multifaceted role in economic growth, poverty reduction, and democratic governance.” [Download paper]
- What Works in Girls' Education: Evidence and Policies from the Developing World, Barbara Herz and Gene B. Sperling (Council on Foreign Relations, 2004)
Herz and Sperling’s study provides an excellent overview of the research on the status of girls’ education in the developing world and the positive impact this investment has on a broad range of areas—economic growth, political participation, women’s health and disease prevention, among many others. It outlines the most effective approaches to increasing girls’ enrollment and improving educational quality. [Go to website]
- Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education, World Bank (2002)
This extensive report from the World Bank focuses specifically on higher education. Taking into consideration the integral role of higher education in defining a country's status in an increasingly knowledge-based world economy, the report lays particular stress on the fact that "tertiary education can no longer be viewed as a discrete subsector of education. Rather, it must be seen as but once critical element that buttresses a holistic system of education - a system which must become more flexible, diverse, efficient, and responsive to the knowledge economy." [Download paper]