Demografinių pokyčių poveikis aukštųjų mokyklų veiklai : Lietuva pasauliniame kontekste

Abstract

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas demografinių pokyčių poveikis aukštųjų mokyklų veiklai bei aukštųjų mokyklų prisitaikymas prie dėl demografinių pokyčių besikeičiančios aplinkos, išskiriant naujas aukštųjų mokyklų veiklos strategines kryptis

Over the past decades, the population growth rate has been losing its pace in the developed countries of the world. However in some of them, including Lithuania, population has been decreasing. Current demographic situation implies a reduced number of students at higher education institutions. It is predicted that by 2020 the overall number of prospect students will have decreased by 40 per cent due to the on-going demographic changes. For a state with an extensively-developed network of higher education institutions this means a drastic reduction. The present article raises the following problematic questions: how have higher education institutions prepared themselves for facing challenges coming from the environment modified by demographic changes? What new strategic directions in higher education institutions operation are determined by a steadily-decreasing number of students? This research purposes: firstly, to inquire into the impact of demographic changes on higher education institutions activities, and, secondly, to determine how higher education institutions adapt to the changing environment. Objectives of the research include the following: 1. Show the trends in demographic changes and forecasts within the Lithuanian context; 2. Analyse the impact of demographic changes on the activities of higher education institutions, focusing on new strategic activities directions adopted by them; 3. Inquire into the adaptation of Lithuanian higher education institutions to the environment modified by demographic changes. Theoretical context of the subject under investigation is revealed by means of the systemic literature analysis method. The statistical data analysis method is used for grounding the theoretical approach. [...]