A Glimpse of Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) Around the World

Abstract

In the last six years, the Ethiopian higher education system has witnessed a remarkable change unprecedented in its history in the form of the unanticipated emergence and expansion of Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs). Ethiopian PHEIs have attracted both the public interest and mistrust. Many have admired the opportunities they have created and the gates they have opened. Many others have abhorred them as ‘diploma mills’ and ‘certificate shops’. Notwithstanding the hurdles and challenges they face, Ethiopian PHEIs are growing in number and in the type and level of training they offer. This exploratory paper has been designed to: (a) examine the growth of PHEIs all around the world with the aim of putting Ethiopian PHEIs in perspective; and (b) outline some of the major elements that indicate the proliferation of PHEIs in Ethiopia. An attempt has also been made to suggest possible lines of practice both the government and PHEIs per se will have to follow in the future. Results of the exploratory survey and Log-linear analysis indicate that the growth of PHEIs is significant over the last six years.