The Role of Higher Education in Youth Development

Abstract

The world today comprises over 3.5 billion people under 30 years of age, of which 89.7% live in developing economies. India and China alone claim the largest share of the youth population at 704 million and 497 million respectively. This proportion of Youth in the world's population is often referred to as “the youth bulge”. I wish to quote the statement of the Secretary General of United Nations Organisation, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, in the 2011 report of United Nations Organisation – “Young people (including young women) are more than our future. They are also our present both in numbers and how they drive political and social change” This statement acknowledges that young people are considered as valuable resources, essential human resources for nation building.