تحصیلات، مهاجرت و بیکاری: نگاهی به آموزش عالی در ایران و برخی کشورهای منطقه

Objective: Higher education, as the most influential institution responsible for achieving national development goals, should critically evaluate its programs, policies, and structures while leveraging the successful experiences of other countries. This study examines university education in Iran and selected regional countries from economic, educational, and social perspectives.
Methods: This applied research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing cross-sectional data from 2014 to 2023. The study employs secondary data analysis, relying on statistics and information from national and international institutions. The research focuses on Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Results: In all studied countries (except for minor fluctuations), the share of higher education expenditure in GDP has generally declined. The UAE exhibits the highest fluctuations in net higher education enrollment, reflecting rapid policy shifts. In contrast, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia show the most stable trends, while Iran and Turkey have experienced declines since 2019. The highest unemployment rates are observed in Iran, followed by Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The UAE and Saudi Arabia lead in attracting foreign students, indicating active university internationalization policies and investments in globally competitive higher education. Conversely, Iran and Pakistan have the lowest rates, likely due to political-economic constraints and inadequate infrastructure for international students. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, strong correlations exist between higher education budgets, enrollment rates, immigration policies, and unemployment reduction. In Iran and Turkey, enrollment and unemployment are closely linked, yet policies have failed to curb unemployment effectively. Pakistan shows no significant relationship between these variables.
Conclusion: The interplay between higher education and economic indicators is heavily influenced by national policy frameworks. Countries with cohesive strategies (e.g., Saudi Arabia and the UAE) demonstrate greater success, whereas others face structural inefficiencies. Key recommendations include: reforming higher education to align with labor market demands; supporting startups and private-sector collaboration; developing national employment policies through university-industry partnerships; diversifying economies to reduce reliance on natural resources; and fostering innovation-driven industries.
Keywords: Higher education, policy evaluation, educational policies, education, immigration, unemployment