More Good News for Higher Education in Developing Countries

Plenty has been said and written about the importance of education--especially for women--in fighting poverty. In Africa politicians often tout that education is free and open to all. The truth is that while there may not be tuition charges to attend primary schools, there are often other fees like school uniforms and books that make it impossible for families to afford. After 8th grade things get even worse with few free secondary schools and very limited university options. As for post university education, most Africans lucky enough to access it must do so by earning scarce scholarships to come to the West. With the introduction of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program however, things may be changing for the better.

The Goldman global initiative--to which they are committing $100MMM over the next 5 years--will provide 10,000 women, mainly in developing and emerging markets, with a business and management education, through shorter and more feasible certificate programs and in limited cases full MBA opportunities. "The initiative will invest in a largely untapped yet significant resource – the exponential power of women as entrepreneurs and managers around the world."

Importantly, 10,000 Women will incorporate business schools in Africa, India and South America as well as Europe and North America. They will also seek to better understand and improve local conditions that often inhibit women from pursuing business and entrepreneurial opportunities. To learn more about the program, check out the video of the launch event that took place at Columbia University earlier this year.