Education and competencies within Belt and Road countries
International Journal of Educational Management
ISSN: 0951-354X
Article publication date: 14 August 2019
Issue publication date: 21 August 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between education and competencies from a comparative view, while controlling for background characteristics (e.g. parental education), home features (e.g. income) and country fixed effect.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilises an international data sets of 12 Belt and Road (B&R) countries participating in the PIAAC survey. Data are examined using regression models with “REPSET” Stata code. The focus on B&R countries is interesting as this recent economic and strategic development alliance might transform the contemporary global balance of power. Therefore, examining its educational development is important.
Findings
Findings reveal the higher the level of education, the higher the competency level in numeracy and literacy. Age was found to be negatively related to competencies, and gender was found to be dually significant. Among the examined B&R countries, Slovenia, Russia and Israel contribute the most to the numeracy, literacy and problem solving competencies (respectively) compared with other countries. The findings might contribute to the design of education for development policies aimed at increasing the level of state competitiveness while accounting for social cohesiveness.
Originality/value
The paper provides a comparative study into educational development of the B&R alliance, and therefore offers an insight of the developmental cooperation as it emerges. The focus on the B&R initiative is important as it is a strategic development alliance which might transform the contemporary global balance of power. Therefore, the examination of the above-mentioned relationships with the focus on B&R countries might advance the strategic design of this cooperation.
Keywords
Citation
Zahavi, M., BenDavid-Hadar, I. and Klein, J. (2019), "Education and competencies within Belt and Road countries", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 33 No. 6, pp. 1411-1430. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-03-2019-0100
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited