THIRD WORLD DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES IN THE MILLENNIUM: THE ROLE OF RESEARCHERS AND ACADEMICS

Abstract

The concept of development has long been contested and argued over as various interests of the different stakeholders collide, in the pursuit of their varying objectives. Various alternatives have been postulated in attempt to replace old paradigms, to right the flaws associated with those paradigms. One important paradigm shift saw the emergence of sustainable development; a concept and a theory that has gained momentum and priority on the recent development agenda. However, though it has been of recent given much attention and thought as the most effective means to attain lasting and meaningful development that would serve not only the existing generation but also generations to come, sustainable development has been faced with lots of obstacles and challenges. These challenges and obstacles are nowhere more eminent than in the third world countries. Academic institutions with strong industry-grade research bases have long been known to support quality teaching efforts and to produce the graduate of the right quality to suite the job market needs. Countries with no core industry bases can still compete satisfactorily when properly guided, initially, through partnerships with countries that have them. When India, around the Mid 50’s, for instance, decided to industrialize its economy it set out by creating links with world-class academic institutions in the US. In just under three decades, India managed to get hold of a significant share of the global Software Industry market that many countries in the third world aspire to follow the Indian model. Ireland poses yet another example at transforming its economy into an industry-supported one; in just few years Ireland, with its tiny population of 3+ Million, managed to transform itself into one of the largest software exporting nations world-wide towards the late 90’s. Ireland now exports around $40 Billion worth in software annually, where its economy once depended heavily on agriculture In this paper, I took a look at the natural obstacles, Artificial challenges facing development, How can the role of Universities be like towards improving industry- related Education, why is the role of the industry and other external entities so important and the role of multinational firms at fostering development in third world Nations.