Knowledge leaves the universities... fast.

Big changes happening in education:  Great article on Innovating the 21st century University by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams.  And take a close look at the New York Times Knowledge Network, a brand- new approach that combines a global brand, knowledge, university partnerships, on-line learning, and vast marketing expertise. Think what this could look like in five years, and what is now possible to deliver to the developing world.

Maybe this explains why last week Alex Herder, a 25-year old friend and entrepreneur in animation about difficult topics like HIV prevention, told me, "You know in ten years, no one is going to be paying tens of thousands of dollars for four years at a university." I am beginning to believe him.  Think how that would level the playing field between rich and poor -- and it's already well underway.

Here's how it all connects to the Development Marketplace mission.  Innovation depends on knowledge.  Lack of access to knowledge has always been a severe constraint for developing countries.  But the signs are clear -- university-level education is becoming much more available to a global audience.  Aleem's post two days ago about the decentralization of knowledge frames the changing situation nicely. 

The opportunities and challenges for those of us based in organizations such as the World Bank Institute engaged in capacity development and training delivery to developing nations are enormous.  Can we keep up?  Even more importantly, will we lead?