A Theoretical Reflection on the Relationship Between Higher Education and Social Cohesion; Brief Review of Malaysian Experience

The notion of "long life learning" inspires the impact of education and particularly higher education on the processes and patterns of interaction. Social cohesion is one of the most obvious interactive and education-based processes, which is the effect of different factors, trends and historical and social structures, especifically higher education. This article aims at undrestanding of relationship between higher education and social cohesion and application of its propable results in the planning of higher education in Iran. Its main question is centered on "how the higher education contributes to the formation of social cohesion and its promotion"?The method applied, in this research is library-documentary and in the case study section is the combination of documentary and observation method, which both are inspired by theoretical framework of "Olena and Heyneman". Accordingly, higher education impacts on social solidarity through the content of careers, production and reproduction of academic culture and behaviors, building sustainable networks, founding of stabilizing traditions, building consensus about social contracts and creation of social capital, which in turn lead to the formation and reinforcement of social cohesion.In Malaysia, which the social life is running in the light of ethnic lines and distinctions, the higher education system considered as an important structures, bridging social and ethnic cleavages by adding compulsory course of "ethnic relations" for all majors and degrees. Regarding this experience, the article reviews Iran's higher education system critically and proposes some suggestions.