Mapping Community Colleges Around the World: Comparative Perspectives and Collaborative Pathways

This volume highlights effective policies, frameworks, and practices that strengthen community colleges and their global counterparts. It examines challenges and opportunities across diverse contexts, offering shared and context-specific solutions. The collection fosters collaborative pathways among institutions, industries, and governments to promote student success and socioeconomic development. Featuring contributions from trustees, presidents, scholars, and practitioners, the book amplifies the visibility of this vital educational sector and advances the global discourse on community college models.

Editors:

Robin Matross Helms, Krishna Bista

Table of Contents

Editors’ Introduction

Robin Matross Helms and Krishna Bista

The Global “College Sector”: Definitions, Characteristics, and Challenges

Rosalind Latiner Raby and Edward J. Valeau

Pioneering Skills for Tomorrow: Croatia’s Regional Centers of Competence

Lucia Brajkovic

“Respected and Growing”: Technical Education in Colombia

Thomas Milligan

South African Community Colleges: The Impact of South Africa’s TVET Sector on the Development of South Africa

Birgit Schreiber

Foundations and Evolution of Community Technical Colleges in Malawi

Mastano N. Dzimbiri

Regional Approaches: TVET in the South African Development Community

Birgit Schreiber

Life-Long and Open Learning Centers in the Syrian Arab Republic

Ranwa Khorsheed

Community Colleges in Pakistan: Promoting Access and Quality Education

Aisha Naz Ansari, Sohail Ahmad, and Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta

Can We Fill the Seats Next Year? Challenges Facing Two-Year Colleges in South Korea

Jungmin Lee

Igniting Innovation: Lessons Learned from U.S. Community College Leadership

Julius Fleschner and Michael Lanford