Jim Gallacher is Emeritus Professor of Lifelong Learning at Glasgow Caledonian University. Fiona Reeve is Senior Lecturer in Lifelong Learning at the Open University.

"New Frontiers for College Education: International Perspectives, edited by Jim Gallacher and Fiona Reeve, brings together a unique collection of scholarly articles from all over the world that traverse the broad terrain of College Education. The 15 chapters of the book give a first-hand overview of the role for further education colleges in the context of vocational education on the one hand and tertiary education on the other. It gives detailed answers on the future role of colleges in a changing world and is a "must read" for researchers, educationalists and policy makers from all over the world."Prof. Dr Matthias Pilz, University of Köln."The great merit of this collection is to lay claim to a concept of college education and consider its many forms and functions from a cross-national perspective. In charting the changing patterns of college education in diverse jurisdictions, the country studies highlight the extent to which general education, skills formation, apprenticeship training, higher education and lifelong learning is common or central to the college contribution. Debates about whether colleges should pursue comprehensive or specialist missions now have a guiding text."Gareth Parry, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Sheffield.

• Section 1 The changing context for colleges1 New Frontiers for college education: the challenges.Jim Gallacher and Fiona Reeve2 Technical and professional education – a defining rolefor further education colleges? Martin Doel 3 Post Leaving Certificate Education in Ireland: Managing Different GoalsEmer Smyth, 4 New frontiers in college educationPaul LittleSection 2 Skills, colleges and vocational education and training5 FE colleges in England and the skills policy agendaEwart Keep6 SkillsFuture: Breaking New Ground, Creating New Pathways Ng Cher Pong7 The art of balance: how Chinese vocational education integrates with industryNi Tang and Dayong YuanSection 3 Colleges and vocational qualifications8 Apprenticeships and social mobility: real choices for young peopleConor Ryan, (Director of Research and Communications Sutton Trust)9 Is there a higher level skills gap that colleges can fill?Fiona Reeve and Jim Gallacher10 How are ‘applied degrees’ applied in Ontario colleges of applied arts and technology?Gavin Moodie, Michael L Skolnik, Leesa Wheelahan, Qin Liu, Diane Simpson, and Edmund G. Adam 11 Problems and Challenges of Full-time and School-based VET in GermanyThomas DeissingerSection 4 Relationships between further and higher education12 Seeking distinction and addressing inequalities: an analysis of new times for college-based higher education in EnglandAnne-marie Bathmaker 13 Social justice and widening access to higher education in Scotland: the role of Scottish collegesSheila Riddell and Lucy Hunter Blackburn14 The American Community College: Complex Missions, Challenging Reforms Kevin J. Dougherty, Hana Lahr and Vanessa S. Morest Conclusions15 Challenges for college education: reflections and some conclusionsJim Gallacher and Fiona Reeve

Jim Gallacher is Emeritus Professor of Lifelong Learning at Glasgow Caledonian University. Fiona Reeve is Senior Lecturer in Lifelong Learning at the Open University.

"New Frontiers for College Education: International Perspectives, edited by Jim Gallacher and Fiona Reeve, brings together a unique collection of scholarly articles from all over the world that traverse the broad terrain of College Education. The 15 chapters of the book give a first-hand overview of the role for further education colleges in the context of vocational education on the one hand and tertiary education on the other. It gives detailed answers on the future role of colleges in a changing world and is a "must read" for researchers, educationalists and policy makers from all over the world."Prof. Dr Matthias Pilz, University of Köln."The great merit of this collection is to lay claim to a concept of college education and consider its many forms and functions from a cross-national perspective. In charting the changing patterns of college education in diverse jurisdictions, the country studies highlight the extent to which general education, skills formation, apprenticeship training, higher education and lifelong learning is common or central to the college contribution. Debates about whether colleges should pursue comprehensive or specialist missions now have a guiding text."Gareth Parry, Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Sheffield.

• Section 1 The changing context for colleges1 New Frontiers for college education: the challenges.Jim Gallacher and Fiona Reeve2 Technical and professional education – a defining rolefor further education colleges? Martin Doel 3 Post Leaving Certificate Education in Ireland: Managing Different GoalsEmer Smyth, 4 New frontiers in college educationPaul LittleSection 2 Skills, colleges and vocational education and training5 FE colleges in England and the skills policy agendaEwart Keep6 SkillsFuture: Breaking New Ground, Creating New Pathways Ng Cher Pong7 The art of balance: how Chinese vocational education integrates with industryNi Tang and Dayong YuanSection 3 Colleges and vocational qualifications8 Apprenticeships and social mobility: real choices for young peopleConor Ryan, (Director of Research and Communications Sutton Trust)9 Is there a higher level skills gap that colleges can fill?Fiona Reeve and Jim Gallacher10 How are ‘applied degrees’ applied in Ontario colleges of applied arts and technology?Gavin Moodie, Michael L Skolnik, Leesa Wheelahan, Qin Liu, Diane Simpson, and Edmund G. Adam 11 Problems and Challenges of Full-time and School-based VET in GermanyThomas DeissingerSection 4 Relationships between further and higher education12 Seeking distinction and addressing inequalities: an analysis of new times for college-based higher education in EnglandAnne-marie Bathmaker 13 Social justice and widening access to higher education in Scotland: the role of Scottish collegesSheila Riddell and Lucy Hunter Blackburn14 The American Community College: Complex Missions, Challenging Reforms Kevin J. Dougherty, Hana Lahr and Vanessa S. Morest Conclusions15 Challenges for college education: reflections and some conclusionsJim Gallacher and Fiona Reeve