Community colleges in America have evolved a great deal from the establishment of the first community college in Chicago 117 years ago. The idea of American community colleges serves as a catalyst for connective solutions between industry, college, and the community on a global level. Global Adaptations of Community College Infrastructure provides emerging research on various contextual adaptations of the idea of the American community college as a connective solution to engaging community and industry. This research will help any nation or state forge policies on adapting the concept toward democratization of economic opportunities for all individuals as opposed to the current elitist system of higher education. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as diploma pathway programs and the development of education institutions in various countries, this book is ideally designed for academicians, economic and educational policymakers, higher education professionals, and individuals engaged in expansion and democratization of post-secondary education worldwide.
Community colleges serve more students than any other institutional type in the United States, and internationalization is an inherent component of community colleges that advances student knowledge, facilitates student success, and serves the needs of local communities. As most community college students do not enroll in four-year institutions, their only opportunity for international experience is while they are in community college. Study Abroad Opportunities for Community College Students and Strategies for Global Learning provides innovative insights into international study and education abroad through community colleges, while discussing the value of adding study abroad programs to two-year institutions. This publication examines community colleges’ contributions in a local society, study abroad opportunities, peacebuilding, international education, and risk management. Designed for administrative professionals, community college leaders, educators, academicians, and researchers, this book covers topics centered on study abroad programs at diverse community colleges.
This book presents a showcase of discussions and critical perspectives about Nepalese higher education. Its chapters cover topics such as the impacts of local sociopolitical changes and global forces on public and private education, emerging online and distance education, administrative and intellectual leadership, quality assessment, graduate employability, global mobility of students, and the contributions of global diaspora of Nepalese scholars. The central questions of the book are: What are some of the local and global academic interactions in Nepalese higher education and what are the current challenges and pathways for advancements and improvements? How can Nepalese higher education absorb twenty-first century values of quality education as external forces, while adapting new developments to local needs? How can scholars interested in Nepalese, South Asian, and international higher education create opportunities for scholarship and professional collaboration around research on higher education in this region of South Asia? What issues and perspectives can research and scholarship about Nepal’s higher education offer to international discourse in higher education? The book offers information and resources to international educators interested in the dynamics of Nepalese and, by implication, South Asian higher education by introducing key challenges in policy and programs, innovative changes in curricula, effective approaches in technology application, and strategies for future integration of global reforms in education.
Community colleges are essential in preparing the 21st century workforce. Research has indicated that there is a shortage of individuals prepared for skilled workforce opportunities, such as plumbers, electricians, and many others. In fact, while college is essential in workforce development, it is not the only route that can lead to a successful livelihood. Developing a skill that transfers into an essential trade is a route less taken. Community colleges are ideally situated to respond to the shortage of a prepared workforce by providing an array of programs that reach a wide range of individuals with talents that may not include a college degree. Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation in the 21st Century: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a comprehensive reference source that covers the essential role of community colleges in developing a skilled workforce via varying educational opportunities that include degree completion, workforce development, and skill enhancement. Readers will benefit from the book’s ability to advocate for the need for individuals with skillful trade options, provide different areas to consider as trade options, discuss the role of community colleges in preparing a workforce, examine the challenges that can arise for individuals with a trade, and present a global outlook on the workforce of the 21st century. Covering topics that include career pathways and STEM programs, the book is especially valuable for academic institutions that are looking to provide options for talent expansion. Leadership and education scholars, leadership practitioners within community college and university settings, leaders within workforce development sectors, researchers, and students will also find this reference useful for developing a skilled and competent workforce.
The book Shaping a Humane World through Global Higher Education: Pre-Challenges and Post Opportunities during a Pandemic, is a series of empirical studies and essays originally presented in the 2020 Virtual Star Scholar conference: The Humane World hosted by the University of Kathmandu, Nepal. The authors represent five countries: Australia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, and the United States. Their voices represent issues important in both the Global North and the Global South and what in particular is needed to design essential policies and training required to achieve success. Editors Edward J. Valeau, Ed.D. is Superintendent/President Emeritus of Hartnell Community College District in Salinas, California, USA. Rosalind Raby, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at California State University, Northridge, in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department of the College of Education, USA. Uttam Gaulee, Ph.D., is a Professor in the advanced studies, leadership, and policy department at Morgan State University, USA.
Social innovation is identified as a mechanism response to burning social challenges and the evolution of hybrid organizations such as social enterprises. As a result, there is an overwhelming growing interest among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to know more about the significant concept of social innovation. Despite this significance, it is often argued that the meaning of social innovation is ambiguous and vague with theory lagging social innovation practice as the field is nascent, emerging, and remains underdeveloped. This may impede the research endeavors of conceptualizing and establishing its socio-economic underpinnings and the legitimization of the field. Theoretical and Practical Approaches to Social Innovation illuminates and consolidates multiple views of social innovation theory, research, and practice, which to date have not been presented in one publication. The book provides an in-depth theoretical and practical understanding coupled with an assessment of the current research in multidisciplinary perspectives complemented by case studies representing each knowledge cluster in social innovation research. In this unique way, this book links theory to practice demonstrating praxis. While highlighting topics such as social enterprise, urban studies, management, ecological resilience, and social policy and networks, this book is ideal for students, academics, practitioners, researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to expand their knowledge, skills, and passion, and to sustainably pursue their social missions to bring about real social change that can transform communities and ignite innovative approaches to solving social challenges.
The application of theory to practice in addressing social transformation still has a lot of room for growth and improvement. This is also true of theory being informed by practice. Too often, there are gaps between what is studied in the academy and what is needed in the field. The academy develops theories in isolation from the everyday lives of people, especially in post-conflict environments. Communities seeking innovative ways to address their social needs can benefit from the learning of theories and research conducted within academia. At the same time, these methods need to be relevant to the local contexts within which they are being used. While there are certain norms of communication in the academy of how research is conducted and disseminated, there needs to be a translation into practical terms to be used in the field. Redefining Theory and Practice to Guide Social Transformation: Emerging Research and Opportunities addresses the need practitioners and social change agents have in finding processes and practices to use in the field to engage with and transform communities. This critical reference book provides an innovative fieldwork method that leads to social transformation and suggests ways to further develop the relationship between academic theories and practices around social conflicts with the existing local knowledge. The chapters include mini case studies that have been developed over the years from the authors’ work with youth and community leaders with the objective of providing a methodology that allows practitioners to approach the field by engaging with local actors in ways that are generative and trustworthy, yet rigorous. While highlighting the practices, notions, and technologies that are at work in conflict, post-conflict, or transitioning out of conflict settings by local community leaders, this book is ideally for practitioners in the field of conflict, peacebuilding, and social and conflict transformation; community leaders and social organizers; as well as practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in social transformation.
As higher educational learning enters a new age, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are seeking innovative ways to establish strategies to compete with other academic institutions. As establishments that have played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of higher education, HBCUs are facing rapid transformation and various obstacles leading to questions regarding to the cost, quality, and sustainability of these institutions. Examining Student Retention and Engagement Strategies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the role of HBCUs in today’s higher education and the various research methods addressing student retention rates, success levels, and engagement. While highlighting topics such as enrollment management, student engagement, and online learning, this publication explores successful engagement strategies that promote educational quality and equality, as well as the methods of social integration and involvement for students. This book is ideally designed for researchers, academicians, scholars, educational administrators, policymakers, graduate students, and curriculum designers.
In comparing one public school to another, discussions frequently include talk concerning the socioeconomics of a school or district, which then leads to talk about the advantages that one socioeconomic setting has over another. Educators tend to agree that low academic achievement frequently associated with a low socioeconomic status is a characteristic difficult to resolve for a population of school children. The Handbook of Research on Social Inequality and Education is a critical reference source that provides insights into social influences on school and educational settings. Featuring an array of topics including online learning, social mobility, and teacher preparation, this book is excellent for educational leaders, educational researchers, teachers, academicians, administrators, instructional designers, and teacher preparation programs.
