What Is Higher Education?
There is some disagreement in the definitions of higher education. Some define it purely as education that will result in a college degree, at least an associate’s degree. Others believe it is the pursuit of any education at levels where attendance is voluntary. This doesn’t typically mean high school in places like the US, although there are voluntary high school dropouts. It usually means education from a school that offers post-secondary education. It should be noted that the definition of higher education could vary from country to country. Not all countries have compulsory education equivalent to what a person might get in an American high school. Some countries have little to no public schooling available and any education is for the privileged few instead of for almost all. Studying at high school level may not be compulsory in many countries, and some limit public schooling to a much younger age. Essentially, the term higher education can be broadly defined. In most of the West
Higher education offers a diverse range of institutions and courses such as first degrees, higher national diplomas or foundation degrees, amongst others. Many courses take place in universities, but plenty are also taught at higher education colleges, specialist art institutions and agricultural colleges. You can choose to study different courses depending on your preferences: the variety of courses available is constantly increasing. Why choose higher education? • Many higher education courses provide a vocational programme of study directly related to particular work areas, such as accountancy, sports science and teaching. • A higher education qualification is essential for initial entry to some careers – medicine, chartered engineering and architecture, for example. • A degree or HND usually improves your chances of obtaining a fulfilling job and your financial potential. • Universities and colleges bring together students from a variety of backgrounds. This interaction can strengt
By John V. Lombardi June 18, 2007 2:43 pm Many of us find it challenging to explain the American higher education system to non-academic audiences (and sometimes to academic audiences as well). The remarkable complexity and range of institutional types, organizations, financing, and governance often defy simple explanations, and global generalizations rarely convey much useful information. If we try to be comprehensive and thorough, people’s eyes glaze over quickly. Fortunately, the ACE publishes A Brief Guide to U.S. Higher Education, a very useful item now available in its 2007 edition. In about 60 pages, this guide provides a clear, concise, and effective survey of the landscape of America higher education along with a number of tables that offer a perspective on the scope and scale of the enterprise. The publication not only offers information describing the missions and characteristics of two-year, four-year, and other types of institutions, but gives a good synopsis of the roles
