Community Colleges Around the World

Overview of Community Colleges Worldwide

• Community colleges provide workforce education and college transfer academic programs.
• In Australia, community colleges refer to private institutions running short courses, while Tertiary and Further Education colleges or TAFEs are equivalent to American community colleges.
• In Canada, colleges grant certificates and diplomas and offer their own degrees in business, technology, science, and other technical fields. Colleges also collaborate with universities to provide academic pathways for students.
• In India, community colleges offer diplomas, advance diplomas, and certificate courses.
• In Malaysia, community colleges provide vocational and technical skills training at all levels for school leavers and offer qualifications up to Level 4 (Diploma).
• In the Philippines, community schools function as elementary or secondary schools during the day and convert into community colleges at night.
• In the United Kingdom, community colleges are schools that provide additional services and education to adults and other members of the community.
• In the United States, community colleges are primarily public institutions that provide tertiary education and focus on certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees. Some students transfer to a liberal arts college or university after graduating.
• Community colleges are also the subject of research by various organizations and publications, and several peer-reviewed journals extensively publish research on community colleges.