This document contains three papers from a seminar conducted by the Universities Association for Continuing Education (UACE) on the theme of reading the Dearing report, "Higher Education in the Learning Society," which was released by the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education in the United Kingdom in July 1997. "What the Academic Community Said to Dearing" (Gareth Parry) explains how the academic community communicated its views to the Dearing committee and summarizes the academic community's views on higher education's place in the modern world, continuing expansion of HE, systemwide change in higher education, and assisted diversity. "What Dearing Said to the Academic Community" (David Watson) provides an overview of what the report says about higher education's purposes and contributions to lifelong learning; funding; and developing a new compact between the state, educational institutions, and students. "The UACE Agenda for the Post-Dearing World" (Richard Taylor) lists five key areas for the UACE to address: securing a proper, equitable funding system for mature students within higher education; implementing the credit framework regionally and nationally; supporting development of "teacher professionalism"; developing frameworks of regional cooperation and partnership in postcompulsory education and training; and helping to develop strategies for implementing widened participation and access. (MN)