This two-volume set contains a total of 67 essays on the subject of international higher education. The essays present up-to-date, statistical, and other factual information about the topic, as well as interpretations of those facts and figures. Fifty-two essays focusing on countries or regions are included. Volume 1 contains 15 chapters that deal with themes and topics, presented in a comparative framework, that address the most important topics relevant to contemporary higher education globally. Volume 1 contains articles on African and Asian countries/regions. Volume 2 begins with Australia and then offers articles on European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and North American countries/regions. The topics discussed in volume 1 include the following: academic freedom; the academic profession; accountability; university reform; student political activism; foreign students; graduate education; the costs of higher education; women and higher education; higher education and the labor market; the history of universities; private higher education; new universities--their origins and strategic development; and university research and the development of scientific capacity in sub-saharan Africa and Asia. Volume 2 provides the index, a bibliography, and a list of contributors. (GLR)