This book presents international perspectives on access and participation of adults in higher education in selected European countries. The book begins with an introduction by Pat Davies and includes papers detailing and providing examples of practices and policies of higher educational institutions regarding adult students in the following countries: Australia (Postle); Austria (Benn); Belgium (Bourgeois, Guyot); Denmark (Cooke); England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Parry); France (Davies); Germany (Davies, Reisinger); Italy (Parker); The Netherlands (Spackman, Owen); Scotland (Osborne, Gallacher); and Spain (Osborne). The final paper, "Themes and Trends" (Davies), synthesizes the information presented in the reports on individual countries regarding the following aspects of access to and participation of adults in higher education: expansion of programs and recruitment efforts, cost effectiveness and program efficiency, horizontal diversity, vertical diversity, autonomy and admissions, alternative entry, and different definitions of the term "adult student." A total of 55 tables/figures, a subject index, and author profiles are included. (MN)