Audree Chase-Mayoral
Comparative and International Education

EDUCATIONAL BORROWING OF THE U.S. COMMUNITY COLLEGE MODEL

The phenomenon of educational borrowing, according to Phillips and Schweisfurth (2008) originated around 1830 when positive and negative experiences of foreign systems of education began to have an identifiable political purpose. Further, the phenomenon of globalization has increased this borrowing of educational policy and practice. This comparative study explores how tertiary level educational borrowing of the uniquely American community college system occurs in Thailand, India, and South Africa. Evidence suggests that this borrowing occurs in one of three ways: state-driven policy mandates, grassroots efforts, and a hybrid of policy and grassroots efforts. Using the mission and purpose of the U.S. community college model, the research shows that the borrowing in other nation-states mirrors the mission and purpose of that in the United States in terms of educating students to advance their skills in a community-based institution.

To learn more, please contact Tamara Palmer at tlp205@lehigh.edu or 610.758.3226.