ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book identifies the challenges that face institutions and policy makers looking to develop systems and universities that unify post-secondary education. It presents the way in which the separate sectors interact; the emergence of dual sector universities; the importance of their title and status; and the impact of government and the market on the location of sector boundaries. The book discusses the experiences of comprehensive post-secondary universities managing across structural and policy boundaries between further and higher education within these different national contexts. It focuses on the operational challenges of managing a comprehensive post-secondary institution. The book includes contributions from institutional leaders and academic managers on the key leadership and operational issues of governance, curriculum, culture, and community. It also presents a variety of ideas and strategies for developing a coherent institutional identity across sector boundaries.
