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This chapter explores the theoretical and conceptual history of the global rise of the U.S. community college model, focusing on the common missing ingredient that remains elusive among the increasing numbers of these community‐based institutions.

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This special issue of Research in Comparative and International Education investigates the spread and development of two-year and community college institutions worldwide. While not all post-secondary education falls within the scope or definition of community colleges, both post-secondary and community college education tend to serve the needs of their local communities by bridging the gap between largely academic education and technical training. These institutions may be called by different names and may not be structured the same in all international contexts, but their core missions remain surprisingly consistent. The balance in emphasis between more academic versus more technical curricula and coursework in post-secondary education and community colleges often depends on the community context and student needs. In the case of community colleges there is also the added emphasis on providing all members of a particular community with learning that is open and accessible. The students that post-secondary education and community colleges serve come from various socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, races, cultures, and genders, but are often skewed towards those who are disadvantaged to some degree compared to others in higher education. Whether they provide these students with remedial education, technical training, the ability to transfer to four-year colleges or universities, or lifelong-learning opportunities, post-secondary education and community colleges adapt and model themselves differently around the world to meet these various community needs. This special issue identifies and analyzes some of the ways that post-secondary education and community colleges have developed and implemented their educational missions in different international contexts, but for similar purposes.