Editorial.

The article focuses on papers related to higher education published in the October 2003 issue of the journal "Higher Education Quarterly." Separately the papers trace the recent history and development of college-based higher education in each territory, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The papers were presented at an invitation seminar held at The British Academy on June 12, 2002. Apart from the growing interest in home international studies and comparisons, especially in the post-devolution period, there were a number of contemporary policy reasons for focusing on this theme.