About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
The literature about postsecondary education in British Columbia has largely focused on public colleges and universities, while paying less attention to vocational colleges, apprenticeship, continuing education, and private institutions. Robert Cowin addresses that gap. He provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the contemporary provincial postsecondary system and examines the role of social justice, human capital formation, and marketization during five significant transitions. This dynamic approach provides a thoughtful critical analysis of the development of the institutional arrangements – the distribution of institutions by size, mission, type, and location – and policies that have shaped education in the province.
Contributor Notes
Robert Cowin is a former director of institutional research and planning at Douglas College, a community college in BC. He has worked for the Universities Council of British Columbia and in the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Job Training. He has prepared numerous reports for BC postsecondary policy makers and served on several province-wide committees.
Editorial Reviews
[...]the author impressively balances breadth and depth across substantive content and theoretical analyses.
— Historical Studies in Education
Cowin’s work serves as an exemplary contribution to Canadian higher education literature.
— Canadian Journal of Higher Education
