The unique value of the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook lies in the huge range of institutions it covers and the depth of its data. With over 2,500 pages of fully verified facts, it retains its long-standing reputation for keeping the academic world up to date with the growth and changes taking place in higher education in much of the English-speaking world, and is an essential 'buy'.

Sourcing information about universities, whether old or new, at home or overseas, can often be a problem. The Yearbook will answer many queries. Its profiles provide a 'snapshot' of an institution's development, the people who work there and the courses taught.

Which are the most popular features?

A recent survey revealed these to be the institutional data and contact details. Almost 61,000 telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web addresses are listed. With these, it is easy to make contact with specific areas within an institution: campuses, faculties, schools, departments, research centres and, also, managers responsible for central services such as admissions, libraries, finance, international affairs, public relations, purchasing and quality assurance.

Who uses the ACU Yearbook?

University heads and other senior institutional staff, academics and researchers including deans, heads of schools and faculty managers, continuing education professionals, university resource managers, international student recruiters, study abroad advisors, careers counsellors, librarians and students regularly consult the book. Internationally it is seen as a kitemark of quality. For potential students and researchers, and also those outside the sector, the book acts as a showcase of the credentials of ACU member institutions and a valuable directory of Commonwealth contacts.

The ACU's Global Network: 500 universities in 36 countries

Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Pacific, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe and, by special arrangement, Hong Kong and Zimbabwe.

University profiles

Facts and figures provide essential information:

• foundation date, history and location
• library holdings
• academic year: term/semester dates
• statistics: staff/student figures
• recurrent income levels

Courses and enrolment

Detailed entries help students to find out about opportunities overseas:

• entry to first degree courses: application procedures and basic educational requirements
• first and higher degrees: titles, course lengths and general admission requirements
• language of instruction
• academic awards: scholarships, bursaries, etc.

Study options

Extensive country guides match courses to universities. In Canada, for example, it is easy to see that Chinese features at eight institutions.

• Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom
• Levels: undergraduate, master's and doctoral

Higher education systems

Short introductions to higher education systems set the scene in the larger countries:

• academic year, pre-university education, admission to first degree courses, method of application, university finance, student finance
• maps pinpoint the location of institutions in many areas

150,000 key academics and managers

These extensive staff lists are one of the Yearbook's greatest assets and form the core of each university's entry:

• university heads and other senior management officers
• deans and secretaries of faculties/schools
• heads of departments
• departmental listings of all senior teaching and research staff (full professors, readers, senior lecturers/associate professors)
• directors of research and other centres
• administrative contact officers for central services
• heads of campuses/constituent colleges
• degree qualifications for all staff
• phone/fax numbers and e-mail addresses for faculties, departments and special centres

Research strengths

Summaries of key areas of departmental research complement the staff lists and provide an overview of each academic unit's work. The many and wide-ranging interests - folklore, rubber technology, Maori studies, geomatics, biokinetics, wildlife management, brain repair, brewing, pain management, didactics, investment policy - are all traceable through the extensive index system, which extends to over 29,000 entries.

Central services

Up to 45 central administrative areas are identified in most universities with details of the main contact officer. These areas include:

• academic affairs, accommodation, admissions, alumni, careers, computing services, conferences/corporate hospitality, distance education, estates and buildings, finance, industrial liaison, language training for international students, public relations, quality assurance and accreditation, sport and recreation, strategic planning, and student welfare

Affiliated colleges in Asia

In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, where teaching often takes place in colleges affiliated to a university, the colleges are listed alphabetically by location.

Four substantial indexes complete the scope of the Yearbook and allow for detailed and quick searches

• to the 2,700 university institutions, their constituent colleges and selected centres, and the location of affiliated colleges
• to the subjects of study offered by the 21,000 academic departments and subdepartments
• to the 150,000 academic and administrative staff listed in the university chapters
• to the 29,000 departmental research entries

Sample Chapters from the 2005 edition

• Africa: North-West University
• Asia: University of Science, Malaysia
• Australasia: Edith Cowan University
• Europe: Cardiff University
• North America: Université Laval

Price: £200 (£220 by airmail)
Discounted price to staff of ACU member universities: £160 (£180 by airmail)

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ISBN 978 0 85143 0249
ISSN 0069-7745
82nd Edition
October 2008
extent 2,500 pages, 2 volumes
Format 297 x 210mm