This collection of 15 essays provides a state of the art report on research activities in higher education since the early 1980s. It includes: (1) "Research on Higher Education: Global Perspectives" (Philip G. Altbach); (2) "Research on Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa" (Corbin Michel Guedegbe); (3) "Research on Higher Education in a Multitude of Systems: The Case of the Arab Region" (Shafiqa E. Abbas); (4) "Research on Higher Education in South Asia: Old Problems and New Challenges" (N. Jayaram); (5) "Research on Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Quest for Increased Coordination and Relevance" (Carmen Garcia Guadilla); (6) "Research on Higher Education in Western Europe: From Policy Advice to Self-Reflection" (Edgar Frackmann); (7) "Research on Higher Education in Central and Eastern Europe: Accumulated Experiences and New Frameworks" (Hanna Jablonska-Skinder and Jan Sadlak); (8) "Research on Higher Education in Australia and New Zealand" (Martin Hayden and Sharon Parry); (9) "Research on Higher Education in a Decentralized Academic System: The Case of Canada" (Glen A. Jones); (10) "Research on Higher Education in China" (Zhou Nanzhao and Chen Fangping); (11) "Research on Higher Education in Japan" (Akira Arimoto); (12) "Issues and Prospects for Research on Higher Education in the Russian Federation" (Nikolai D. Nikandrov); (13) "Research on Higher Education in a Mass and Diversified System: The Case of the United States (James C. Hearn); (14) "Research on Higher Education and the Activities of International Organizations: Multiplicity of Interests, Needs and Forms" (Klaus Hufner and others); and (15) "Higher Education as an Object of Research: A Reflection" (Jan Szczepanski). (Individual essays contain references.) (MDM)