Postsecondary education and training institutions are viewed by countries around the world as engines for accelerating growth through human capital development needed for knowledge-based economies. Emerging economies in Asia too aspire to strengthen advanced skills and education systems in order to move up global value chains. While developing countries in Asia have recorded high growth rates in the last decade, they face possible stagnation unless they are able to upgrade the quality and capability of their work force in line with the demands of world markets.

Within this context, this publication arises from a knowledge partnership between ADB and the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan, formerly the ACCC) on skills development and TVET. CICan has partnered with ADB in the ADB International Skills Development series to advance dialogue on skills development between practitioners, policy makers, industry representatives and academia. This publication outlines the journey and success of the Canadian Community College models and approaches and their relevance to developing countries.