The Macmillan World Academic Data Base (also known as the World Higher Education Database (WHED)) was produced with C.D.I. Systems online publishing technology in association with Macmillan Publishers Ltd., the International Association of Universities (IAU), and the TRACE International Higher Education Information Network.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base provides exhaustive coverage of thousands higher education institutions worldwide, including descriptions and definitions of degrees and diplomas and information on educational systems in over 180 countries.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base is the most comprehensive reference tool available in the field of higher education worldwide.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base is fast and user-friendly, it is the most efficient way to find information about any higher education institution throughout the world.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base includes the databases of the International Association of Universities (IAU) and numerous other Institutions of Higher Education.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base contains two separate, but linked, databases:
International Association of Universities
TRACE International Higher Education Information Network.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base includes detailed information each countries educational system including

• Pre-higher education information
• Higher Education system
• Structure
• Main types of institutions
• Academic year
• Language of instruction
• Higher Vocational/Technical studies
• University level studies
• Teacher education
• Non-formal studies
• Grading

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base includes in-depth information on institutions; contact points (including email addresses), coverage, number of students (home and overseas), libraries and size of collections.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base is particularly useful to governmental and non-governmental agencies and bodies, both national and international, researchers and specialists in higher education, university managers, professors, international relations officers, education and career counselors, students and employers.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base is a useful resource for policy makers and planners, and anyone involved with academic cooperation, student exchanges and counseling, credential evaluation, research collaboration and career planning.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base includes the database of the International Association of Universities (IAU). The IAU founded in 1950, is the UNESCO-based worldwide association of universities. It brings together institutions and organization from some 150 countries for reflection and action on common concerns and collaborates with various international, regional and national bodies active in higher education. Its services are available to organization, institutions and authorities concerned with higher education, as well as to individual policy and decision-makers, specialists, administrators, teachers, researchers and students.

The Macmillan World Academic Data Base includes the database of TRACE an international computerized information network on higher education. TRACE is conceived to systematize data collection in higher education, develop comparable data and improve access to information on higher education. TRACE is organized as a consortium of national, regional and international nonprofit organizations, concerned with academic mobility, counseling of students and credential evaluation. TRACE is based on the exchange of information between its members. Each member provides full data on the higher education system and institutions of the country or region and, in turn, receives back the other members' data. Data are therefore more reliable as they emanate from original sources.