While active citizenship education programs are assumed to have positive benefits for the active citizenship practice of participants (UNESCO, 2009, p. 4), there is actually little evidence that programs do (de Weerd, Gemmeke, Rigter & van Riji, 2005, p. vii). This paper discusses a research project that aimed to determine and increase the…

Community development and adult learning have long shared a common agenda--and often a common fate. People in both sectors are concerned with supporting people to develop their skills and knowledge, and to put them to use in the world around them. They often share a belief in social justice and democratic process as guiding principles for their…

Education is one of several approaches that will be employed in addressing the energy issue. It is not, however, the only vehicle for influencing change, and it will have to be linked in a complementary fashion to technological, economic, and regulatory approaches. (LRA)

Relates how Pima Community College was selected to assess the health, education, and welfare needs of South Tucson, Arizona. Describes the use of an advisory committee; panels for health, education, and welfare; interviews with selected residents; and a survey of service agencies. Enumerates study findings and recommendations. (AYC)

Assessments of learning needs of community development practitioners were conducted at a university, two government agencies, and two associations in Canada. Assessments were conducted from the top down, limiting practitioners' ability to define their needs. Recommendations were oriented toward institutions rather than staff members. (SK)

An assessment of four community-based agricultural initiatives in South Africa's former Black Homelands indicates that the success of such ventures in terms of community self-reliance, job creation, and poverty alleviation depends upon access to markets; community resources and infrastructure; and training and technical assistance provided by…

To examine the potential role of community social work in developing countries and the extent to which social workers in those countries are prepared, data from 22 schools of social work and 43 social work courses were analyzed. The authors emphasize that more community work teaching is needed. (MF)

Identifies two competing tendencies in higher education: becoming more market-oriented and working for the benefit of society. Argues that partnerships between the community and institutions of higher education are an effective way of contributing to community development. Describes the potential of South Africa's historically disadvantaged…

Reviews the relationship between higher education and the community, proposing an alternative mission for urban community colleges. Recommends the training and involvement of community professionals as linkage agents, independent contractors/enablers, community consultants, change agents, and adult educators. Outlines problem areas in rapidly…

Two-hundred and seventy-five service providers in a rural location with a high concentration of older people (age 60+) were queried about types of needs, obstacles to learning, and program development. While instrumental needs are generally recognized, need perception is based on occupational orientation, though age and number of contact hours are…

Reflects upon the importance of education to community development, summarizing opportunities for informal and formal education. Poses questions about educational objectives and expectations vis-a-vis the responsibilities of learners, community college administrators, and the electorate. Discusses the changing financial needs and goals of…

Describes and evaluates a project undertaken to reform teacher training in Sri Lanka so that it would be more focused toward community development. Major successes of the program were that it helped educators understand the potential resources available at the village level and encouraged them to stress multi-disciplinary approaches toward…

As a legacy of apartheid, South Africa's higher education system is differentiated along racial lines in terms of institutional areas of specialization, research production, and graduate education. The University of the Western Cape's 1982 mission statement, which defined its oppositional role under apartheid, might be revised to address the tasks…

Presents the social indicators approach (which infers needs from currently existing descriptive data) and the key informants technique (which secures information from individuals with insight into community needs) as alternatives to the community needs assessment survey. Considers both approaches more cost-effective and successful for diagnosing…

Suggests that school-to-work initiatives can be an important policy tool for rural development. Discusses key components of school-to-work systems (school-based learning, work-based learning, and connecting activities); national and international trends impacting rural economies; rural advantages and weaknesses related to economic development; and…