Context: The German vocational training and education (VET) system is designed to cope with change. Within this system, organizational VET trainers (OVETT) are the main persons of reference for apprentices in the organization, in most cases for the whole three-year training period. Whether training can help to realize or maintain decent work also…

This study examines how Korean learners of Chinese perceive Chinese native speakerism, especially in relation to Choseonjok, or Korean-Chinese people. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 47 Korean learners of Chinese who attended private Chinese language institutes or in-company Chinese programmes. The transcribed interviews were…

The present trend in developing and using semi-direct speaking tests has been supported by test developers and researchers' claim of their increased practicality, higher reliability and concurrent validity with test scores in direct oral proficiency interviews. However, it is universally agreed within the language testing and assessment community…

This article explores the notion of the duality principle, as embodied in the German dual system of Vocational Education and Training (VET), within the context of a field survey of skill shortages faced by German and Indian firms operating in India. The study finds that these firms experience problems with the quantity and quality of skills…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of limited English proficiency on employee performance in manufacturing companies to help explain the degree to which employers are willing to invest in ESL or other initiatives designed to overcome language barriers. Design/methodology/approach: While the primary emphasis of this study…

The implementation of e-learning by companies in France is ongoing. One of their issues is to improve the learning experience of their employees. From our point of view, this implies that they must better understand the learning experience of the employees. This paper suggests a qualitative approach to learning in order to identify the diversity…

The authors present a comparative study of 2 in-company educational programs aimed at developing frontline operator capabilities in forensic methods. They discuss the relationship between the application of various forensic tools and conceptual techniques, the process (i.e., curriculum) for developing employee knowledge and capability, and the…

Reports on a study at the American Telegraph and Telephone Communications Company's Sales and Marketing Education Center to determine the nature of continuing education program development in a business setting. Findings indicate six developmental phases: (1) initiation, (2) planning, (3) materials development, (4) pilot, (5) delivery, and (6)…

Examines the literature from the last six years on retirement preparation in private industry. Research in four areas is reviewed: need for retirement preparation; extent of current industry programs; evaluation of these efforts; and alternatives to existing corporate programs. (CT)

Representatives of 86 local unions were surveyed regarding the level of union involvement in and control over programs in their workplaces. Results indicate that there is significant variation among local unions. (Author/JOW)

Data from a sample of 60,000 trainees shows that school, formal company, informal, and other types of training increased between 1983 and 1991; formal company training showed the biggest gain. Those with more education tend to get more training, females received more training than males, and manufacturing was more training intensive than the…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explain the rationale for designing and implementing an action learning and research process to significantly transform the work behaviour of tradition-bound bakers to embrace leading ideas of a new workplace culture in order to diversify the product range of the moon cake and generally improve the…

A project reviewed and classified adult literacy skills needed in industry and described nine industry-based literacy programs. The typology of such programs (direct/indirect; individual/group) provides a framework for analyzing industry perceptions of literacy needs. (SK)

The term 'work process knowledge' refers to the knowledge needed for working in flexible and innovative business environments, including those in which information and communication technologies have been introduced to integrate previously separated production functions. It involves a systems-level understanding of the work process in the…

Analyzes advice giving in counseling within labor market training. Shows how a stepwise entry works in a setting in which a counselor's role is that of a facilitator of learning. (Author/VWL)