In comparison with the context in which reforms usually occur, the current vocational education and training (VET) reforms in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and New Independent States (NIS) have these two unusual aspects: breadth, range, and depth of VET reforms are extremely large; and the reform process is exceptionally rapid. The European…

This series of articles presents a variety of studies related to employment opportunities for the disabled, stimulating economy and employment, and new job creation. These studies are related to both developed and developing countries and are also concerned with the international division of labor. (SSH)

Higher education must prepare graduates for a globally connected world. While most international education is geared to specialists, Connecticut College is attempting to bring an international perspective to all undergraduate liberal arts disciplines. Other New England colleges can contribute by building a globally competitive workforce,…

Describes surveys done by Hartnell College's Salinas Valley Region Business Retention and Economic Advancement Project, which collected data from regional businesses concerning workforce and training issues. Results were used in two ways: (1) to reshape services to specific businesses thereby leading to regional business retention; and (2) by the…

Describes the development and current status of educational systems in 14 small nations or self-governing states in the South Pacific. Indicates that a primary concern is educational access and equity. Contends that the driving force behind all educational endeavors is to balance economic development with preservation of the cultural heritage.…

The rural community college has evolved into a multipurpose institution that meets lifelong learning needs and the economy's demand for information and skills. The best institutions merge an applied higher education with extension-like services for local industry. New challenges facing rural community colleges include competition from other…

The United States has never had a consistent, unified work force development system. Instead, because of citizens' preference for decentralized government, most efforts at work force development have been sporadic and localized. From the 1960s until the early 1990s, Congress enacted between 125 and 175 narrowly-focused categorical employment…

The sequel to "Workforce 2000," this book lays out the general contours of the employment landscape depicting the many roads to "Workforce 2020" and offers the best ideas about what lies ahead and what workers should do to prepare for the journey. Chapter 1 examines the forces shaping the U.S. economy: rapid technological change; further global…

In order to maintain and improve its residents' standard of living, Colorado must develop an internationally competitive work force for the 21st century. To achieve this goal, a fully integrated, improved, and updated work force development system must be established. This system will require an ongoing partnership among business and industry,…

The Department of Labor's (DOL's) worker protection functions touch the lives of nearly every worker. Its approaches to carrying out these functions may have met the needs of an earlier time, but today's work world presents new demands and challenges to the federal government's traditional role. Today it is time to question the DOL's role in the…

This study examines the intent and operation of postsecondary education linkages with business and industry. Following an introduction, chapter II describes the Industry Services Training Program, which provides occupational training for jobs created by new, expanding, and diversified industry, and the Sunshine State Skills Program, which helps to…

A study examined the relationship between job training delivery systems and local economic development to determine what kinds of organizational relationships work best to promote coordination. The 6 sites selected from over 80 nominations were chosen because they linked job training with economic development efforts; produced sustained, positive…

This paper explores, from two perspectives, the potential contribution of U.S. occupational information systems and other related programs to human resources development (HRD) in other countries, particularly in developing countries. The first perspective arises from initial and subsequent research on occupational information systems design and…

A six-year project is planned to assist in improving a skill training system responsive to the Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) economic policies and labor market needs. The project is designed to achieve its objectives by focusing on three components. The Human Employment and Resource Training Trust (HEART) component is concerned with policy…

Contributions of rural high schools to their local economic climate are both underestimated and undervalued. Functions that high schools can and should perform in rural economic development today include providing occupational training to meet immediate labor market needs, raising community educational attainment levels to meet long-term…