This book provides a single source of reference for educators interested in understanding how industry-based ideas have been adapted into different educational contexts, and supports their utilisation in practice. The link between industry-based ideas and their application in education has enabled educators to develop engaging, collaborative, and…

Streamlining the vocational qualification development process in Australia is a current priority of the skills ministers of both the Australian Government and state and territory governments. This research summary explores the development processes associated with vocational qualifications in selected countries and compares them with the current…

This project is focused on the second element noted by the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) to streamline the national vocational education and training (VET) system so that it can better respond to the needs of industry -- faster development of qualifications. It looks at the vocational qualification development processes in different…

It has become increasingly difficult to succeed in the U.S. workforce with only a high school diploma. While 75% of the middle-class workforce had only a high school education in the 1970s, that percentage dropped to below 40% by 2007. An estimated two-thirds of all jobs in 2020 will require some postsecondary training, up from just a quarter of…

Discusses how companies can benefit from cooperative education (lower labor and recruitment costs; improved employee retention and work performance), types of jobs appropriate for co-op (assistant; project work; trainee); types of structures available, and how to establish a cooperative education program. (JOW)

Vocational education planning is complex and extensive and requires the proper and adequate involvement of business and industry circles in program development. To rebuild their institutions and replenish adversely affected systems and depleted resources after World War II, industrialized nations have implemented education and training for…

Looks at steps needed to create an effective building trades program: (1) identify political and financial obstacles, (2) identify industry needs, (3) identify local assets, and (4) create long- and short-term goals. (JOW)

This article describes examples of new food product development activities engaged in at the University of Minnesota Technical College with local industry, showing how they have been used as teaching models in the classroom. These activities have led to a program of New Product Development Assistance for small food companies in southeastern…

A team approach utilized by Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and the Kinney Shoe Corporation is described. The project (1) developed new and innovative services for postsecondary DECA members, (2) increased membership in the Junior Collegiate Division of DECA, and (3) involved local businesspersons in Junior Collegiate DECA…

Vocational educators, policymakers, and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) service providers are developing an increasing awareness of the educational and economic benefits of joint planning and coordination between vocational education and the JTPA. However, some basic differences between the goals, planning procedures, and operating practices…

Many career and technical education (CTE) programs rely heavily on support from the business community to serve their students. However, there is very little information available on building solid business-education partnerships. Most people in the business world will say that they care about education, but how can educators find the people…

The establishment of a small business training and assistance center involves the following steps. First, select a task force to determine the feasibility of establishing a center by conducting preliminary needs and resource assessments. Second, involve the community as early as possible in the planning and development of the center by such means…

One of eight sections of a handbook for use by vocational teacher educators in improving vocational teacher education linkage with business, industry, and labor, this third section is designed to promote the use of the cooperative internship approach to utilizing resources of the private sector. (Cooperative internships, as defined here, encompass…

Faced with a changing economy, the Houston Community College System (Texas) set goals and objectives to pull together its resources in response to the crisis in the Houston area. This article describes successful strategies and approaches used to network, market, and develop company partnerships and training activities to meet local needs. (Author)

The author discusses cooperative education: how it is viewed by private enterprise and where it fits into higher education's framework. The cooperative education program at California Polytechnic State University is examined: faculty responsibility, rationale for the program's existence, and reasons for the program's importance. (CT)