This book is intended to promote the development of systems of continuing education and describe some of the principles involved in establishing them, at either a national or regional level. The book is designed for workshop organizers, workshop participants, and persons interested in promoting continuing education systems. Resources are provided for a five-day workshop in which participants review the existing provision of continuing education in their countries or areas, identify ways in which this provision could be improved, prepare policy documents, outline programs, and agree on a specific plan of action that would lead to the development of an improved system of continuing education. Part 1 (over 50 percent of the book) provides detailed explanations of the steps entailed in developing a system of education. The individual chapters constituting part 1 deal with definitions, content, and methods; the concept of a system; needs assessment; steps in writing a policy statement; some activities of a system; programme design; organizational structures; implementation; and evaluation. Part 2 covers running a workshop; it includes 12 workshop exercises. Part 3 is a workshop leaders' guide. Appendixes to Part 1 deal with continuing education in Cuba, annual performance assessments, use of questionnaires, task and competence analysis, and preparation of policy statements. (MN)