This publication contains materials from a conference to discuss modular approaches to curriculum design. The materials from the United States and five other countries address both national skills standards and modular systems of training delivery. An introduction provides brief summaries of the conference materials and the agenda. "National Competency Standards: Policy and Guidelines," prepared by Australia's National Training Board, is a presentation of the system of national competency standards toward which the country is moving. "Modularization and Progression: Issues in the 14-19 Curriculum" (Ken Spours and others) focuses on efforts to extend beyond fragmented modular curriculum developments toward modular systems based on national standards and used as a way to alter students' progression through a range of continuous learning opportunities. "Vocational Education and Training in Denmark" discusses secondary vocational education and the relevance of modularization in adult vocational education and describes the Merkonom and Teknonom study programs, after-hours modular upgrading courses for technical and managerial employees. "The Effectiveness of New Curriculum Models for Initial Vocational Training: Modularization" (Elly de Bruijn) focuses on modularization within senior secondary vocational education and in the apprenticeship program in the Netherlands. "Modulation" (Donald Mack) and "The Effectiveness of New Curricular Models for Initial Vocational Training: Modularization" (Cathy Howieson) describe and analyze the Scottish Action Plan, which has created 3,000 modules that cover all occupational areas and are a part of a national system of vocational preparation. Four documents deal with the U.S. experience: (1) "The Promise of Skill Certification for Improving Occupational Training in America" (Robert Glover), a paper arguing for the creation of a unified national system of industry-led skill standards along with a voluntary process of skill assessment and certification; (2) testimony of Sue Berryman on the wisdom of creating a National Board on Workforce Skills as has been proposed in recently introduced federal legislation; (3) a mailing from the U.S. Department of Labor that explains its and the Department of Education's interest in and strategy for moving toward national industry-specific skill standards; and (4) sections of the "High Skills, Competitive Workforce Act of 1991" introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy. (YLB)