In this paper, we employ a comparative life course approach for Canada and Germany to unravel the relationships among general and vocational educational attainment and different life course activities, with a focus on labour market and income inequality by gender. Life course theory and related concepts of 'time,' 'normative patterns,' 'order and…

Employability has become a key concept that has attracted the attention of scholars and industries in many countries. At the same time, this concept is highly fluid and vague because its nature is not evidenced by real employment and differences in the nature of labour markets from country to country. Thus, it would be more worthwhile to discuss…

Even though Japan and Switzerland are characterised by comparatively low youth unemployment rates, non-standard forms of employment are on the rise, posing a risk to the stable integration of young labour market entrants. Drawing on the French approach of societal analysis, this paper investigates how country-specific school-to-work transition…

Nowadays, women outperform men in educational attainment in many countries. Still, large variation between countries remains. Emancipatory contexts in which individuals are raised might explain these differences in male-female educational attainment, both over time and across countries. This study examines individual and contextual factors that…

The study investigates how the Finnish model of providing initial vocational education and training (IVET) has succeeded in terms of enhancing educational progress and employability. A relatively high level of participation in IVET makes the Finnish model distinctive from those of three other Nordic countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. All four…

This study extends the comparative model of country groups to analyse the cross-national trends in the higher education expansion and opportunities. We use descriptive data on characteristics and outcomes of higher education systems in different countries groups, including the liberal market countries, the social democratic countries, the…

In most advanced countries, young people are now expected to remain in education until the age of 18 and, in a context of poor opportunities for those who leave at an early stage, there are concerns about those who are being left behind. In this paper we use comparable survey data to focus on the destinations of young people in two contrasting…

Using an equity perspective, this article compares the education systems of the United States and the Netherlands. Existing data examining student demographics, the organizational structures, curricula, funding, and student outcomes are examined. The Netherlands appears to be getting a "bigger bang for their buck." We make the case that…

It is proposed that Canadian universities are "alien" to women because they are dominated by men, have a large proportion of faculty who are not Canadian citizens, and are underutilizing the talents of the female half of the nation's population. Comparisons are made between the Canadian and Australian situations. (MSE)

Results from a comparative investigation of French and German industry are presented, and the close relationship between the national employment structures and respective educational and training systems is demonstrated. Conclusions are drawn about current debate in Germany about vocational training policies. (Author/MSE)

Finnish and U.S. secondary vocational enrollment data were examined. In both countries, females tended to choose programs in service/caring areas, males in production/industry. Similar patterns were found in the labor force. Recommendations were made for eliminating barriers to gender equity. (SK)

Contrasts the characteristics of the 16- to 19-year-old population in England and Wales with some foreseeable requirements of industry and the economy in the 1980s. Major skill development programs are evaluated and various policy options are explored. (DB)

Looks at the socioeconomic rationale for higher-education provision in developing countries. Reviews costs and benefits associated with investment in higher education as a whole (especially in different postsecondary subjects) with particular attention paid to returns to scale from university expansion. Makes distinction between incidence and…

Interviews were conducted with 244 women teaching in universities in Finland, France, East Germany, West Germany, and Great Britain to discover causes for the minority position of women who teach in universities. Women's position appeared to depend not on characteristics of individual educational systems but on common factors--social attitudes,…

Aspects of the Malaysian demand for overseas higher education are discussed, including public policy responsible for the demand, Australian policy concerning Malaysian students, the evolution of joint degree programs, and some persistent problems in graduate employment, the declining standard of English, and competition with Australian students…