This report seeks to answer four questions about data used every day in comparing higher education in the United States with that in other countries, particularly the 30 advanced post-industrial democracies, including the United States, that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). These questions are: (1)…

This report describes how key elements in the vocational education and training (VET) policies in the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States, and Japan underpin the economic competitiveness of those countries. It focuses on how they support their effective response to changing markets and a rapidly changing economic environment and shows…

A study examined the publicly-funded vocational education and training (VET) system in South Australia (SA) in 1997. Background information indicated SA is a geographically large state with a relatively small population that is older compared to the rest of Australia, with 14 percent aged over 65 compared with 12 percent nationally. Findings were…

This study develops a literacy profile of Ontario's youth (ages 17-25) using data from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). Following an introductory section, Section 2 provides a background on the IALS database and discusses key methodological issues. Section 3 presents an overview of basic literacy statistics. Section 4 compares…

A national survey of students who undertook vocational education and training (VET) in the year 2000 at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institute in Australia was conducted through a mailing of questionnaires to a randomly selected sample of graduates and module completers. Response rate was 52 percent and 41 percent, respectively. In…

This paper explores some trends in U.S. education, student achievement, and worker earnings. Some of the findings are the following: (1) U.S. students are doing well in reading literacy but lag behind other leading nations in mathematics and science; (2) U.S. elementary school students have one of the lowest pupil-teacher ratios among the world's…

A survey was conducted of a randomly-selected sample of TAFE (Training and Further Education) graduates in Australia who completed vocational education and training (VET) qualifications during 1999 and of TAFE students who successfully completed some training ("module completers") and left the TAFE system. Analysis of the responses of…

This report describes how the education system in the United States compares with education systems in the other Group of Eight (G-8) countries. The G-8 countries--Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States--are among the world's most economically developed countries. Comparative…

Educational issues across the different member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are compared in this report. The OECD is made up of 26 developed countries. The indicators used in this analysis cover the years 1985 to 1991, a 7-year time series to study trends in policy. The indicators in this report…

This report compared educational trends in economically developed countries over time. The countries examined are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an organization of 29 countries dedicated to promoting economic growth and development around the world. In the United States, the 11 years included in this…

The 2001 Australian national Survey of Employer Views on Vocational Education and Training (VET) was similar to earlier studies but included more questions about employers' views about recent VET graduate employees. The survey was a sample survey and provides estimates of the results that would be found had all employers in Australia been…

A study compared surveys conducted in 2000 of the graduates of Australian TAFE (Technical and Further Education) and university bachelor programs and outlined some of the similarities and differences between the two sectors. Some of the key findings of the study are the following: (1) 89 percent of TAFE graduates were employed or in further study…

A study examined outcomes for graduates and module completers who studied in associate diploma, diploma, and advanced diploma courses, using data from the 1999 Student Outcomes Survey, together with focus groups in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. One aim was to determine whether module completers had different training needs than graduates;…

This three-volume report provides a comprehensive picture of the vocational education and training (VET) system in Australia, its key policies, initiatives undertaken, and achievements during 1999. This publication contains volume 3, which presents a detailed statistical report against the key performance measures for the VET system. Volumes 1 and…

A search of recent research on group training apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia found that group training companies (GTCs) are making a strong contribution to Australia's apprentice and trainee system. Key findings include the following: (1) group training apprentice and trainee numbers doubled over the period of 1995-2000; (2) over…