The German apprenticeship system results in a high proportion of skilled personnel and, therefore, is a major factor in Germany's productivity achievement and competitiveness. It also provides a smooth transition from school to work, low unemployment, and integration of school leavers into the apprenticeship system. (JOW)

Observation of machine or production operators in a Singapore factory for insight into their need for English language skills, existing skills, and the results of a basic English language program in which many were enrolled revealed that, although the workers were generally poorly educated and had minimal English skills, they were able to decode…

This monograph is intended to present the structural image of adult education/further education in the Federal Republic of Germany. It first covers such areas as the size of the country and its individual states and population and employment. Following a survey of the educational system, legislation concerning adult education/further education is…

Based on an explorative study of sectoral training systems, this paper looks at the opportunities and limitations of a sectoral approach to training from the perspective of the knowledge economy. After the definition of the sector concept, the paper presents a theoretical analysis of the main elements and processes of sectoral training systems,…

Using the metaphor of a river to describe continuous and lifelong learning, this paper details an action research project aimed at developing effective learning environments in a large, distributed organization called Thiess Contractors Proprietary Limited, an Australian mining and construction company. Two major outcomes of the project are…

The EUROTECNET program was implemented to develop and improve vocational training policies and systems to meet the challenges of change in the economic and social situation through the development of innovative responses and actions. Each Member State of the European Community was asked to identify one issue of strategic and critical importance to…

A discussion of the content of workplace English programs for limited-English-speaking immigrants to Australia focuses on the proportions of general and work-specific course content in those programs. It draws, in part, on results of a 1989 study of one workplace English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program. It is proposed that reasons for…

Recent research has identified trends in the training systems of 13 countries in Africa (Egypt, Mauritius, South Africa); the Arab States (Bahrain, Jordan); Asia (Australia, Fiji, Malaysia); Eastern Europe (Albania, Slovenia); Western Europe (Ireland, Portugal); and the Mediterranean region (Malta). The trends identified are legislation;…