Structuring a degree is a common activity for course developers. Analyzing appropriate subjects and year levels, establishing pre- and co-requisite, and benchmarking against similar degrees are common academic activities. However, the degree structure itself has not had significant changes until now. A degree often lacks flexibility and cohesion…

In January 2011, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors formed a task force to chart a roadmap for system-wide focus on student success. The task force identified best practices and designed evidence-based recommendations to ensure student success is a driving theme in colleges. This comprehensive plan, known as the Student Success…

The issue of credentialing and certification has become a major topic of discussion in America's community colleges. At the heart of this issue is the movement of private sector companies into areas previously viewed as the province of higher education: education and training, assessment of competencies, and the awarding of credentials that carry…

This report focuses on the use of nationally recognized, industry-based skill standards and occupational certifications that promote certificate portability, skill transferability, worker mobility, and education and training consistency within and across states and nationwide. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 define what is meant by skill standards and…

States that the U.S. economy exhibits a voracious demand for information technology (IT) certification programs and, it is claimed, the U.S. system of education isn't producing them. Explains that most IT certification providers operate outside the formal postsecondary education system, do not participate in federal student aid and reporting…

The Indiana Workforce Proficiency Panel was established to work with the business, labor, and education sectors to identify a common set of essential skills and technical proficiencies for major occupational areas. The process used by the Panel for setting state standards employs five steps, involving three meetings of a State Technical Committee…

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore provides skills training to school leavers through the institutional training and apprenticeship modes. The strengths of apprenticeship training are: provision of more occupational choices; greater effectiveness in meeting specific needs of industries; and opportunities for young people to…

This report describes current systems and procedures for certification in France. An introduction makes brief reference to the characteristics of the general and vocational training systems. Part 1 provides details of the respective powers of the various bodies and authorities involved in the establishment of certification procedures. It examines…

This report profiles the systems, structures, and procedures for the assessment of competencies and awarding of qualifications in the vocational education and training sectors in Ireland. An introduction briefly describes the Irish education and vocational training system. Chapter 1 profiles the main awarding bodies in Ireland in second-level,…

This report describes systems and procedures for the certification of qualifications and skills in Luxembourg. All areas of education and the various levels of training are covered. An introduction offers an overview of the characteristics of the Luxembourg education system, including funding and structure. Section 2 describes systems of training…

This report describes current systems and procedures for certification in Germany. An introduction makes brief reference to the characteristics of the general and vocational training systems. Section 1 contains a preliminary explanation. Section 2 describes the German educational system. Section 3 is a typology of examinations and certificates…

The Texas Skills Development Program (TSDP) is a key long-term strategy of the Smart Jobs initiative that will assist Texas business, industry, and labor in conveying job skill requirements to the public education and training system. Employers feel that job applicants do not have the basic reading, writing, and computation skills they need. TSDP…

Changes caused by technology, economy, society, and education have necessitated reform of technological and vocational education (TVE) in Taiwan. Recommended reforms are as follows: relaxing educational regulations, accepting every student into higher education, streamlining channels to higher education, raising educational quality, and creating a…

During fiscal year (FY) 1989, the Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB) in Singapore offered full-time training at seven levels for secondary school leavers. The board's intake of 9,333 participants was 8% below the FY 1988 intake, a fact that was attributed to fewer primary school leavers. The introduction of the Revised Vocational…

This report describes current systems and procedures for certification in Denmark. An introduction makes brief reference to the characteristics of the general and vocational training systems. Section 1 addresses formulation and introduction of certificates, qualifications, and diplomas, including the relevant institutions, procedures, and…