The traditional focus of the language elective has been to give students the skills to communicate in the foreign language which has also been their main selling point. However, language graduates need more specific and wide-ranging skills if they are to compete in the current and future job markets. It is now widely accepted that universities…

The new approach to the higher education modernization based on the realization of competency-building modular programs has been considered. This approach closely supports competency-building approach to professional training of modern specialists within the context of current theoretical and methodological principles. The European dimension of…

This article sets out to describe the PROFILES project, a European Commission FP7 science and society project, addresses problems and issues in science education by guiding teachers to embrace a range of teaching factors, such as a context-based approach, motivational constructivist learning; student centred inquiry teaching; enhancing cognitive…

In the Spring/2009 semester, with the financial support of a PricewaterhouseCoopers IFRS Ready Grant, a new course was developed that focused on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The course design goal was to choose the optimal combination of pedagogical tools and topics to create an effective, engaging and stimulating course…

Authors David L. Gray and Agnes E. Smith have written a book of cases to give prospective school leaders opportunities to resolve complex issues in K-12 school settings through reflective questions, activities, and authentic assessment tools for skill development. "Case Studies in 21st Century School Administration" presents thought-provoking case…

The first year of work has been completed by a consortium composed of the National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE) and seven interested states to support the cooperative development, field testing, and implementation of competency based modules for the preparation of local administrators of vocational education. An outgrowth of…

Discusses Scottish secondary curriculum, focusing on the "Scottish Higher" college preparatory classes and Scottish Vocational Education Council (SCOTVEC) modules. The SCOTVEC modules lead to a vocationally oriented qualification called the National Certificate, rather than the academically oriented Highers credentials. Issues include…

This paper reports a project centered around developing directed individualized materials (modules) to be used to prepare resource persons, change agents, and teachers to function in competency- and performance-based vocational education (PBVE) programs. It is organized in two parts. Part 1 centers around the development of modules for resource…

The curriculum revision project described in this paper was initiated by Gateway Technical Institute (Wisconsin) in 1976 in order to implement competency-based education (CBE) in Gateway's vocational/technical programs. The paper first defines the key elements of CBE as implemented at Gateway, which were developed on the basis of an analysis of…

To develop a more diversified economic base in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs implemented the Development Plan for the Vocational Training and Manpower Division, which intends to train a large number of Saudis in employable trades. Methods include building modern training facilities, developing competency based learning…

The authors suggest a structure for introducing entrepreneurship in junior high career education activities and extending these concepts in secondary vocational programs. Also presents results of field testing a series of 36 entrepreneurship training competencies for secondary vocational students. (CT)

Twenty-six Saudi Arabian students underwent a two year program at San Jose State University to learn how to individualize vocational training programs in their country. Each student completed a portfolio which contained a record of his competencies and individualized instructional packages for his future use. (MER)

Describes the implementation of a competency-based individualized and mediated vocational training system, designed to attract and train native Saudis for an increasingly industrialized Saudi Arabian workforce. (SK)

This project was conducted to design marketing and distributive education (MDE) student learning objectives and an MDE curriculum development plan. The objectives of this project were met through the following procedures: (1) basic MDE task research was identified; (2) a task force of two MDE teacher coordinators and the project director grouped…

Techniques of competency identification, module preparation, and learning management are discussed in "An Effective Measurement of Performance" by Kenneth Allen; "The Making of a Module" by Jan Danford; and "Managing a CBVE Classroom" by Sonja Irlbeck. (SK)