ISO 9000 certification has the advantages of a measurable framework for quality efforts, continuous improvement, and better customer service. Drawbacks for education and training providers include volume of paperwork, ongoing cost, risk of a growing bureaucracy, and the difficulty of making changes quickly. (SK)

One method for ensuring quality in continuing training is self-assessment by trainers and trainees, which requires certain qualities in the subject and the environment. Self-assessment complements, and is complemented by, external evaluation. (SK)

Design of in-company training for students must consider objectives, staff, methods, duration, and timing. Data collection tools to monitor progress and evaluate performance are critical. A support team to provide guidance, information, and placement assistance is also an important element. (Contains 30 references.) (SK)

Identifies three needs: critical discourse between evaluators of vocational training programs and policymakers/administrators; greater convergence between training policy and labor market policy; and coherent research using both process- and product-oriented quality indicators. (SK)

This evaluation of European Community and Union vocational training programs looks at programs implemented before and after the 1994 European Union treaty. It concludes that the political and legal framework has allowed only modest successes and the third generation of programs must take this into account. (SK)