Higher level vocational education and training (VET) programmes are facing rapid change and intensifying challenges. What type of training is needed to meet the needs of changing economies? How should the programmes be funded? How should they be linked to academic and university programmes? How can employers and unions be engaged? The country…

To meet the challenge of a workplace shaped by technological change and global competition, employers and employees must identify their mutual interests in dealing with change and work together to plan career development programs that will benefit employers (by improving productivity and competitiveness) and employees (by enhancing their value in…

The Appalachian Adult Education Center (AAEC) conducted a study of the services of two institutions, public libraries and public schools, serving disadvantaged adults in cooperation. The study was conducted at four AAEC centers in Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The problems explored included information needs of…

Although the formal extension work in Canada has been patterned after the United States Cooperative Extension Service to a considerable degree, there are some important differences between the extension education systems in the two countries. The public, private, and voluntary sectors all play significant roles in Canada's extension and technology…

This paper is a research proposal for the development of a process model which addresses several of the fundamental questions involved in the community needs assessment process used as a prelude to program development by the community adult education program planner. The questions of what information should be gathered, where this information is…

This paper examines services that link the adult learner's interests to the learning resources of the society. Two sets of research studies are used as a background for analyzing needs and services. The first set of studies consists of thirty state and national surveys or needs assessments of "learners,""would-be," or "potential learners." The…

The study is intended to begin the process of collecting, coordinating, and disseminating basic information about adult literacy projects and classes in England. Spanning the years 1950 to the present, the data are based on questionnaires sent to all listed adult literacy projects in England. Following a review of the history, background, and…

The key dimensions of issues related to the integration of successive waves of immigrants are outlined. It is argued that a federal immigrant policy is needed, in which the Federal Government would assume some of the cost burden of public services to immigrants that states and localities now shoulder by themselves. Requiring the Federal Government…

Three papers focusing on various aspects of nontraditional postsecondary education, are presented in this volume. The first paper by Cross and Zusman explores the issue of nontraditional population needs and associated program responses. The second paper, by Bowen, Edelstein, and Medsker, focuses on the kinds of information that decisionmakers in…

A Virtual Research and Extension Communication Network (VRECN) is a set of networked electronic tools facilitating improvement in communication processes and information sharing among stakeholders involved in agricultural development. In developing countries, research and extension personnel within a ministry of agriculture, in consultation and…

These proceedings consist of the following presentations and discussion papers: "Extension Research Needs in Evalaution" (Michael Patton); "Needed Research in Program Development" (Roger Lawrence); "The Cooperative Extension Service: A National Assessment" (Paul Warner); "National Study of Extension's Research…

Experiences of pilot-test state agencies in developing an information system are summarized, as part of the State Level Information Base project. The background and functions of each of the eight pilot-test state agencies are described, along with the information systems approach, and planning responsibilities (comprehensive planning, budgeting,…

A study was conducted to (1) identify continuing education needs and barriers to adult participation in New York State (excluding New York City); (2) collect information about adult education services and staff development priorities in programs sponsored by public schools, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, and two-year state colleges;…

This volume reviews measures and programs recently undertaken by governments in several different countries to address youth unemployment and school-to-work transition. Focus is on studies of assessment methods and data needs (Part 1) and recurrent education (Part 2). The first three studies emphasize the development of assessment methods. One…

This document, which is intended for staff of state occupational information coordinating committees (SOICCs) and career information delivery systems (CIDS), examines the pros and cons of career information hotlines and their use in selected states. "Foreword--Career Information on Call" (Juliette N. Lester) provides a brief overview of…