This policy profile on education in Italy is part of the "Education Policy Outlook" series, which presents comparative analysis of education policies and reforms across The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Building on the OECD's substantial comparative and sectorial policy knowledge base, the…

This policy profile on education in Israel is part of the "Education Policy Outlook" series, which presents comparative analysis of education policies and reforms across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Building on the OECD's substantial comparative and sectorial policy knowledge base, the…

This article uses unique community-level data aggregated from censuses of associations to analyze growth and volatility in rural populations of grassroots associations. A qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) shows that the two main paths to growth were (1) centralization in polycephalous (multicentered) municipalities and (2) population growth…

This policy profile on education in the Netherlands is part of the new Education Policy Outlook series, which presents comparative analysis of education policies and reforms across The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Building on the substantial comparative and sectorial policy knowledge base available…

Higher education quality control structures emerging in West European countries are examined, and the current trend toward definition of quality predominantly from one central power center is criticized. Methodological and substantive weaknesses in this system are discussed, and an approach taking into account other interests and perspectives is…

This article is based upon data deriving from a questionnaire circulated to all local education authorities in England in Spring 2003. The questionnaire was sent to the chairperson of every Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education, the statutory body responsible for religious education at a local level. During the past decade there has…

An analysis of governance relationships between state governments and public higher education institutions concludes that collective bargaining represents a social and political trend toward centralized decision making and homogenization of policies and procedures affecting faculty and those affecting other public employees. (Editor/JT)

This paper criticizes federal involvement in education in recent decades and asserts that control of education must be returned to the localities and parents. The document cites damaging effects of centralized education policy in Washington, D.C., noting a decline in academic standards and federal regulations that are ill-suited to local…

This paper summarizes and analyzes the views presented in the preceding group of five papers, focusing on important issues in educational administration in four countries. The author notes that the developed countries discussed (England, Canada, and Australia) all face the problems of declining student numbers, decreasing birth rates, public…

This paper examines the characteristics and status of China's primary school teachers and their ability, as members of the intelligentsia, to exert political influence in the formation of educational policy. It is concluded that, in periods when educational policy is of high concern, these teachers have little influence. (SJL)

This article reviews the structural differences in vocational training between East and West Germany; describes a large-scale program establishing suprafirm training centers; notes the shift away from centralism; and considers personnel needs, legal aspects, industry responsibility, attitudinal differences, and European perspectives. (DB)

An objective evaluation of multicampus and consolidated university systems is presented as a composite of a literature study, a statistical survey, and results from visits to central offices and campuses. Responses from 255 executives of selected institutions were statistically analyzed regarding administrators' opinions on how their systems or…

Thirteen trends in university computer system development are identified, system user requirements are analyzed, critical system qualities are outlined, and three options for organizing a computer system are presented. The three systems include a centralized network, local network, and federation of local networks. (MSE)

University computing is in rapid and continuing change. What is needed are structures and procedures flexible and adaptable enough to capture new opportunities and stable enough to allow order in each transition. This must involve all parts of the institutional community and include both centralized and decentralized participation. (Author/MSE)

Based on enrollment projections for the 14 southern states, this profile provides one possible picture of the future of higher education in the South. The report suggests that: (1) the growth of total enrollment will slow and then decline through 1985; (2) nondegree enrollment will increase and bachelor's degree-oriented enrollment will decrease…