Guest editors comment on articles chosen for a previous journal issue focusing on the role of higher education and national economic and social development. It is noted that in developing countries, higher education addresses nation-building, whereas in developed countries emphasis is on social and economic change in the postindustrial society.…

Presents an overview of an undergraduate course that employs a comparative approach in assessing technological problems. Attention is directed to the influence of cultural values, attitudinal elements, and resource availability on the use of technology. Topic areas considered in the course include transportation, energy, pollution, and health…

To assist students in comparing living standards in the Soviet Union and Western Nations, a chart containing data from a 1982 survey of the retail prices of 179 selected consumer goods and services is provided. Prices were converted into worktime equivalents and the capital of each country, with the exception of Munich, was chosen to represent the…

Describes an investigation that assessed the effectiveness of Australian indexing and abstracting services in their bibliographic control of the literature of library and information science. Conclusions about the coverage of the literature are presented, and methods for improvement are suggested. (CLB)

Expresses concern about recent trends in financing higher education in India. Outlines several proposals for finance reform and considers national and international experiences with them. Argues that reform suggestions being made for developing countries are not empirically valid for the contexts in which they are to be implemented. (Author/MSE)

Academics in both the industrial world and developing countries face funding declines, growing state intervention, public hostility, and corporate pressure. Simultaneously, they are experiencing internal wars over policy, curriculum, and nature of scholarly communities. In North America debates about academic freedom center on tenure and free…

Donors to higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa have urged universities to undertake strategic planning, including restructuring of relationships with government. Such plans must have a different structure and focus than traditional strategic plans, and include determination of academic priorities and leadership. It is important for African…

A secondary school librarian uses her experience to compare Canadian and Australian secondary school libraries in terms of educational philosophy, library role, staffing, budgets, resources, and library organization. (CLB)

Highlights findings on the status of academic library microforms facilities in the United States and Canada based on visits to 11 libraries. Topics covered include administration, personnel, collection access and storage, classification, acquisition, circulation, indexes, hours, facilities, signage, equipment, photocopying, cleanliness, vandalism,…

This comparative study of technical and vocational education policy, planning, and administration in 16 countries is based on case studies prepared by representatives of those countries in 1982 according to guidelines drawn up in conformity with the activities foreseen in the Unesco Programme for 1981-83. Chapter 1 introduces the study. Chapter 2…

Looks at the historical development of school librarian training in Canada and Great Britain; examines types of institutions with training programs and program content; compares the librarian's role in the two countries and isolates factors that determined those roles; and highlights recent difficulties, developments, and movement toward consensus…

The social stratification process is analyzed from a theoretical point of view, with assumptions tested with empirical evidence from the International Institute for Educational Planning project in developing countries or with information obtained through the researcher's prior studies on industrialized countries. The significant, and often…

Describes a study that compared the expressed objectives of teachers using computer-based information handling packages in the classroom against recorded classroom outcomes. The areas of skill and knowledge acquisition, learning strategies, sociopsychological issues, and life skills are discussed. (9 references) (CLB)

Compares academic libraries in Japan and Australia in three areas: general background (number of libraries, financial support, size of collections, and student/staff ratios); the role of libraries (services offered, library instruction, accessibility, library cooperation, and expenditures); and library staffs (qualifications of directors, staff…

Describes a pilot project in Alberta designed to provide training for the staff of small rural school and public libraries through various distance delivery methods. Reported results include demographics of the rural librarian population; evaluation of courses offered; and comparison of delivery modes by student satisfaction, effectiveness, and…