Investing in education and training for all is a key priority for the European Union (EU). The importance of education and training, in order to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, is recognised in the Europe 2020 strategy, with two of its headline targets focusing specifically on education and training. The European Pillar of Social…

At both the provincial and federal levels, a lively policy debate on the types of education, training, and skill acquisition required to meet the demands of the British Columbia and Canadian workforce is taking place. Despite acknowledgement of the need for lifelong learning and reskilling in light of frequent career changes over the life course,…

Comparative studies describing the transition from higher education to work have often simplified the complex transition processes involved. In this paper we extend previous research by taking into account several steps that comprise labor market entry, e.g., recurrent education leading to more than one instance of labor market entry. By comparing…

This paper is an initial exploration of the integration of work and learning and is intended to inform NZCER's Learning at Work research programme. It shows how the traditional separation between work and learning is being challenged and looks at what that means for education professionals, institutions and programmes. The paper considers the…

This essay examines the impact of the Bologna Process on the development of short-cycle higher education in Europe, noting that the integration of short-cycle qualifications within the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area, combined with the critical place allotted to those programs in national lifelong learning…

Tertiary educators are being directed by government policy: to develop a learning environment where participants become more than passive receivers of knowledge and to skill the workforce through technical skills and competency-based education. Professional development is needed for compliance, and to develop and maintain generic, productivity,…

"Meeting our Needs?" is the third detailed portrait of postsecondary education (PSE) in Canada issued by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL). As in previous years, this paper's goal is to provide Canadians with the most current information about the sector's capacity to contribute to the achievement of Canada's social and economic…

First in a yearlong series, this article will more closely examine the recommendations made in Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE's) postsecondary reform position statement. The first recommendation is to establish postsecondary preparation and expectations for all. Throughout the country, and in each individual community,…

A college education is becoming more and more of a necessity in today's competitive economy: ninety percent of the fastest-growing jobs require postsecondary education or training. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has called on states, institutions and the federal government to work together to carry out the recommendations of "A…

New technologies require a fast pace of workforce training that should involve employers, employees, community colleges, and the government. Lifelong learning is a necessity not only for professions requiring licensing or certification but for all workers. (JOW)

Missouri's A+ Schools Program is a legislated, statewide framework for providing universal quality education with a career focus and an academic foundation for lifelong learning. The program recognizes that an internationally competitive workforce will require many employees to have more than a high school diploma, but less than a baccalaureate…

Examines recent returns to schooling and vocational and occupational training in OECD countries. Provides estimates of short-cut, Mincer-type, and internal rates of return to schooling and alternative estimates of returns to formal and informal post-school training investments. High-return countries include Austria, Canada, France, Mexico,…

Observations and interviews of 100 British 14-16 year-olds were used to analyze their explanations of the benefits of lifelong learning. Five main discourses emerged: the importance of being educated, the usefulness of education, meritocracy (belief that more qualifications guarantee better jobs), competition, and avoidance of hard times. (SK)

Of the many purposes education serves in society, one of the most important is to prepare people for work. In today's economy, education is important not just to help adults enter the labor market, but also to ensure that adults remain marketable throughout their working lives. This report examines how adults in the labor force use formal…

The Cambridge Programme for Industry is a continuing professional education unit that has moved from short technical courses to holistic professional development. Case studies provide examples of (1) development and accreditation of professionalism through work-based learning (WBL); (2) framework for recognizing work-related lifelong learning; and…