The article discusses an East/West divide in Europe in university knowledge production. It argues that the communist and post-communist legacies in the four major Central European economies studied (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic) matter substantially for educational and research systems. The differences in university…

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nature of activities in the change process undertaken by two initiatives to produce national standards in academic disciplines, national assessments and accountability measures. The Common Core State Standards Initiative, a project coordinated by the National Governors Association and the Council of…

The current round of basic education curriculum reform in China is considered by many to be the most radical and wide-reaching. However, very little is known about education reform at the school level. Here we document and discuss some of the challenges and opportunities that the reform programme is providing for teachers and schools. We describe…

In recent years a number of reports have raised alarm over the deteriorating state of U.S. science and technology (S&T) competitiveness. But a recent report by the RAND Corporation, "U.S. Competitiveness in Science and Technology," argues that the U.S. continues to lead the world. RAND's report has been interpreted to suggest that the "clarion…

In 1994, the Government of Norway initiated a major restructuring of the non-university sector. Almost one hundred vocationally-oriented institutions were amalgamated to create twenty-six comprehensive, autonomous colleges. Nursing education was completely reorganized. Once offered in specialized schools closely linked to hospitals, nursing became…

Describes the elementary science curriculum reform movement in the Philippines. Whereas past textbooks were adaptations of U.S. texts, the second generation textbooks are more in keeping with Philippino needs. Structure of discipline is now stressed less than society's needs. Population, conservation, health and sanitation, green revolution, and…

Soviet educational research and development studies supportive of the current national school reforms are discussed. (RM)

While small-scale initiatives in educational innovation do have advantages, problems are often encountered during the process of project replication or extension. Increased awareness of potential hazards with regard to pilot projects is a prerequisite for successful educational planning and development. (RM)

This volume contains 15 papers on higher education in 13 East Asian societies as well as the region as a whole, including analysis of leading issues such as tyranny versus democracy and state-funded versus proprietary higher education. Following an editorial by A. H. Yee, the papers include: "The University of Tokyo: The Graduate School…

Objectives, challenges, and needs of an educational research and development center at Biyadh University, Saudi Arabia are discussed. Major objectives of the center are to cooperate with the ministry of education and other agencies in conducting projects, to foster research projects of qualified individuals, and to exchange information and…

This publication is aimed at assisting countries as they respond to the problem of organizing a continuing process of change in the schools. The seven case studies contributed to this volume illustrate ways of balancing organizational processes and the free initiative of individual schools and teachers, within the varying traditions of each…

Educational reform in developing countries, specifically in Saudi Arabia, will be facilitated if certain strategies are employed when implementing educational change. Problems which restrict reform tend to be a culture which opposes change, staffing, finances, a shortage of relevant learning materials, excessive centralization of authority,…

Based on the 1981 conference on policies for higher education of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, recent trends in higher education and prospects for the future are considered, along with approaches to guide the development of policies during the decade. The chief areas of concern are as follows: access to higher…