A study examined the publicly-funded vocational education and training (VET) system in South Australia (SA) in 1997. Background information indicated SA is a geographically large state with a relatively small population that is older compared to the rest of Australia, with 14 percent aged over 65 compared with 12 percent nationally. Findings were…

A questionnaire asked citizens their views on lifelong learning, including participation in, experiences of, and motivations for learning. Findings indicated 9 in 10 European citizens think lifelong learning is important to some extent; lifelong learning is important for social and economic reasons; the majority think lifelong learning is for…

This publication provides a detailed description of Australia's vocational education and training system (VET), including key facts and figures. The eight sections of the report cover the following topics: (1) introduction to Australia; (2) overview of the education and training system; (3) overview of the vocational education and training system;…

This paper explores some trends in U.S. education, student achievement, and worker earnings. Some of the findings are the following: (1) U.S. students are doing well in reading literacy but lag behind other leading nations in mathematics and science; (2) U.S. elementary school students have one of the lowest pupil-teacher ratios among the world's…

This second report from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) builds on the data analysis of seven countries presented in the first IALS publication in 1995 and adds literacy data for five additional countries--Australia, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The introduction presents an overview of new key findings and…

The Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union of Canada assessed literacy learning needs. In focus group discussions, members were asked their perception of such needs in the face of changes in the workplace and society; local union officers (LUOs) were asked how they saw the role of unions in supporting members' literacy learning; employers…

A search of recent research on group training apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia found that group training companies (GTCs) are making a strong contribution to Australia's apprentice and trainee system. Key findings include the following: (1) group training apprentice and trainee numbers doubled over the period of 1995-2000; (2) over…

A research project chronicling the nature and extent of the structured staff development undertaken by teachers and trainers employed at public and private providers of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia was one component of a larger study that examined the changing role of staff development for VET teachers and trainers. Data…

This publication provides a detailed description of Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system in the context of Australians living in rural and remote regions who undertook some form of VET in 1997--about one-third of all students who participated in training in public institutions. The nine sections of the report cover the…

A study provided extensive statistics and documentation of Canadian adults' work and learning activities. The study included statistics for household labor and community volunteer activities as well as paid employment. Learning activities included both formal course work and informal learning, as well as on-the-job training. Data sources were the…

Data drawn from 3 cycles of data collection for the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) were analyzed to identify the levels and distributions of literacy skills in the adult populations of 20 countries. The following were among the main conclusions: (1) in 14 of the countries, at least 15% of all adults have literacy skills at only the…