Across OECD countries, more and more individuals have attained tertiary education and the share of those with less education has declined. Although there are more tertiary-educated individuals than ever before, they still achieve good labour market outcomes. This confirms that labour market demand is generally keeping pace with rising educational…

In order to successfully match students and jobs in the medical profession of their choice, and at the same time meet the country's health care needs, it has become evident that access to medical schools and the various medical professions should be tightly regulated, in particular by a "numerus clausus." In most Western countries,…

The Act of 16th July 1971, which established the right to continuing education, was intended to act as a spur to France's universities. The results achieved are seen as modest, partially because the universities' administrative procedures and methods are not suited to the commercial nature of this activity. (Author/MLW)

When large segments of the population need to be educated, social pressures come into play, aspirations are raised, and some mechanisms or ideology must exist to direct individuals to appropriate kinds of education. French, British, Soviet, and American systems for differentiation and selection are compared in this context. (MSE)

The description and summary of a large-scale French study of the future and directions of French-language teaching for special purposes looks at instructional efforts currently under way and at three aspects of the study: the publics addressed, the areas of specialization targeted, and the methods used. (MSE)

Following an outline of education, particularly secondary education, the French system of tertiary education is described. The orientation of studies offered in the three two-year cycles of study is described. The differences between the national institutes and the universities are explained. The remainder of the report contains admission…

Designed to respond to the changing requirements of educational policy formation, Volume II on "Educational Demand for Education" offers a general report based on the findings of its case studies of four countries--France, Germany, Greece and the United Kingdom--together with the results of Volume I, which presented the theoretical…

First-cycle university courses in France have a special function, both providing education and serving as an adjustment variable, guaranteeing a place in higher education for any student with the "baccalaureat" degree. Suggests criticism of the system for poor completion rates in undergraduate courses is partially unfounded because the…

Examines operation of demand models in mass education as opposed to elite secondary school systems in France between 1881 and 1975. Looks at role of supply in school expansion and effect of state policies on relative importance of different types of demand. Finds economic demand and state supply exert differing levels of influence on elite system…

Examines quantitative changes in French higher education since the mid-1980s, focusing on vocational tracks. Looks at sources of this change in educational policy and the demographic and social influences on demand. Highlights the impact of this growth on equality of opportunity, particularly among traditionally disadvantaged populations, and on…

Essays address the relationship between second language education and intercultural communication in several countries. Following an introduction are the following papers: "Second Language Learning in Belgium" (Ludo Beheydt); "Foreign Language Education in Bulgaria: Present-Day Situation and Future Tendencies" (Madeleine…

European case studies on strategies for adult education are presented as representative or exemplary approaches to universal access. Each is described within a historical and social context: the British Community Colleges and the Open University; the Swedish Study Circles; the Evening Folk High School in Germany; the social-cultural animation…

Public policies in France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are compared with regard to quantitative developments in higher education. The analysis is focused on the issue of private versus social demand, but more detailed aspects of quantitative planning also are addressed. The following question is discussed: why Sweden adopted a system of…

A comparative analysis of enrollment influences in four countries is presented. From the enrollment histories of the 1970's in Belgium, France, Japan, and the United States several generalizations are drawn: (1) while demographic growth in young people produced difficult labor market conditions at all levels of educational preparation, college…