Although China has witnessed the rapid growth of public administration (PA) education during recent decades, few studies have focused on the practical issues of lower-level tertiary PA education, namely, PA programs in vocational colleges. The methods that vocational PA programs can apply to improve educational quality are a theoretical gap since…

The Science, Business and Policy Program (SBP) of the University of Groningen has been a work-based learning program for science master students since two decades. This program, a direct consequence of the Bologna declaration of education in Europe, has a distinctive position in European science curricula. Here, we use a web-based survey…

The decision by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to develop language-specific curricula marks an important shift for the teaching and learning of languages in Australia. This decision brings with it a number of important considerations in developing language-specific curricula. It is necessary, for example, to…

This paper presents some of the major issues raised in Education International's preliminary analysis of the overall PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2009 study. Some of these issues are: (1) PISA has serious limitations. The study does not cover the full curriculum, focusing on a narrow set of subject areas, neglecting such…

Although priding itself on high rates of literacy achievement, New Zealand's track record in the last two decades has noticeably declined. Successive New Zealand governments have invested heavily in trying to redress this decline with limited success. Demographic changes in population due to immigration provide a partial explanation, but arguably,…

Explains the reasons for the British Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education's benchmark statements providing a background on the benchmarks and a discussion on the preparation of the benchmarks. Introduces the articles within the symposium called the "Benchmark Standards for Higher Education." (CMK)

Provides a copy of the British benchmark statements for geography in higher education by the Quality Assurance Agency. Includes the introduction, aims of an honors program, knowledge and understanding, student skills, abilities and attributes, processes and contexts of learning, assessment, standards and levels of achievement, and the conclusion.…

Reviews the benchmark statements of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom. States that overall the statement gives a positive view of the geography discipline and can be regarded as a constructive exercise worthy of adoption. Discusses two challenges that emerged. (CMK)

Reviews the benchmark statements of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom. Examines the various sections within the benchmark. States that in terms of emphasizing the positive attributes of the geography discipline the statements have wide utility and applicability. (CMK)

Describes a framework for teaching British National Curriculum subjects to pupils with profound learning difficulties. Discussion focuses on curriculum adaptations, educational rationale for subject selection, insights from subject specialists, and integration of therapies, health care, and emotional support within education. (DB)

A study examined the role of computer and information technology (CIT) instruction in the Youth Training Scheme (YTS). A number of successful local YTS training schemes and initiatives were identified and analyzed. One phase of this analysis focused on standards, accreditation, and progression in the CIT component of the YTS. Special attention was…

In the Caribbean, vocational education is provided through both formal and nonformal educational programming. An excellence-oriented vocational teacher education program to prepare individuals to teach in the educational system of the region should incorporate training in the history and philosophy of vocational education, instructional…

This document presents and discusses the 12 family literacy standards for family literacy programs in Saskatchewan, Canada, that were developed during a 2-year process by Saskatchewan's Family Literacy Best Practices committee. The document is: (1) an educational tool to develop greater understanding of effective literacy practices; (2) a program…

The recent history of apprenticeship in Great Britain was examined to identify the issues arising from the latest reforms and future expansion of the system. A team of university academics with strong research interests in training and skills collected information from a large body of academic work in the field of apprenticeship and training and…