As described in "Go8 Backgrounder 24: Answering the Global Challenge--Experiences from European Excellence Initiatives," Germany began a debate about how to strengthen its position as an excellent location for science and research in 2004. This debate focussed in particular on the competitiveness of the country's universities and…

Unlike every other developed country, Canada has had no national or pan-Canadian agency that works to support and promote research in education, and especially to build connections between research, policy, and practice. Canada has a national granting council that funds academic research in all fields, including education (the Social Sciences and…

Canada weathered the global economic crisis well, mainly reflecting sustained growth in domestic pending, and the economy is continuing to grow despite the persistence of international turbulence, most recently stemming from the euro zone sovereign debt crisis. In Canada's case, several factors are acting in its favour. Federal fiscal plans are…

Universities are crucial to Canadians and to Canada. The value of universities to the fabric of our country has been manifest for decades, but never has the importance of higher education been as clear as in recent years. Federal and provincial governments have made significant contributions in fulfilling their respective responsibilities by …

This paper analyses changing approaches to system-level governance in Canadian post-secondary education from 1995-2006. A review of major policy initiatives reveals a shift in provincial and federal government roles in and approaches to the coordination of post-secondary education. The federal government has strategically invested in…

This paper examines the history of sponsored research and industrial relationships at the University of Michigan. For the purposes of this paper, sponsored research is defined as research performed by the university that is funded by an outside constituent. Although this paper covers events from the start of the twentieth century, it concentrates…

This paper traces the historical development of the American research and technology enterprise from its origins in the post-Civil War period to its current international dominance in the discovery and dissemination of scientific knowledge. U.S. research universities have become the vital center of this enterprise over the past 60 years. But…

This pocket guide contains a collection of graphed data, available in 1994, on science and technology funding patterns within the United States, public attitudes toward science and technology, and international trends in science and technology. Sections contain: (1) national research and development (R&D) funding patterns; (2) academic R&D…

The history of direct government funding of research in Australia's higher education institutions is chronicled, focusing on the evolution of research policy and emphasis on excellence. The establishment of the Australian Research Council and its statement of specific mission and priorities is also detailed. (MSE)

Recent changes in the New Zealand government's research funding system are discussed, and the resulting system is detailed. Remaining structural problems, some of which are seen as constraining progress toward government priorities, are identified and likely solutions and trends indicated. (Author/MSE)

This article argues that the U.S. dissemination system in education is unresponsive to organizational improvement needs, and that development of this bias is exacerbated by political, organizational, and programmatic thrusts in federal agencies. It is suggested that systems in the Netherlands and Denmark could provide useful models for adapting…

This report describes the technologies of programmable automation (PA) in manufacturing, their uses, and future capabilities. Following the summary and introduction, the prospects for PA are examined from several perspectives. Chapter 3 defines PA technologies, describes their developmental trends, and evaluates the potential for the integration…

The application of programmable automation (PA) offers new opportunities to enhance and streamline manufacturing processes. Five PA technologies are examined in this report: computer-aided design, robots, numerically controlled machine tools, flexible manufacturing systems, and computer-integrated manufacturing. Each technology is in a relatively…

Canada has a national network of over 150 colleges and institutes in over 900 communities in all regions of the country. These institutions are mandated to support the socio-economic development of the communities and regions. Colleges and institutes develop education and training programs to meet employer needs with direct input from business,…

This 2005 report on university research and knowledge transfer report by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) on the collective efforts of universities with respect to research and knowledge transfer is the first periodic public report by the AUCC on the collective efforts of universities with respect to research and…