This research explores links between tertiary education institutions and between tertiary education and the labour market as determinants of provincial and national transition patterns in Canada. The study consists of a provincial analysis that maps the typology of transition systems across Canada's devolved federated tertiary education structure.…

The links between vocational qualifications and occupational destinations are weak in many Anglophone countries, even though the explicit purpose of vocational qualifications is to prepare individuals for occupations. Using Australia and Canada as case studies, this is explained at three levels of analysis: at the national level by systems of…

The growing popularity of the corporate university model raises the question of whether the market principles are suitable for planning the policy of a key enterprise like the university without weakening its capacity of pursuing critical knowledge and teaching for democracy. Does the inclusion of the free market imperatives in the functioning of…

With contributions from Linda Darling-Hammond, Michael Fullan, Pasi Sahlberg, and Martin Carnoy, "Global Education Reform" is an eye-opening analysis of national educational reforms and the types of high-achieving systems needed to serve all students equitably.The collection documents the ideologically and educationally distinctive…

Teachers are the most important single element of the education system but what does it take to create high quality teachers in today's world? Around the world, countries are struggling to understand how to change their schools to meet global demands. International comparisons have shown that schools in Finland lead the league tables, but why is…

Viewed through a market paradigm, universities can appear as the aggregation of numerous and varied markets. While universities' primary markets focus on teaching and research, they are active in many other markets, most of which support and contribute to their smooth, effective and efficient operation. Using financial and real estate markets as…

This study pursues a Habermasian analysis of citizen discussions and of the local public sphere to shed light on renewable energy futures in rural east-central Canada. Using data from group discussions, it pursues an investigation of utterances, validity claims and of discourses. The analysis is supplemented by participant observation of publicly…

Freedom of any kind has intrinsic value, and education freedom is controversial, in need of empirical assessment of possible and likely trade-offs between freedom from state control and social goals such as equity and cohesion. Without a reasonable empirical measure of education freedom we can only cite the controversies and choose sides. The…

This policy study explores origins of part 6.1 of "Bill 34" ("School Amendment Act, 2002") and its impacts on the institutional behaviour of two public school districts in British Columbia. Part 6.1 permits school districts to raise funds through for-profit school district business companies (SDBC). The analysis found several…

Argues that formal liberal education is being replaced, in high-risk sites like Ontario, by policies mandating teaching and learning activities that are aimed at serving the utilitarian needs of a corporate and globalized market place. Believes that "critical literacy" and "critical language awareness" offer Ontario education…

Summarizes results of study investigating perceived freedom of postsecondary institutions to respond to environmental changes and factors limiting their responsiveness, using data collected from all postsecondary sectors in Alberta, Canada. Administrators are limited in their power to generate funds and implement programs responsive to…

The start-up has received considerable attention in the last few years. While the National Research Council of Canada has generated many start-ups over its 88-year history, the creation of a formal entrepreneurship programme in the mid-1990s dramatically accelerated the pace at which they were created. Many factors come into play in the decision…

This report seeks to address critical issues such as these by synthesising the evidence on innovations in more market-driven education systems. The analysis draws on data from over 20 OECD and non-OECD countries, including both developed nations that seek to move beyond established systems of state-run schools, and developing nations where formal…

Examines participation in small businesses by 272 immigrant entrepreneurs in Ontario (Canada) using a theoretical model viewing immigrant enterprise as a product of class and ethnic resources in combination with a favorable opportunity structure. In Ontario, Hong Kong Chinese immigrants predominate among new ethnic entrepreneurs. (SLD)

Provides an overview of educational reform efforts in Poland and Saskatchewan. Examines the rationales implicitly or explicitly submitted to gain public endorsement of the reforms. Explains why public awareness and participation was heightened in Poland (emphasizing a human capital model) and diminished in Saskatchewan (emphasizing a free-market…