This report is the culmination of the "Flexible Pedagogies: Preparing for the Future" series of reports which have considered flexible learning from a range of perspectives. The report proposes fifteen conditions of flexibility to inject new thinking and new practices into an emerging new age. Flexible provision has the potential to…

This article suggests that higher education is following an outdated model that does not reflect current educational needs. A number of suggestions for change are offered, including redesign of the academic year, departure from the traditional standardized college education to an emphasis on students' academic competence, reorganization of the…

In response to a United Kingdom government study of higher education, three questions are posed: "What is higher education and how does it differ from other forms of adult education that necessitates the separate, privileged treatment of its institutions, employees, and students?"; "What is the significance of the traditional…

Efforts to reform teacher education are widespread, but each has different priorities. Common threads include extending teacher training programs to five years, forging closer relations with public schools, emphasizing technology, and placing prospective teachers in the schools more frequently. However, faculty resistance and tight budgets inhibit…

A recent federal welfare reform law requires each state to provide basic education and job training programs, in which colleges have a major role. Areas of disagreement between state and institutions include program length, the role of proprietary schools, and funding adequacy. (MSE)

Areas of proposed reform in medical education are discussed, with attention to implementation, financing, obstacles, needed resources, and pedagogy. The trade-off between students' need for time off and perceived need for instruction time is noted. It is argued that costs of reform in time and resources are often ignored. (Author/MSE)

Predictions are made, based on emerging policy and evidence of trends, about likely changes in the German higher education system including changes in funding sources, scope, and timing; faculty incentives to increase workload; changes in program length and graduates' salary levels; promotion of teaching as an occupation; increased labor market…

In the first part of this presentation, a critique is made of teacher education in general, pointing out the fact that schools of education are resigned to accepting academically weak students and have a limited definition of good teaching. A narrow view of the teacher's role is also cited, as well as teacher educators' resistance to change. The…

The evolution of the recent discussion of quality assessment and evaluation of teaching in German higher education is chronicled. Concern began in the 1980s over the length of time to degree and has shifted to interest in improvement of teaching quality and overall system effectiveness. (Author/MSE)

The experiences of a variety of postsecondary institutions using different academic calendar options are examined. Several calendar options are described: the traditional semester, the early semester, 4-1-4, the quarter system, the trimester plan, composite plans, and year-round plans. The traditional semester calendar begins in mid-September and…