When the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into fruition in the early 1990s, there were high hopes and expectations on what this emerging economic block could achieve. Although the agreement involved extensive conversations that led to regulations that facilitated trade across the region--the main intent of NAFTA--the same was not…

Professional mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) are one of the policy instruments employed in global and regional trade agreements to facilitate the mobility of skilled labour. While such agreements have been noted in the literature examining cross-border academic mobility, little is known about how they impact higher education. This paper…

This study explored the perceptions of Mexican senior government agency officials with regard to the impact of NAFTA on training and development practices in Mexico. This study was conducted using a phenomenological tradition within qualitative research. The major findings of the study indicate that Mexican senior government agency officials…

Describes accomplishments in increasing collaboration in higher education within the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Analyzes procedures for determining equivalencies of courses and degrees and for improving transnational mobility of students and professors. Also discusses the role of the private sector in research, education and…

This working paper discusses the critical role that higher education in the United States and Mexico must play since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The paper gives an overview of recent transformations in areas of economic development and business needs which require that higher education better prepare…

A study investigated the role of language in facilitating technology transfer, particularly across international borders. It examined whether language has an effect on the technology transfer process or the politics associated with it when participating countries lack a common language, and whether the English language plays a special role in…

The North American Free Trade Agreement and internal changes in Mexico will promote change in Mexican higher education. Higher education in the United States can and should play a supportive role in helping enrich Mexico's intellectual life and research, which would in turn benefit U.S. interests as well. (MSE)

During the 1980s, the rise of independent farm labor contractors and Republican labor policies led to a deterioration in the economic well-being of farmworkers and their families. Delays in the implementation of new safeguards under the Worker Protection Standards Act have resulted in continuing exposure to pesticides, causing such exposure to…

Considers the educational implications of increased cooperation among Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. Highlights each country's labor force needs and the importance of the mobility of professionals across national borders. Discusses the state of academic mobility in North America, the need for common standards, and funding mechanisms. (MAB)

The proposed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will result in lower wages, fewer jobs, and generally reduced living standards for the majority of U.S. workers. Substantial costs to the U.S. economy will occur in job and income loss and few off-setting benefits for most workers. Proponents argue that NAFTA will create upward mobility for…

This report presents the responses of three experts from Canada, Mexico, and the United States to 18 questions concerning issues in business-higher education alliances in the context of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). They address such issues as the need for alliances; the characteristics of successful (and unsuccessful)…

Recent developments making more urgent the need for second language skills among the United States' population are examined. Specifically, a meeting of representatives of service professions and U.S. trade representatives concerning the ramifications of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade…

This working paper analyzes higher education faculty characteristics in Mexico and the United States. The first section describes and compares Mexican and U.S. faculty characteristics and conditions, including total number of faculty, student-teacher ratios, full- versus part-time status, rank, tenure, average salaries, gender and ethnicity, and…

This collection of 17 papers addresses current issues related to collective bargaining in higher education and the professions. The papers include: (1) "The American Academic Model Abroad" (Irwin H. Polishook); (2) "The European Perspective" (Gerd Kohler); (3) "Economic Integration in the North American Region:…

This document contains three papers on human resource development (HRD) in Latin America. "Looking at the Literature on Workplace Democracy in Latin America: Factors in Favor and Against It" (Max U. Montesino) discusses selected issues related to workplace democracy in Latin America and identifies salient issues for further research,…