A seminar disseminated and discussed the findings of a study carried out on the problems of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing training and the support strategies applied in the 12 member states of European Community. Input was solicited from experts regarding the priorities of 11 strategies. Organizers used this information to…

The ninth meeting of CEDEFOP (French acronym for the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) is summarized in this report. Attending the forum were representatives of the leading vocational training research and development institutions and ministerial departments from the European Community (EC) Member States and from…

A study was conducted in Europe to determine what occupations and job skills are involved in the rehabilitation of architecturally significant buildings and in the restoration of monuments. Final reports were received from Belgium, France, and Italy. Experience in Belgium shows that there are specific provisions for restoration works, whereas…

Ten papers are provided on the prison education service in the United Kingdom. "Developments in Prison Service Management" (Ian Benson) describes changes in the past 5 years. "Prison Libraries" (Peter Blunt) describes the background to prison libraries and provides information on the present position. Current approaches to…

This brief examines trends in the retail trade, especially in grocery stores, from an international perspective. A comparison of recent national studies finds the following: (1) significant differences in structure and organization exist, especially in the role of traditional small shops versus large chain grocery stores; (2) increasing store size…

This issue focuses on the various forms that secondary technical and vocational education takes in different European Community Member States. "The Future for Skilled Workers" is an interview with Burkart Lutz, a German researcher. Other articles are as follows: "Contradictions in Technical and Vocational Education: The…

While disparities in access to training are identified as a weakness of the training system initiated by the Continuing Training Law 1971 in France, public sector agents--one-fourth of all employees in France--seem better off. However, this hardly means generosity of the public sector's training policy is the sole cause or that training procedures…

The umbrella associations from all 12 member states of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) approved a Joint Opinion on Education and Training that lays down a series of principles important for the development of future European Community vocational training policy. A document was issued as a follow-up to an…

This document describes major changes that have occurred in the integration of young people into working life in Europe and suggests policy implications in this area. The following articles are included: "Interview" (H. C. Jones); "A European Cultural Policy to Prevail over a Rapidly Changing and Uncertain Environment" (Sergio…

Some 180 experts from 10 European countries met at the University of Trier (Germany) to exchange information about youth assistance projects and hear views about the extent of unemployment among disadvantaged youth and development of innovative solutions. "The Failure of Young People to Cope with Life When Unemployed" (Bohnisch) showed…

A pilot study on the hotel, catering, and tourism sector was conducted in the Burgundy region of France, Northwest region of the Czech Republic, and Podravje region of Slovenia. Three main kinds of factors of change were brought out. The first, evoked in Slovenia and the Czech Republic, concerned the opening of borders. Typical trends were…

Transformations in the French metalworking industries have given rise to numerous studies on employment and job content in metallurgy over the past decade. One study related technical transformations to changes in the skills content of certain categories of workers. Although automation results in the elimination of certain know-how belonging to an…

This issue of the quarterly Education International focuses on vocational education and training (VET). The editorial, "Education and the Wealth of Nations" (Fred van Leeuwen), focuses on provision of quality education for all. "Education International's (EI's) First Joint Worldwide Action on Education Issues" (Elie Jouen) describes the Global…

In the new environment of increased international trade and investment flows, human resources represent the key competitive edge of this interconnected global economy. The share the United States has of worldwide output is shrinking. This issue explores data that provide a snapshot of how globalization is affecting the economy and changing its…