Purpose: A major focus of the recent research into the quality of post-secondary education is the centrality of the student experience. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on studies addressing such a focus to shed light on how quality assurance (QA) practices can be improved. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reviews some…

This packet contains resources and guidelines for developing General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) for further education programs in Britain. The materials are designed to be used flexibly to determine strategies or define priorities, aid problem solving in developing systems for GNVQs, audit and review existing systems, and provide…

This booklet is designed to assist General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) coordinators, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) coordinators, staff development managers, enterprise unit managers, and assessor training coordinators in ensuring that sufficient numbers of staff members at British further education colleges are trained and…

A major proposition is that dual training arrangements alone do not necessarily solve quality problems in the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) nor improve VET links to the labor market. An essential strategy for Australia should be to further develop holistic training courses linked to apprenticeship models and embed both into a…

The adult continuing education (ACE) programs provided under contract with the Gloucestershire (England) Adult Continuing Education Service were evaluated in January-February 1994. An evaluation team visited more than 60 venues, including main sites and a wide range of village halls, family centers, women's institute halls, and other outreach…

This book addresses the issue of quality in vocational education in the United Kingdom. Part 1 explores the concept of quality in relation to vocational education and discusses the managerial and industrial perspectives on quality. Included in Part 2, which examines quality in the context of students as clients, are the following articles:…

This report records the main themes of the discussions and recommendations made at a policy consultation on the Connexions Service. Section 1 examines the current use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in relation to relevant forms of personal information, advice, and guidance leading to personal development for young people aged…

This document is a questionnaire designed for work-based learning providers. It is a diagnostic benchmarking tool developed to give organizations a snapshot of their current state. Following a brief introduction, there are instructions for filling in the questionnaire, which includes both open-ended response and scoring according to a…

Electronic networking can help postsecondary institutions with distance education (DE) programs respond to increasing pressures to improve the services they offer and make them more cost-effective. Some institutions immediately accepted the need for electronic networking and began to develop and implement technology plans focused primarily on…

Denmark's career guidance system and policies were evaluated. The review team met with policymakers and guidance practitioners in the public and private sectors, analyzed data from a national questionnaire, and reviewed pertinent documentation. The evaluation focused on the following areas: coordinating mechanisms; the role of Denmark's National…

During the past decade, funding mechanisms for universities and technical education institutions and colleges have undergone massive restructuring in developed and developing countries alike. Governmental support has generally decreased, resulting in greater reliance on fee-based education or creation of privately sponsored engineering/technical…

This document contains eight papers on the changing faces of virtual education. "Introduction" (Glen M. Farrell) presents an overview of the study during which the papers originated. "The Changing Venues for Learning" (Vis Naidoo) discusses innovative learning venues and forces driving and constraining their development.…

Germany's career guidance system and policies were evaluated. Data were collected through meetings with policymakers and guidance practitioners in the public and private sectors, an analysis of data from a national questionnaire, and a review of pertinent documentation. The evaluation focused on the following areas: reviewing the role of Germany's…

The prospects for managing the tension between accountability and improvement in further and higher education (FHE) were examined through a literature review and a 5-year ethnographic study of a change management project at a higher education college in Wales. Special attention was paid to the following challenges facing FHE: globalization; the…

This paper examines quality issues in career guidance, counseling, and information services in Europe and elsewhere from a range of different perspectives related to economic, ethical, and/or effectiveness criteria. Selected examples from the European Union member states, Canada, and the United States are used to illustrate how quality is…