This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher education officials, in December 2008. One of the topics of the meeting was around the issue of possible skills shortages emerging as a result of demographic trends, with the ageing of the population of developed countries. The paper argues that this…

A study examined occupational and skill change within the retail sector in Europe so that training and development schemes can be put in place. Data were collected in the following ways: compilation of information on the level of employment, skills, and training in the retail sector of European countries; compilation of national data on…

An initial analysis of self-reported, formal, postschool job training and the labor market outcomes of that training in Great Britain, Australia, and the United States was made through a study of survey results in each of the countries. The data revealed that there is not one kind of training, but various kinds for different purposes, with…

A research study, based on a survey of the literature, sought to: (1) analyze recent economic, technological, and sociological trends in Japan; (2) analyze how those trends have or have not had an impact on Japan's historical and currently famous approach to the management of its human resources; and (3) based on findings, present arguments for or…

A study attempted to determine whether the United States experience of continuing education and training provides an appropriate resource for changes intended to increase lifelong learning in the United Kingdom by considering institutional and cultural differences for the two countries. The study considered the trajectories for lifelong learning…

A 1999 survey of employer views on vocational education and training (VET) interviewed 3,558 employers of recent VET graduates and 2,495 employers with no VET graduates. Focuses The focus was employers' characteristics, their general views on VET, and information on their organizations' training practices. Findings indicated the following: (1) the…

Research was conducted in Europe to determine the following: (1) the current situation in the chemicals industry in regard to transparency, recognition, and transfer of qualifications; (2) the obstacles to transparency and recognition of qualifications in the industry; and (3) the key areas for future action and possible measures to promote…

In both developing and industrialized countries, young people are highly exposed to unemployment. Over a cross-section of countries, the approximate ratio of youth to adult unemployment is two or three to one. Periods of unemployment tend to be shorter for youths. In developing countries, youth unemployment is higher among the less educated and…

This book provides a systematic account of the causes, consequences, and policy implications of failure in training provision and skills acquisition in the industrial world. "Introduction" (Alison L. Booth, Dennis J. Snower) summarizes the contents. "Transferable Training and Poaching Externalities" (Margaret Stevens) shows how…

A research project studied 4 selected matched samples of 160 youths each, aged 16-19 years, from 2 towns in England and 2 in Germany in order to compare the youths' experience of job training and the school-to-work transition. Two expanding towns--Swindon, England, and Paderborn, Germany--were paired, as were Liverpool and Bremen. Whereas…

The introduction of computers and other microelectronic equipment throughout the Japanese economy has not affected employment negatively, owing to economic growth and the adaptability of the workers and business organizations affected. Because rapid advances in technology are making many specialized skills and areas of knowledge obsolete, it is…

A comparison was made of the role of midlevel health practitioners and how they came into being and flourished in three countries: the "feldsher" of the Soviet Union, the barefoot doctor of China, and the physician assistant of the United States. Information was gathered from books, journals, periodicals, governments, and newspapers as…

A study compared developments in size of apprenticeship programs and changes in the distribution of apprentices over occupational categories in Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands during the last 2 decades. Data were from the "time-series" school leavers' surveys database. Findings indicated, toward the late 1990s, Irish…

A study in South Wales developed the insights provided by previous research into further education and job training by exploring the ways in which the determinants of participation in lifetime learning vary systematically over time and from locality to locality. In addition, the study looked at empirical patterns of participation in lifetime…

This paper was developed to present to the Technical and Further Educatoin (TAFE) Department in New South Wales alternative approaches to curriculum development to assist the department in choosing an appropriate approach that will meet the current and future needs for an efficient, effective, and streamlined curriculum development process. The…