The United States is currently experiencing a decline of skilled talent in the workforce, with healthcare occupations suffering the most due to a loss in workforce talent and the onset of an aging population. This talent shortage is attributed to a "skills gap." The current case study used qualitative methodology to examine the expansion…

In this second annual summary of the their work, the Investing in Community Initiative provides practical advice for community leaders and policymakers around four critical issues. First, how should local needs be defined? Chapter 1 argues that data about local economies can show whether communities are best served by creating new jobs,…

Streamlining the vocational qualification development process in Australia is a current priority of the skills ministers of both the Australian Government and state and territory governments. This research summary explores the development processes associated with vocational qualifications in selected countries and compares them with the current…

This project is focused on the second element noted by the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) to streamline the national vocational education and training (VET) system so that it can better respond to the needs of industry -- faster development of qualifications. It looks at the vocational qualification development processes in different…

A model is presented to evaluate the usefulness of learning objects for industry oriented learning environments that emphasise training university graduates for job opportunities in a competitive industry oriented economy. Knowledge workers of the industry seek continuous professional development to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Many…

It is imperative that vocational and technical educators study job training programs and policies in industry in order to develop curriculums that will enable students to make a better transition from school to work. The purpose of this paper was to gather pertinent information about job training efforts in industry so that vocational and…

In developing a vocational education training program, provision must be made for articulating the occupational program and its courses and units with employment opportunities in the occupation. The first step in gathering and organizing data needed in developing an occupational training program is an organizational analysis. The organizational…

An interdisciplinary career training program, "Contracting with Business and Industry" (CWB&I), was developed by Bay de Noc Community College (Michigan) to meet nontraditional students' needs for specialized career orientation, training, and personal development. Through contracts between the college and local businesses, students acquire…

This manual, developed to provide vocational instructors or coordinators with model training plans to be used to conduct concurrent work and education programs for disadvantaged and handicapped students, has the purposes of: (1) serving as a description of the kinds of content that should be included in a training plan, (2) serving as an example…

This handbook is designed to assist those responsible for managing cooperative work experience programs at Oregon high schools and community colleges. The coordinator's responsibilities have been broken down into specific tasks and the steps for successfully completing each. These are grouped under the following subheadings: (1) administration…

Discusses the National Education and Training Task Force for Minority Business Enterprise, its message for vocational education, its recommendations, the potential of small business, the building of local systems, evaluation of present programs, postsecondary emphasis, and the Youth Enterprise Project as a catalyst. (CT)

The Illinois Community College Board provided more than $3.3 million to community colleges during fiscal year 2009 to support local workforce and economic development services through their Business and Industry Centers. The workforce development activities conducted under this grant include customized job training on campus or on-site at a…

Project COMPETE was designed to promote the successful transition of students with severe handicaps from school to adult life and work in integrated community settings. The project developed an instructional program, trained staff members of the Nassau County (New York) Board of Cooperative Educational Services, recruited jobs for the students,…

Identifies issues to be considered in deciding whether a community college should become involved in industrial training (e.g., local needs and attitudes, faculty attitudes, and personnel implications). Suggests an organizational model for delivering customized job training. Identifies program benefits and potential problems. (DMM)

Discusses the benefits of college/industry partnerships. Warns colleges to ensure that the partnerships make good business sense; i.e., that they supplement the college's current programs and expertise or put the institution in a new market position. Identifies criteria for choosing the right business partners. (DMM)