The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the information and Documentation Center for the Geography of the Netherlands (IDG) occurred on September 21, 1984. To mark this anniversary, the 1983/84 issue of the "IDG Bulletin" is devoted to a review of the past 20 years. The first section consists of four review articles by specialists:…

This special issue of the journal Exceptional Children has the theme "Rural Special Education." Nine articles deal with this theme as follows: (1) "The State of the Art of Rural Special Education" (by D. Helge), looks at recent improvements, remaining challenges, and current functioning; policy recommendations are offered for national and state…

Papers in this publication deal with the needs of local communities for answers to their development questions, the needs of action agencies for assistance in determining appropriate development strategies, the ability of universities to respond to these needs, and problems in responding to community and agency needs. Tony Byrne, mayor of Natchez,…

This paper summarizes the proceedings of a conference held to discuss evaluation in vocational education. The agenda included welcome speeches and the introductory address by Robert Savy, President of the Regional Council of Limousin (France); an opening session with statements from representatives of the Commission of the European Communities…

This narrative account summarizes the 2-day research forum of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP). Presentations focus on the central theme of the forum: new qualifications versus skill shortages. They include Kees Meijer's outline of the research undertaken in a series of national studies on skill shortages…

The regional approach to postsecondary education in Minnesota is discussed in this publication. A review of the regional approach is provided along with articles on the program's impact in specific regions. The primary goal of the regional centers in Rochester, the Iron Range, and Wadena is to meet regional needs more efficiently and effectively…

As in many other industrialized countries, advances in computer technology are transforming Germany's industrial society into an information and services society. Increasingly fewer jobs are available in traditional industries and in the public sector. In the 1990s, Germany's trade unions and employers' associations have experienced steady…

The role of further education (FE) colleges in England and Wales was examined through a survey mailed to a representative sample of 478 of the United Kingdom's 622 FE colleges. Questionnaires were returned by 102 (21%) of the colleges. Data were also collected through seminars, conferences and consultation meetings, cases studies, and a best…

In 1998, five regional conferences were held in preparation for the Second International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education (TVE). The Asia-Pacific regional conference focused on challenges of the 21st century, demands of the world of work, and changing patterns in the delivery of training programs. The European symposium covered five…

In 1983, management of public policy regarding vocational training in France was partially entrusted to France's regional authorities. However, division of responsibility for defining and implementing vocational training programs and policies among state, regional authorities, and professional organizations remained an issue. The regions were…

This document contains nine articles about vocational training (VT) policy and the impact of decentralization and issues of territory on VT in the European Community (EC) member states. The following articles are included: "Vocational Training and Regional Policies: The Same Challenge..." (Landaburu); "Vocational Training in a…

France's employment policy has historically been governed by a strategy of interventions aimed at specific categories of individuals, including victims of industrial restructuring, entry workers, the long-term unemployed, and the disabled. Since the 1980s, France has had the following main lines of employment policy: (1) assistance to victims of…