This article examines the growth of practitioner research in England through the creation of the Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) and identifies its effect on subsequent developments in what is generally known as the Lifelong Learning Sector (LLS). It offers an analysis of this development as a case study in developing practitioner…

In 1980, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiated the Graduate Student Researchers Program in order to cultivate additional research ties to the academic community and to support promising students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering. Section I of this handbook summarizes the program and lists the…

This publication outlines the involvement of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) programs in aeronautics and space research. NASA aims to assist HBCUs in science, engineering, and technology programs and also to encourage greater participation of minorities in its…

Partnerships between businesses and higher education are discussed from the standpoint of effects on higher education traditions, policies and practices; business productivity and competitiveness; and opportunities for leadership. Part 1, "Making Partnerships Work: Objectives, Approaches, and Strategies," by David R. Powers and Mary F. Powers,…

This document concerns the operation and evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) program. Included with a general letter addressing the operation of the program are several appendices which attempt to answer the questions put forth in the letter. These appendices include considerations of: (1)…

This guide provides an overview of the National Education Research and Development Centers sponsored by the Office of Research of the U.S. Department of Education. Information provided for each of 23 centers includes the nature of the center's work, its location, and the names of its principal researchers. Center listings are divided into two…

Reviews the findings of the White House Science Council's survey of the condition of the United States university-research community. Indicates the problems that threaten the quality of academic research and outlines recommendations for its improvement. Funding changes, tax credits, and scholarships are among the panel's suggestions. (ML)

This joint research and development project of two state departments of education used the DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) process to identify microcomputer competencies for vocational instructors. Brainstorming techniques were used to identify five categories of microcomputer applications and to determine which competencies belonged in each…

This paper reviews progress of computer-assisted learning technology to date with particular focus on National Research Council of Canada Computer Assisted Learning Project, and projects some computer-assisted learning developments to be expected during the rest of the 1980s. (MBR)

The major concerns in university-industry research relationships, discussed from an industrial viewpoint, include: research and development (R&D) within the firm, for an industry, and for a society; types of R&D organizations; working with universities and government labs; potential problems; and possible directions for the future. (MSE)

A brief history of research involving humans is followed by discussion of the use of students in university research projects and institutional responsibility to students and the public. Institutions are encouraged to incorporate specific controls into research policies to avoid legal problems in the areas of contract theory, fiduciary…

Discusses the increasing trend toward the pork-barrel funding of science projects, particularly for grants to academic institutions. Addresses the new strategies being employed by opponents of such funding. Describes some of the possible ramifications of the various strategies and the perceived link between science funding and economic growth. (TW)

A matrix management system designed for use by a highly technical nuclear weapons research and development facility to improve productivity and flexibility by the use of multiple authority, responsibility, and accountability relationships is described. (MSE)

Application of a multidimensional measure of university research activity, the Research Activity Index (RAI), is described and compared to the more common use of research and development expenditures as a criterion of activity. The RAI incorporates seven expenditure variables, three graduate-student-related variables, and a research library…

Describes the origins and first two years of a focused collaborative project involving Wichita State University (Kansas), the aviation industry, and state economic-development organizations. The center is industry-driven and reflects the industry's current technological needs. The arrangement can offer significant advantages to each stakeholder,…