This book provides human resource development (HRD) professionals with a practical approach for improving the way they practice their profession and presents a four-part framework for improving HRD practice. Each of the book's four parts is dedicated to one part of the framework: examining HRD strategy; improving perceptions of HRD; improving…

These proceedings contain reports of the plenary and working group sessions of a seminar to exchange information on such topics as the social dialogue on vocational education and training (VET) at the European level and involvement of social partners in development and implementation of European Community VET policy. Each report is introduced by a…

This report offers numerous cross-sectoral explorations in the context of health and human resources analyses in Africa. Intended as a resource document for funding agencies, program managers, and policy makers in Africa, the study aims to spark interest in using basic education to foster behavior conducive to broad-based, sustainable economic…

This paper highlights New Jersey's community colleges and their efforts to respond to market and consumer needs. Since one-third of the average New Jersey community college operating budget is paid by credit and non-credit students and clients, the colleges must approach their business like private sector enterprises, performing market research…

The South can move out of the shadows of the harsh economic realities of the last 15 years and into the sunshine of developing new strategies to take advantage of the region's strengths. These strengths include a vast wealth of natural resources; a Sunbelt location; and most important, a huge reservoir of undeveloped human capital. The road to…

The Digital Steppingstones (DSS) project is a 3-year study exploring access to advanced information technologies and related training in low-income and minority communities. The project is also identifying exemplary information technology programs in schools, libraries, and community centers in disadvantaged areas of five large cities. Site…

This book addresses contemporary contexts of flexible learning and its practices and provides insights about directions that education and training providers may be required to follow to implement flexible learning in a variety of settings. Key issues and debates include the following: social and economic dimensions of flexible learning and…

This guidebook provides an overview of the Common Framework for Skill Standards (CFSS) developed by the National Skill Standards Board (NSSB). It is designed for voluntary partnerships, convening groups, and anyone interested in learning more about how skill standards can increase the skills and productivity of American workers. A companion…

This paper explores the impact of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 on the work training being provided to welfare recipients by community colleges. This bill changed the approach for addressing poverty from a human capital perspective, which emphasizes the need for training and education to…

This is a report on the worker retaining program administered by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. The program provides job retraining to workers unable to find jobs in their current fields. Since 1993, the program has served more than 44,000 unemployed and displaced workers at 34 state community colleges and over…

This paper aims to provide an examination of the entrepreneurial role of the community college president as well as the opportunities and challenges associated with that role. The author examines the literature, and presents case studies of four community colleges in Virginia. The 23 Virginia community colleges are located on 40 campuses and have…

This guide is designed to provide practical information for community leaders, local Workforce Investment Boards, Youth Councils, staff, and others committed to effective youth and workforce development. Its four sections provide technical assistance and training materials for Youth Councils. Chapter 1, "Planning the Menu," defines youth…

Policies to regulate and support labor markets in the United States have mainly been an initiative of the federal government. Historically, states and localities were reluctant to act independently to build up worker rights and protections for fear of competitively disadvantaging resident industries with added costs. Federal constitutional…

This document discusses community colleges and career qualifications. Community colleges have a dual challenge in responding to the new economy. First, they will need to play their part in educating and training the workforce that employers need to meet new competitive standards for cost efficiency, quality, variety, customization, convenience,…

This paper examines how community colleges are responding to external pressures to more closely collaborate with secondary schools in school reform efforts and school-to-work transition programs, focusing on four community colleges. These colleges engaged in a wide variety of collaborative activities with secondary schools. Two strong examples of…