Themes of a Canadian private sector task force report on labor force development are improving federal-provincial cooperation, expanding business and labor roles in policy, improving basic skills, promoting lifelong education, expanding counseling services, improving access to training programs, enhancing the quality and dissemination of labor…

Reports the results of surveys of English-speaking Caribbean regions that demonstrate an inadequate supply of information scientists in relation to demand, despite the pivotal role of information in the development process. It is suggested that enhancing the image of the profession and improving information training programs may alleviate this…

Operation Breakthrough, in which graduate student interns teach life skills to adolescents with learning disabilities, provided an impetus for identifying a profile of learning and work habits necessary for production of an agile workforce. Agile learning for self-systems improvement calls for self-empowered learning, collaborative learning,…

Two prominent claims underlying educational policy are that jobs by year 2000 will require considerably more education and substantial increases in test scores may powerfully affect productivity. The article suggests that economic concerns with education should think more about contributing to the development of capable human beings than narrow…

Describes a study of companies served by workforce training programs offered at 25 Michigan community colleges. Indicates that 90.6% (n=264) of business and industry respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their training program, and that 94% thought the programs were important or very important. Discusses implications of the findings…

Describes five possible future developments for customized training: creating consortia between colleges and business training centers; establishing instructional design centers with faculty functioning as knowledge choreographers to provide up-to-date services; creating intergenerational service learning programs; implementing total quality…

Compares public intervention schemes in Britain and Norway supporting participation of public educational institutions in the delivery of continuing labor force development and training. These schemes demonstrate that British policy is based on belief in free market principles, while Norwegian policy combines elements of consumer choice and legal…

Summarizes the 1991 National Organizations Study on formal job training programs. Finds that blue-collar core occupations receive as much company training as white-collar occupations. Determines that the more extensive a company's internal labor market, the more formal training programs are used for advancement and promotion. (CFR)

A successful vocational education system will include the following: (1) close cooperation between industry and schools; (2) the ability to promise success and attract capable students; (3) enough flexibility to allow students to choose other options; (4) preparation for lifelong learning; and (5) assurance of equitable access to vocational…

This special issue contains nine articles on labor-intensive public works, social investment funds, rural infrastructure projects, grassroots socioeconomic rights, remuneration systems for self-help projects, road construction and rural transport, employment and environmental rehabilitation, and water as a source of employment. (SK)

Criticizes a World Bank policy paper that views private-industry provision of vocational education as an ideal toward which all countries should move, while ignoring the need for relativism in policy formation. Discusses flexibility in delivery of training, importance of general education, relevance of prevocational education, and equity issues.…

College governing boards must address six areas of campus human resources management: composition of the new workforce; leadership and motivation; quality of work life; performance evaluation; compensation; and the role of the campus human resource management department. (MSE)

Argues that rural two-year colleges must go beyond traditional job training programs for business/industry to have a decisive impact on local economic development. Presents a comprehensive economic development model, including human capital development; economic development awareness; and business, special group, infrastructure, and agricultural…

Reviews labor market needs projected for the year 2000. Discusses specific efforts of community colleges nationwide to promote economic development through customized contract training programs. Examines the role of small businesses in contract training and the likely impact of changing telecommunications technology on customized training and…

The ways in which computer networks are forging new kinds of markets and new ways to manage organizations are described. Discussed are the results of these innovations, which include changes in corporate structure and management style. (KR)