Studies in Great Britain have focused on the rapidly changing economy of the 21st century and the skills that workers will need to contribute to it. The studies have found that the new century will be characterized by the knowledge-driven economy, changes driven by global markets, the rapid movement of finance, and developments in information and…

Australia has a federal system, comprising the national Commonwealth government and eight state and territory governments. At the Commonwealth level, the ministries of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, and Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business have primary roles in the career information and services field. Education and training…

This packet contains three papers on ethics and integrity from a symposium on human resource development (HRD). The first paper, "Factors Influencing Ethical Resolution Efficacy: A Model for HRD Practitioners" (Kimberly S. McDonald), proposes a model of ethical resolution efficacy for HRD practitioners. The model suggests that factors related to…

This packet contains four papers from a symposium on evaluation in human resource development (HRD). The first paper, "Context and Causation in the Evaluation of Training: Relating Economic and Learning Transfer Theory" (Kevin Hannigan, Paul Donovan, Elwood F. Holton III, Reid A. Bates, Sharon S. Naquin), links the following three…

This document consists of two papers on theory building from a conference on human resource development (HRD). Both "Theory Building Research in HRD--Pushing the Envelope!" (Richard A. Swanson, Susan A. Lynham, Wendy E. A. Ruona, Richard J. Torraco) and "The Role of Theory Building in Maturing the Human Resource Development…

Grameen Banks are a model of successful support for the smallest businesses. The Grameen Bank began in 1976, when Muhammad Yunus, an economics professor at Chittagong University in southern Bangladesh, loaned Sufiya Khatun, a weaver of bamboo stools, $4 U.S. to buy supplies and raise her daily profit from 2 cents to $1.25. Her success prompted…

Under the direction and leadership of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education and the Alabama Department of Education, Workforce 21 was created as a response to the lack of skilled workers necessary to fill high-skill, high-wage jobs of the 21st century. More than 600 Alabamians representing industry, labor, parents, students,…

The FY 2000-2004 Vermont State Plan for Technical Education is based on a strategic planning process that began in 1996 and entailed reviewing and creating a strategic plan for its technical education system. The FY 2000-2004 State Plan was written by building on the conclusions of several state-wide task forces and conferences. Four particular…

This document consists of three separately-published collections of essays by the chancellor of the Alabama College System, presenting his perspectives on aspects of the two-year college system in that state. The document begins with the system's mission statement, and an explanation of the principles underlying the mission. The essays that follow…

This paper addresses, in two parts, some issues in the staffing of early childhood services. Taking an international perspective, the first part of the paper discusses: (1) the structure of the early childhood workforce; (2) the social construction of the early childhood worker; (3) gender; (4) staff to child ratios; (5) processes of transition in…

This guide focuses on these two key challenges that states and localities have identified as important for the long-term success of welfare reform and work force development efforts: helping low-income parents sustain employment (steady work) and advance in the work force (better jobs). The guide consists of five parts and is structured to…

This report addresses the California Community Colleges Board of Governors' Initiative for Developing California's New Workforce. The report argues that many workforce training programs are still based on obsolete paradigms. Rather than offering the long-term skills and career development necessary to succeed in a high-performance workplace, these…

Supported by the state governments of the South, the Southern Growth Policies Board creates strategies for regional economic development. Every 6 years, the Board's chairman (a state governor) appoints a blue-ribbon commission to analyze the condition of the South, develop regional objectives, and recommend approaches to regional problems. This…

This report presents the findings of the Commission on the Evaluation of Collegiate Teaching regarding programs in Business Administration Technology. The Commission evaluated two programs leading to a Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC), and programs leading to a Certificate of Collegial Studies (AEC). The programs leading to the DEC respond…

This analysis of the important industry-centered spare time school system in Communist China is a substantially revised version of a paper originally prepared for oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Association for Asian Studies in March 1963. The author is specializing in the study of Communist China at Cornell University, where he is…