These two case studies were commissioned by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) as part of its Western Policy Exchange (WPE) Project, in an effort to understand the dynamics and perceived consequences of a "state roundtable" approach to fostering partnerships in education in order to advance systemic change and…

The impact of establishing Belgium's Louvain Catholic University in a rural area is discussed in terms of: increased population and spending power; employment and economic activity directly and indirectly related to the university; and collective equipment and its repercussion on social-cultural evolution. (JMF)

Purpose: To explore social dialogue over vocational education and training in Europe, comparing the role of the social partners in different national training systems and different industrial relations contexts. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of European member states (EU15 before enlargement) and two EFTA countries addressed to the…

In Finland, as in other European countries, the Bologna Declaration is having a profound impact on the structure of degrees, and consequently on teaching and learning. Until now, most graduates in Finland completed a Master's without having to take a Bachelor's degree first. The Ministry of Education has set a high objective for the reform of…

The purpose of this research study was to determine the role of regional centers in the Advanced Technical Education (ATE) program of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Conducted by the Community College Research Center (CCRC), the researchers began by asking whether the concept of a regional center was unique and useful to NSF's goals of…

Seven papers delivered at the 1992 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions annual meeting relating to regional activities are presented. These papers deal with library issues in Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The papers are: (1) "Designing National Information Policies in African: Process…

The history of Texas' implementation of bilingual education is examined through a review of relevant literature and court litigation, and a survey of school district superintendents and administrators on this topic is reported. In interviews with the administrators, it was found that bilingual education and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)…

This report provides, in chart form, results of a survey of employers of cooperative education students in the Midwest. The statistics and data are intended to provide useful information regarding salaries and benefits paid to cooperative education student employees to cooperative practitioners in the Midwest. A five-page introduction describes…

This paper describes Project TransND, a transition services project implemented jointly through the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Office of Special Education, and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. This program helps prepare special education students to transition from high school to the work world. Project goals include…

The New Zealand Correspondence School has taught nearly 750,000 students since it was established in 1922. Indicators of success are student achievement, parental satisfaction, and cost per student. Possible models for basic distance education are as follows: (1) isolated students learning independently; (2) a partial intermediary who provides…

The test for today's economy is to create a workforce development system that capitalizes on current opportunities across states, regions, and local communities. The economic environment is positive, with tight, dynamic, and global labor markets. The business need for job-ready, entry-level workers; high-skilled workers; and workers who can…

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…

To obtain practical experience, a research methods class at the University of Colorado (Colorado Springs) undertook a special project to help a nearby county (Park County), assess its planning needs. The county was chosen for its characteristics as a rapidly growing rural area faced with the problems created by mounting population pressure on…

Information systems design is at a crossroads of changes in technology (microcomputing, software engineering, and telecommunications) and the administration of social systems, of which urban and regional planning are a part. Training in information systems design will be beneficial to four distinct groups of people: clerical and technical staff;…

These papers produced for a research project and seminar discuss from different conceptual, methodological, and practical perspectives the use of information systems to help improve the urban and regional planning process in developing countries, particularly in Asia and the Pacific. The 15 papers are: (1) "Assessing the Context for…