Advanced automation is significantly affecting American society and the individual. To understand the extent of this impact, an understanding of the country's service economy is necessary. The United States made the transition from a goods- to service-based economy shortly after World War II. In 1982, services generated 67% of the Gross National…

Case studies and seminar reports are provided that were presented at an international seminar to examine field experiences in using a culture-based approach to nonformal education. Part I, containing an introductory paper and nine case studies, focuses on indigenous institutions and processes in health, family planning, agriculture, basic…

This article describes a successful model used in international service-learning projects that integrates economic development and ecological improvement. The principles of the model are discussed, including commitments to maintain partnerships over time, emphasize the transfer of knowledge from one generation of students to the next, start small,…

Problems in federal rural policy arise in a number of areas: the extreme economic adversity of rural America, failure to acknowledge the higher cost of providing rural services, failure to distinguish between rural programs and agriculture programs, and failure to address specific rural needs. Papers in this collection examine rural development…

Leaders in government and business are expressing a need for stronger programs in foreign language education that address national and state needs in defense, diplomacy, and commerce. The deterioration in foreign language capabilities in the United States results from declining participation in foreign language and cultural education. No concrete…

Community colleges across the United States have initiated programs that are making an impact on the productivity of rural America and its residents. Profiles of 20 community and technical college initiatives in rural economic development are contained in this report intended for use by community and technical college administrators. The programs…

The Washington State Job Skills Program (JSP) was established by the legislature in 1983 as an economic development incentive to provide customized, quick-start training to meet the employment needs of new or expanding businesses in the state. Funds are granted to public and private educational institutions to train people for new jobs, prepare…

Presentations made at a 1987 forum on continuing higher education leadership sponsored by the National University Continuing Education Association include: "Shifting Demographics: Implications for the Community and Higher Education" (David Hayes-Bautista); "Minority Issues: Central Theme or Footnote" (Sarah Melendez);…

New England's economic competitiveness in a global economy and the role of the area's colleges and universities in contributing to that competitiveness are discussed, including a review of a similar analysis from the perspective of the state of Maine. The report examines information developed from a study having three research components: (1) the…

Workers' skills are critical to U.S. industrial productivity and competitiveness and to maintaining living standards. Training is the key. Good training pays--for workers whose skills are upgraded, for companies seeking a competitive edge, and for the nation in overall productivity. However, workers in other countries are better trained than most…

This paper sketches several successful community economic development programs that have implications for rural education. Case studies are used to discuss community characteristics that contribute to development success. In Virginia, a Community Certification Program offers statewide business recruitment services to communities that meet program…

This study documents land ownership patterns in the Appalachian region and analyzes their impact on rural communities. Representing the most comprehensive such study to date, the project was initiated by Appalachian residents in 1978 to examine whether and how land ownership patterns, especially corporate and absentee ownership, underlie or…

The conference brought Southern state and local leaders together to discuss ways to revitalize depressed rural areas and to improve citizens' quality of life. Papers discussed: (1) goals for rural educational improvement; (2) human resource barriers to community and economic development in the South; (3) survey results indicating that Alabama…

Organized in three parts, this paper examines rationales for introducing computers into schools and universities in African countries and compares these rationales with those being advanced in industrial countries. Part 1 asks whether developing countries in Africa need computers and why, and supplies some answers. Part 2 looks critically and in…

U.S. industry and the U.S workplace are changing. More highly skilled jobs are replacing unskilled and semiskilled jobs, and more jobs require higher-order thinking skills. At the same time, the education system is failing to educate young people to fill those jobs in the future. Although a higher percentage of students graduate than ever before,…