This paper presents cognitive and social data on 134 gifted students at a Moscow (Russia) residential math/physics high school. Three case studies of students frequently selected by students in a sociometric task are detailed. Discussion focuses on effects of lack of emphasis in humanities and social sciences, and on social and gender issues. (DB)

A survey of 246 primary care and 90 academic physicians found that for the former, length of training, direct patient contact, and threats of malpractice suits were significant influences in career choice. For the latter, long-term research participation, intellectual stimulation, specialty content, and mentor or role model were more significant…

Poland is in the midst of sweeping educational reform, including reform of inservice teacher education. The system is abandoning totalitarianism for democracy. Most Polish teachers are specialized in only one subject, and there are surpluses of teachers in some subjects, so inservice education is focusing on helping teachers change specialties.…

A survey of U.S. medical schools (104 responses) found a significant association between required family practice clerkships or preceptorships and those institutions ranking in the highest quartile for percent of graduates entering family practice. A similar significant association was found between student selection of family practice options and…

University of Iowa dental students can participate in three dental research programs. Each involves faculty mentors, proposal development, and opportunities for formal presentation of findings. Increased scholarly activity is seen among participants, and graduates with such research experience more often chose to continue their education in…

The system of pharmaceutical education in France is explained including the structure of the doctoral curriculum, internships for specialization, the system of diplomas, classification and certification of a pharmacist, and locus of responsibility for program quality. (MSE)

Performance assessment is discussed as it relates to evaluation of clinical performance in medical education. Issues include the meaning of reliability and validity in performance assessment and the balance between them, including simple vs. complex behaviors; stability of performance; specific vs. generic abilities; and experts' roles in clinical…

A study assessed the effect of training stage, gender, and specialty interest on 493 Northwestern University (Illinois) medical students' breast cancer knowledge, attitudes, and clinical breast examination skills. Results suggest knowledge and attitudes are not related to clinical breast examination proficiency, which is a practiced tactile skill.…

Educational institutions that wish to implement a specialized teaching laboratory often have a variety of obstacles to overcome. Some of these obstacles are related to adapting existing classroom infrastructure, building the laboratory, and meeting the demands for multiple-use classrooms to maximize the return on investment. In some cases, such as…

Prevailing among college students is the belief that higher education is but a mechanism for achieving material prosperity. This perception has impelled them to focus ever more narrowly on ever more specialized fields in a system that has jettisoned broader concerns about the human condition. Karl D. Stephan calls on schools to carve out a place…

Introduction: This study examined postgraduate specialty training of Kuwaiti medical graduates during 1968 to 1999 and identified their attained professional qualifications to reveal scarcity in some specialties. Method: A survey was carried out involving review of the records maintained at the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS)…

The campus experiences of 24 students of color at a large, predominantly white midwestern university were investigated using four focus groups and grounded theory methods of analysis. Participants were asked about their experiences in four area environments: classrooms, residence halls, student services and programs, and the city where the…

Four articles and two review papers are presented on themes relating to educational leadership within institutions, organizations, and networks and to the development and promulgation of ideas within academic disciplines. Three of the articles explore the opportunity structures that promoted the rise of two college presidents and one powerful…

Perspectives on graduate education and the preparation of college faculty are considered, as well as the roles of the undergraduate and postgraduate years, by the president of the Council of Graduate Schools. Undergraduates usually pursue graduate studies because of research and scholarly interests, and graduate education is almost always…

Follow-up data on 1983-1984 bachelor's degree graduates of 14 Michigan public and private institutions are presented. For each field of study, data are provided on: average monthly and yearly starting salaries, the number of graduates, the percentage unemployed, the percentage employed in Michigan, and the percentage in graduate school. The…