This document contains three papers from a symposium on advancing the human resource development (HRD) profession through journals. "The Role of the 'Human Resource Development Quarterly' in Shaping the HRD Profession: An Eight-Year Perspective" (Gary N. McLean) describes the journal's purpose, format used to meet purpose, success in meeting…

This document contains three papers from a symposium on core directions in human resource development (HRD). In "Expertise: The Development of an Operational Definition for Human Resource Development" (Richard W. Herling), expertise is defined as consistent demonstrated actions that are efficient in their execution and effective in their…

This document contains three papers from a symposium on on-the-job learning. "Effectiveness of On-the-Job Learning" (Marcel R. van der Klink) presents the results of an empirical investigation demonstrating that on-the-job learning caused only a modest improvement in trainee's sales behavior but this improvement was maintained over a…

In anticipation of federal welfare reform, the Texas Department of Human Services developed and implemented the REFOCUS program, designed to enhance the economic self-sufficiency of English-as-a-Second-Language recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) through better use of existing education, job training, employment, and…

A study examined the effect of national culture and institutional tradition on the response of engineering companies and their management to product-technology and market changes in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. Data were collected from semistructured interviews of managers at 24 small, medium, and large engineering firms. The introduction of…

Current education reform efforts show a lack of attention to the three out of four students currently in the educational system who are unlikely to ever earn baccalaureate degrees. The Tech Prep Associate Degree Program (TPAD) is aimed at preparing this neglected majority for the demands of a complex and shifting economy and improving teaching and…

This document contains two papers dealing with challenges facing vocational educators. "Producing a Competent Workforce for the Year 2000: Industry Expectations of Education" (Lewis Burrell) draws the following conclusions: (1) employers and educators need to form a close coalition to plan, design, and execute a system of education and training…

Participants from Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone met as educational planners to seek alternative methods of planning under the changing conditions of education, employment, and human resource development in their countries. The articles presented during the training course include: (1) "Education and Employment in…

The Parents' Fair Share Demonstration (PFS) was created to boost the incomes of poor noncustodial parents (most of them fathers) so as to increase child support payments and decrease the number of welfare recipients. This report gives the results of a nine-site pilot program, which operated from early 1992 through 1993. The program addressed two…

This glimpse of America's economic situation in the year 2000 predicts that four key trends will shape the last years of the twentieth century: (1) the American economy should grow at a relatively healthy pace; (2) U.S. manufacturing will be a much smaller share of the economy in the year 2000; (3) the workforce will grow slowly, becoming older,…

In 1989, the Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee (IRDAC) of the European Community established a Working Party on education and training issues relevant to industry. A subgroup on skill shortages considered the issue from the European and macro-economic point of view. It examined such skills shortages issues as demographic…

A study identified and conducted onsite case studies of 18 different education programs conducted by small companies. Two-thirds of them were conducted by manufacturing companies; the remainder were in health services, construction, or transportation companies. Most of the programs served fewer than 25 workers and had been in operation for less…

A project was conducted to develop activities leading to the coordination of regional vocational-technical education and training programs with data-based labor market needs in East Texas. An existing group, the Technology Partnership Organization, became the work force planning agency for the area. During the project, the following objectives…

A bilingual Manpower Recreation Training Program in Hialeah, Florida, provides on-the-job training for underemployed or unemployed 18 to 24 year olds from disadvantaged families. The year-round program encompasses classroom as well as playground training, and participant reactions describe a successful program. (LH)