One in 10 Americans is of Hispanic origin, and Census projections show that in about 10 years, Hispanics will constitute the largest minority group in the United States and, by 2035, 1 in 5 Americans will be Hispanic. This survey of leading and lagging indicators of economic well-being shows that on several measures, Hispanics have demonstrated…

Through further implementation of distance education, Chinese Taipei may both continue and increase its economic development. The benefits of lifelong learning have been demonstrated in the past 30 years by the economic growth and labor force skills development in Chinese Taipei. The founding of the National Open University, in 1986, with its…

The world of stable, long-term employment is coming to an end. Part-time, contingent, and contract workers now account for more than 35% of the U.S. work force. It has been suggested that individuals will become "portfolio workers" with "portfolio careers." Individuals will maintain portfolios of their skills, abilities, and achievements and will…

This paper describes a policy exercise on education and the new economy held in Aspen, Colorado, in June 1997. The exercise was designed to help the National Center for Research on Vocational Education understand the development of education and training in the near future. The exercise took advantage of expertise in social gaming developed at…

Change is the most prominent characteristic of society and business today. Change is driven by people, technology, and information. In order to remain competitive in the job market, people must constantly update their knowledge. The education system must be evaluated and changed to meet the needs of the economy. Parents and educators need to…

Drawing on case studies of six urban community colleges, this report examines the community college mission with respect to economic and workforce development and describes model partnerships involving colleges, community-based organizations, government, and social service organizations to create pathways to employment for the urban poor.…

A study was undertaken to examine the factors that influenced the decision of firms to provide training for their employees. It also identified the types of training provided, how the training function was organized and administered within firms, and the extent to which firms provided formal training programs for their employees. The study was…

Educational attainment levels increased dramatically for Mexico's labor force in the 1980s and early 1990s. In parallel, the country experienced a pronounced increase in earnings inequality from 1984 to 1994, reflected in a higher dispersion of wages and an absolute decline in the real incomes of less educated, poorer Mexicans. This situation…

The study reported in this book investigated the capacities, capabilities, and potential of predominantly minority two-year colleges to provide a skilled workforce and assist minority-owned businesses with industrial modernization. The underlying research hypotheses are as follows: (1) certain segments of the populations are underrepresented in…

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 shifts decision-making authority for funding of local job training programs from the federal government to state and local boards, which will need local decision-making tools to inform policy. One such tool is a method proposed by S. Goetz and D. Debertin to estimate demand for educational attainment at the…

This document consists of the three 2001 issues of a newsletter that provides current information and research on leadership and administrative issues in early childhood education. The Summer 2001 issue examines practitioners' preferences about terminology, focusing on: (1) vocabulary used to describe the field and different program types as seen…

The fall 2001 issue of New Directions for Community Colleges discusses the changes in policy and practice of vocational education at community colleges. The 10 chapters included in this volume are: (1) "Opportunities and Challenges for the New Vocationalism" by Debra D. Bragg; (2) "The Role of Leadership in Successful Vocational Initiatives" by…

This is a qualitative study of four women receiving assistance through the Trade Readjustment Act (TRA) and who were enrolled in a developmental writing course. The TRA provides money to displaced workers for the purposes of retraining them to reenter the workforce. The four women in the study were nontraditional students and displaced garment…

The research documented in this report builds on earlier work in the 1980s in the area of on-the-job experiences in developing effective leaders. The current study was designed to answer the following: (1) What are the significant events from which African American managers learn and develop? (2) Are the key events and lessons learned different…

This study attempted to produce timely baseline data on the turnover of college presidents and their tenure, using personal, processional, and institutional characteristics. The tenure and turnover of 151 presidents appointed to public four-year institutions between 1987 and 1990 were studied. This population represented 86.8% of all new…